What are Ground Overlays? Ground Overlays are customisable map layers for on-the-ground information, available to Silver Members and Gold Members, so you can focus only on the data that matters to you.
What does each layer include? The list below explains what each layer includes and excludes, so you can plan safe, legal flights with confidence.
Can I fly on Crown Estate foreshore? The Crown Estate grant permission for drone flights taking place on Crown Estate foreshore. The foreshore is defined as the land between mean high water and mean low water.
What conditions apply? This permission is subject to all operators complying with the applicable laws, statutes, regulations and codes, as well as the requirements of The Civil Aviation Authority.
Are there any extra restrictions? On occasions, third parties such as Government agencies or local authorities may restrict the flying of drones on Crown Estate land. You should therefore check with the appropriate authority to ensure that no such restrictions are in place.
Where can I read more? See The Crown Estate Foreshore and Estuary FAQ.
What hazards are shown? This layer contains details of ground-based hazards that might pose a safety or privacy risk, such as train lines, pylons, power lines, schools or sports venues.
What is the 'Locations' layer? A collection of recommended places to fly your drone.
Who recommends these locations? The recommendations have all been made by members of Grey Arrows Drone Club that have personally flown there.
What does the 'Meetups' layer show? It displays club meetups taking place across the UK so you can discover, join, or plan flying sessions with other members.
What does the 'Members' layer show? Discover where Grey Arrows Drone Club members are located across the UK.
Is this opt-in? Yes. This map layer shows only club members who have chosen to participate, it does not include all club members.
What is National Trust land access like? The National Trust looks after nearly 250,000 hectares of land in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Is it open to the public? Large areas of this land is open to the public free of charge, and other areas are ticketed – open to National Trust members and paying members of the public.
Are there areas without public access? Additional areas of National Trust land are used for farming, or other commercial activities, and the public doesn't have any right to access this land, other than by statutory provision e.g. footpaths and bridleways.
Can I take off from National Trust land? National Trust do not permit drones to be flown from their land.
Can I fly over National Trust land? Yes, provided that:
Where can I read more? See Flying drones at our places.
What are SSSIs? A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is land notified as an SSSI under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). SSSIs underpin many other conservation designations (e.g., national nature reserves, Ramsar sites, Special Protection Areas, and Special Areas of Conservation).
Why are SSSIs important? They protect the finest sites for wildlife and natural features, supporting many characteristic, rare and endangered species and habitats.
Who should I contact before flying? Drone operators should contact Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, Nature Scot before flying over SSSIs.
What does the 'Council Byelaws, Policies & PSPOs' layer show? This layer highlights local authority byelaws, drone policies and Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) that may affect where you can take off, land, or operate your drone.
Why are these important? Unlike airspace restrictions, council rules apply to land use. A location may be safe to fly from an aviation perspective, but local byelaws or PSPOs may restrict take-off, landing or certain activities in parks, town centres, or other public spaces. These restrictions typically relate to take-off and landing rather than overflight, as councils do not control airspace. However, drone operators should always assess the surrounding environment and applicable rules.
Are these rules legally enforceable? Byelaws and PSPOs are legally enforceable and may carry penalties if breached. Council policies are not laws, but they may still restrict flying from land owned or managed by the authority.
What do the different coloured council boundaries mean?
The council boundary will be green if the council has confirmed they have no byelaws, policies or Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) used to regulate, restrict or prohibit the recreational use of drones from land under their jurisdiction. It will be yellow if the council has a policy or PSPO that may restrict drone take-off or landing from land they manage. It will be red if a byelaw exists that restricts drone operations in one or more locations.
It will be pink if the council has not yet confirmed their status in response to our 2026 Freedom of Information request.