Manchester is a vibrant city, located in Greater Manchester, England. The climate here is classified as a temperate maritime climate, like much of the British Isles, with cold winters and warm summers. Manchester is noted as much for its historical buildings, theaters, music scenes and attractions, as for its sports and leisure activities.
Castleton is a picturesque village in the Derbyshire Peak District, about an hour drive from Manchester. This location is a paradise for extreme sport enthusiasts, as it offers some of the best rock climbing, mountain biking and paragliding spots in England. There are many popular paragliding sites close to the village, where you can see a number of paragliders and hand-gliders gliding amongst the clouds, like a flock of birds. Dale Head is one of them and the name derived from its position, at the head of the Newlands Valley.
The take off altitude is at 432 m/1417 ft above sea level and the take off point is found at 53°20’39” (53.3442)N; 1°52’10” (1.8697)W. In addition, the landing point is found at 53°20’35” (53.3432)N; 1°52’16” (1.8713)W, at an elevation of 417 m/1367.8 ft. Once in the air you can admire stunning views of the surrounding area.
The best wind direction is from the east, northeast and the ideal periods to visit this place are during spring and summer months. Note that, the spot accommodates the more experienced pilots. Last but not least, if you find yourself here, you should definitely explore the Edale Valley, which boasts a wide range of flora and a variety of butterflies.
