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Accessibility: There is space to park in front of the abandoned power station, or in the town nearby.Hazards: The site is on the edge of the Derby Flight Restriction Zone. There is space to fly without entering the FRZ, or permission could be obtained. The other main hazard is proximity to road traffic, depending on selected take-off-and-landing site.
Land owner permission requirements unknown.
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Co-ordinates: 52.85496, -1.540285 • what3words: ///ruins.climber.postings
Accessibility: Follow road directions to Moorditch Lane, WA6 7BT. There are several places at the side of the road which can be used for parking and take-off-and-landing. I parked at https://what3words.com/vocal.finely.placed.Hazards: Obviously the wind turbines are a hazard, and there are overhead power lines here as well. South east of the suggested parking spot there is Hover Force activity centre (recreational area, when open) and also the site used by Runcorn Model Flying Association (https://what3words.com/trucks.tamed.urban). Please either stay well clear or contact them to let them know you are there.
Co-ordinates: 53.29765, -2.743465 • what3words: ///fish.enhancement.transfers
This is an area of waste ground suitable for flying in Open subcategories A1 and A2. I've positioned the marker to indicate a spot 150m away from the nearest buildings.There are good aerial views towards Manchester city centre, Salford, Media City, Old Trafford etc.Hazards: The area is derelict and sometimes there is anti-social use: I suggest be especially wary after dark. Possibility of drug needles etc on the ground.Accessibility: I parked on Cornbrook Road next to Bennet Brothers (M15 4WB). There is a gap in the fence leading to Pomona Strand. There has been access in the past from Pomona Wharf / Waterways Avenue, and from the south end of Pomona Strand, but I haven't checked these recently.
Co-ordinates: 53.46922, -2.270758 • what3words: ///jumpy.pilots.rinse
This is an English Heritage site so you can't take off or land within the site without their permission.I parked in the EH car park (£3 for non-members) and walked to https://w3w.co/cardinal.hotels.satellite, which is on a public footpath. There was a handy tree stump to set up gear clear of the muddy path.Accessibility: the footpath is accessed via kissing gates and a few steps, and can get very muddy in wet weather. Hazards: the castle sits on a rocky outcrop roughly 120m high, so your drone ceiling may need adjusting to fly higher. However there were several low-flying light aircraft when I visited, and they may not all maintain full clearance above the castle. Also dogs and dog walkers.
Land owner permission not required.
Co-ordinates: 53.12783, -2.691793 • what3words: ///quietest.soils.keys
Hill with good views over Birkenhead, Wallasey etc, and two interesting buildings: the Bidston Windmill, and Bidston Observatory.Hazards: The area is popular with walkers, so avoid busy times.Parking: I parked on Boundary Road near the entrance to the nature reserve / urban farm car park: postcode CH43 7PD, although you can park in the car park itself during its opening hours.
Co-ordinates: 53.39625, -3.073307 • what3words: ///strict.period.scare
The Carrington Estate covers a wide area between Sale, Carrington and Partington in Trafford. It is privately owned, and crossed by some public footpaths as well as a series of "permissive paths", which the owner allows the public to use for leisure except for certainy prohibited activities (quad biking etc).Photography opportunities include agricultural land plus former and current industrial sites.Accessibility: several of the paths are rutted and muddy, especially in winter, and sometimes overgrown in the winter. Walking boots or a mountain bike are advisable. Some paths are only accessible through narrow barriers which may not be suitable for wheelchairs.Hazards: several overhead power lines especially towards the north west. Other footpath users.Parking: On the west side of the area, I have parked at Heath Farm Lane https://w3w.co/importing.describes.cheeses, the track heading east is barred to vehicles ok on foot or bicycle, and gives access to many of the paths in the area. On the east edge, I have parked near Firsway Health Centre (https://w3w.co/dreams.term.yard), there is a path heading north-west into the estate about 100m west along Firs Way road.Take-off spots: The pin indicates an area of hardstanding (https://w3w.co/schooling.jump.awaiting) accessible via paths from Heath Farm Lane. Very secluded but significant magnetic interference from metal in the concrete surfacing. Other take-off spots that I have used include the following, but there are several places adjacent to fields which are suitable so long as you avoid disturbance to other path users:https://w3w.co/unearthly.mouse.resonateshttps://w3w.co/housework.tables.veganshttps://w3w.co/woven.cheat.homes
Co-ordinates: 53.41705, -2.403817 • what3words: ///assemble.deploying.chariots
Park at the south end of Tan House Lane, WA8 0SW. Follow the footpath south and across the level crossing. There are several places along the cycle path suitable for take-off and landing, but I used a wooden platform at https://w3w.co/funny.cracks.chest.There is generally level access but steps down to the platform mentioned.
