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Basildon Park added to National Trust in South East by clinkadink on 10/09/2023

Parking & TOAL: 51.493479, -1.115587

The masterpiece of John Carr of York, this Palladian villa was built for Sir Francis Sykes between 1776 and 1783. It is a beautifully balanced building of warm Bath stone consisting of a main central block joined to individual pavilions by single-storey linkages.

Sykes was the youngest son of a Yorkshire yeoman farmer who made a fortune working for the East India Company on the great Sub-Continent. He held many important posts including Factor & Chief of Kasimbazara and resided at the Court of the Nawab of Bengal, until ill-health forced him to return to England in 1768. He bought Basildon from the estate of Viscount Fane, three years later. Sykes was a close friend of Warren Hastings, the Governor-General of India, who lived at nearby Purley Hall and, along with a number of other 'nabobs' resident in the vicinity, he helped give Berkshire its reputation of being the "English Hindoostan". He was created a baronet in 1781.

Basildon was inherited by Sir Francis' grandson and namesake in 1804, when parts of the house were still incomplete. Unfortunately, Sir Francis Junior inherited massive debts from his spendthrift father and, in 1838, the estate was sold to James Morrison MP, one of the richest of the early Victorian merchant princes. He was a famous art-lover who became instrumental in the setting up of the National Gallery. He exclaimed of Basildon, "What a casket to enclose pictorial gems!". His architect, John Papworth, undertook a number of sympathetic alterations at the house between 1837 and 1842, after which the family took up full residence in the best of Victorian traditions.

The last of the Morrisons died in 1910, after which Basildon often stood empty. It was used as a convalescent home for Berkshire regimental soldiers during the Great War, but subsequently fell into an increasing state of dilapidation. The estate was purchased by the 1st Lord Iliffe in 1928 in order to expand his Yattendon lands and the house was sold on to a George Ferdinando. This man had planned to have the place systematically demolished and re-erected in the United States! A scheme which, fortunately, never came to fruition, though many of the decorative fittings can now be seen in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Miraculously, in 1952, Basildon was repurchased by Lord Iliffe's son and his new bride who set about restoring the place to its present splendour. Many fixtures and fittings were bought from other country houses whose fate was not so fortunate.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basildon_Park

View and discuss this location in more detail on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.49878, -1.121342 • what3words: ///stealthier.curated.tumble

The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 10/09/2023. It remains the responsibility of any pilot to check for any changes before flying at the same location. Landowner permission may be required before taking off.

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Hove Lagoon, Brighton and Hove (By Yezzer)

Great views over the lagoon, Shoreham Harbour, and along the coast into Brighton.

Fantastic at sunrise and sunset, highly recommended.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.82666, -0.199996 • what3words: ///works.melon.critic

Loch Thom, Inverclyde, Kilmacolm, Quarriers, Greenock Upper East/Central (By IanC2002)

This is the beautiful Loch Thom on the Old Largs Road between Largs and Gourock, Inverclyde.

Where I flew from is off the road up a track, perfectly legal in Scotland as we have no Trespass Laws for land like this. This is a great vantage point as it is above the loch.

Although the hills to the left have Orange Significance Warnings, the Loch and Reservoir do not.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 55.91544, -4.769204 • what3words: ///outdoor.fully.aimlessly

Kinlochard at Loch Ard the Trossachs, Stirlingshire, Highland (By IanC2002)

This is an incidental parking area, when we were there, three cars, ours a WAV Wheelchair accessible vehicle with ramp, plenty of room.

We stopped on the spur of the moment, heading further on to a carpark, but this wee spot had a bench, so was ideal for lunch with my wife where I could get her wheelchair beside the bench.

While there the owners of one of the cars came back with their canoe, had lunch and left, then another family, mum with paddle board and kids with a canoe launched from this spot. That was the ideal time for me to take off and fly around the loch.

What a beautiful spot.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 56.18806, -4.488382 • what3words: ///curly.picturing.fewer

Low Wood Bay Watersports, South Lakeland (By yorkie9668)

My wife was looking for a spot near the Lake to stop, we found this place, parking for 2 hours is £4, staff were about and never asked what I was doing, I was out of the way by the water, not flying directly over anyone, I am not sure if you need permission but seeing there was no problems with the staff watching me, I don't think it is an issue, it may become one if loads turn up at once, but for the 30 minutes we were there there was no issues :)

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 54.40809, -2.947987 • what3words: ///tutored.bypasses.finely

Dumfries House, Cumnock Rural (By JoeC)

Dumfries House is an impressive Palladian country house in East Ayrshire. It is owned and maintained by The King's Foundation and sits in a 2000 acre estate which also has impressive gardens and an ornate maze.

Although not in an FRZ at the time, it's always worth checking as temporary restrictions have been known.

Contact the estate for permission to fly from their property (I can't see any good way to get decent images of the house and gardens without this). When I flew there I had to submit a flight plan (with risk assessment) and have £10m public liability insurance.

There is ample parking on the estate, but they've just introduced a £5 fee. If you live locally you can apply for a free annual parking pass.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 55.45547, -4.307885 • what3words: ///downsize.short.books

Cinderbarrow Miniature Railway & Picnic Park, Lancaster (By Crackerjack)

Cinderbarrow is home to the Lancaster & Morecambe Model Engineering Society (LMMES) who were previously based in Steamtown Carnforth. The land is owned by Lancashire County Council and it's a picnic area as well as the trains, sitting alongside the West Coast mainline. The site is open 24/7 but the train areas are fenced off.

LMMES have a website, https://lmmes.co.uk/, which is down at time of writing but they are active on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LMMES2018. Opening times are SUNDAYS and BANK HOLIDAYS 10.30-12.30 then 1.15 to 3.45 plus Thursdays during the school summer holidays, check their Facebook page before travelling if you want to ride the trains. They accept donations for rides.

On-site parking is free and if full, there's space on parts of the lane that approaches the site.

No drink or food sold on site nor are there toilets but about a mile away on the A6 there's a garage/Spar where I've always found the fuel to be cheaper than elsewhere.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 54.17614, -2.745829 • what3words: ///mailboxes.wicket.reapply

Stambermill Viaduct, Dudley (By eathen00)

Stambermill Vidauct just outside stourbridge town centre.

I parked on a small carpark just up the road however you can park on the roadside near by. It is a very quiet "park" but its essentially just a field which no one really goes in, perfect for practicing.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.45773, -2.134352 • what3words: ///push.rings.await

Staunton Country Park, Havant (By grandad1950)

A lovely country park with a large lake, walled gardens and fine parkland. A good farm shop sells excellent produce and a good ice cream. You have to pay for parking.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.87637, -0.978365 • what3words: ///rural.risk.contracts

Chantry Chapel and Bridge, Wakefield, Wakefield (By richrab)

The Chantry Chapel of St Mary the Virgin is a chantry chapel in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, and is designated a Grade I Listed building by Historic England. It is located south of the city centre on the medieval Chantry Bridge over the River Calder. It is the only survivor of four chantries in Wakefield and the oldest and most ornate of the surviving bridge chapels in England.

Parking by the Dominos pizza shop, walked to the end of the bridge for TOAL.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.67667, -1.489439 • what3words: ///throw.exist.basis

Brecon Canal Basin Towpath, Powys (By stubbyd)

There is plenty of parking around here so I haven't bothered with a market for that, but be aware most of it is paid for.

I have set my TOAL point as the towpath as that is where I was, but there is a nearby open field which is mostly empty whenever I visit. But depending on time of day and time of year you may need to juggle the precise where.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.94416, -3.387973 • what3words: ///croutons.crucially.press


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