Co-ordinates: 53.36006, -2.712369 • what3words: ///rooms.invent.pies
I parked next to St Mary's Church LL61 6AD and accessed the shoreline near the Nelson Statue via a public footpath.It is also possible to reach the shoreline east of the bridge from a footpath running from the south edge of the Gwesty Carrey Bran Hotel LL61 5YH, or from a slipway on the south of the Menai Strait (footpath starting from Treborth Botanic Garden LL57 2RQ and heading north west). The path down to the slipway can be extremely slippery.Hazards: power lines run alongside the bridge.Accessibility: the site I flew from is very definitely not step free.
Co-ordinates: 53.21629, -4.18606 • what3words: ///passages.thread.strapping
I parked at the nearby Waitrose (2 hour limit, customers only), but it's worth trying right below the bridge on Beach Road where there is space for a few cars in an area without double yellow lines.The Wales Coastal Path leads west from Beach Road, and there are opportunities to take of from the side of the path (if not busy) or shoreline below the path (depending on the tide).Hazards: dog walkers and other path users; buildings to the north.Accessibility: the coastal path has step free access at this point but there is no step-free access to the shore, and note that Beach Road is steep and has no proper footways.
Co-ordinates: 53.22001, -4.163274 • what3words: ///climate.forces.petrified
There is free parking at the visitor centre in the water park (M33 2LX). The pin shows my take-off point, a field with rough grass which can either be flattened, or there are paths that provide space. To the east there is a well-trimmed field, but this is used by Parkway Model Flying Club, who don't like drones, judging from their signs. Main hazards are overhead power lines and dog walkers. Some of the area around the water park is a nature reserve.
Co-ordinates: 53.43198, -2.294315 • what3words: ///hotel.relax.serves
Parking options include Evergreen Way (WA9 4ZS) and Broad Lane (WA5 4DS). I parked in front of the gates at https://w3w.co/larger.ratio.declines.Even at the weekend, the area was not busy. I recommend a bicycle to get around it. As well as the parkland area, you can film the Burtonwood Brewery from here.
Co-ordinates: 53.4392, -2.673022 • what3words: ///during.speedily.confident
I parked at the end of Woodhouse Lane (https://what3words.com/scam.quest.stale, postcode M33 4WR). From there, go around the gates that block the road heading west, and follow the footpaths to the north and then north-west. There is space at https://what3words.com/list.door.await to take-off without obstructing footpaths.Key hazards: dog walker and dogs, and there is an overhead power line very close by. The take-off location suggested is at least 150m clear of the nearby residential area.
Co-ordinates: 53.41416, -2.367876 • what3words: ///surely.bridge.tiger
I parked just off Lower Green Lane and followed a footpath through Whitehead Hall Meadow. A network of footpaths east of the site has several suitable take-off locations. Access via the Bridgewater Canal towpath should also be possible. Beware dog walkers and dogs, and note Astley Green housing may be a congested area. Particularly note the nearby Barton City Airport FRZ - low-flying aircraft may stray outside the FRZ.
Co-ordinates: 53.49537, -2.446626 • what3words: ///shifters.vase.oppose
I parked at https://what3words.com/infinite.velocity.escapades.You can fly from beside the dried-up lake, from where you park, or a nearby public footpath. However, note that the lake area has plenty of warning signs (quicksand).
Co-ordinates: 53.26479, -1.701679 • what3words: ///snoring.petition.sharpens
Parking is available on Old Barton Road (M41 7LF), the abandoned road leads west along the south bank of the Manchester Ship Canal. Alternatively, parking may be available at Chill Factore, there is then a walking route along the roads towards the David Lloyd tennis centre.There are a couple of spots between the old highway and the ship canal to fly from. The old highway itself is used by walkers and cyclists.Hazards: there is housing to the north of the Ship Canal, and the David Lloyd centre nearby. There is a large area of (inaccessible) waste ground between this spot and Trafford Park where a safe separation distance can be maintained from buildings.At the time of writing, Barton City Airport accept applications for drone flight permission via an online form; permission is easier during evenings or very early morning when the aerodrome is not in regular use.
Co-ordinates: 53.47134, -2.359411 • what3words: ///punt.spin.talked
I parked at Turn Moss car park off Edge Lane (postcode M32 8QD), there is also a small car park accessible via a road/track from Brookburn Road (M21 8EH).There is a network of footpaths throughout the area including along the north bank of the River Mersey. I found a quiet spot during the evening but be aware the paths can be busy at times. Also, this is a designated Local Nature Reserve so avoid disturbance to wildlife.Hazards: electricity pylons to the south running through Sale Water Park; M60 motorway south of that; pedestrians, dogs, and birds.The playing fields at Turn Moss are often quiet and suitable for flying from; hazards there are pedestrians, dogs, and housing/school to the north.
Co-ordinates: 53.43391, -2.296341 • what3words: ///tuck.goes.tribal
I parked on Parsonage Road, Widnes. A public footpath runs west under the two bridges, and there is an open concrete area on the river bank at https://what3words.com/camps.crowned.safely where I took off from.Hazards: this site is clear of the Liverpool Airport flight restriction zone (at date of flying), but note that DJI's no-fly zone extends across much of the river (height limit of 60m imposed unless you arrange a temporary unlock). The footpath was not busy when I flew (Saturday morning). The take-off point is >150m clear from housing and from the road/rail bridges, but note there are commercial buildings and a school playing field nearby. Also: seagulls!
Co-ordinates: 53.34928, -2.740083 • what3words: ///host.dreams.barn
You can park for free at Abakhan Fabrics, where there is a cafe and public toilets. Footpaths run down to the shore on either side of a water channel, these are both public footpaths. Fly from the footpath or the shore (the east footpath leads to better clear space for take-off and landing).Hazards: pedestrians using the paths, a railway line, and various overhead cables.
Co-ordinates: 53.30651, -3.235672 • what3words: ///suave.crunched.negotiators
I parked at Warrington Animal Welfare, postcode WA1 1NA. From there, follow a footpath south-west to the edge of a farmer's field, there is good space here for take-off and landing. You can continue on the path down to the river bank and along to the right to maintain VLOS, but note that the industrial areas east and west of the bridge may be counted as a "congested area".
Co-ordinates: 53.38385, -2.607429 • what3words: ///result.scary.finishing
Park on the A6013 north of Yorkshire Bridge Inn, or at Heatherdene Car Park nearby.Marker pin placed on a Public Right of Way, note that off the PROW there may be no permission from private landowners to take-off/land (reservoir is owned by Severn Trent Water).Popular spot with walkers and cyclists so keep off the path and avoid busy times of day.
Co-ordinates: 53.36653, -1.704448 • what3words: ///unusable.loads.boardroom
There is up to 2 hours free parking in bays just outside the entry to the RSPB reserve, accessible from the nearby A55 junction. From there, walk north-west along a public footpath, there is a large grassy area with plenty of space to fly without obstructing the footpath.
Co-ordinates: 53.28128, -3.812787 • what3words: ///beaten.settle.diagram
I walked along the canal towpath from Station Road (it's roughly one mile's walk), but it is possible to drive along a small road immediately west of the canal, and park near the end. This road is private, but used by others for this purpose. At the aqueduct, there is a footpath from the north end running down below, with a good area to fly from next to a bench. Be careful of trees and remaining 50m from the structures and railway.
Co-ordinates: 53.40724, -2.068852 • what3words: ///screening.terminology.clip
Accessible from the Trans Pennine Trail to the south of the power station, there are a couple of small areas of grass just off the path. Watch out for overhead power lines especially on the south west of the power station.
Co-ordinates: 53.36705, -2.681593 • what3words: ///lines.alert.loss
There is a free car park at WA9 4RU on Jubits Lane.
Co-ordinates: 53.40997, -2.722249 • what3words: ///tender.factored.spellings
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