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Pembridge Castle added to Castles and Fortifications in West Midlands by clinkadink on 23/10/2023

Parking & TOAL: 51.869025, -2.745608

The first thing to be borne in mind about Pembridge castle is that it is thirty miles south of Pembridge village. The reason for this is that both places share a family name. The village of Pembridge between Kington and Leominster gave its name to an Anglo-Norman family. They in turn gave their name to the second Pembridge castle at Welsh Newton by Monmouth. It should be remembered that the second Pembridge castle is a better description of the castle at Welsh Newton as there is a first Pembridge castle within the village of Pembridge itself. The purpose of the article which follows is to chronicle the history of the Pembridge family and unravel the history of Pembridge castle.

It is not certain when the manor of Pembridge came into the hands of the family that was to bear its name. In Domesday the manor (Penebruge) was held by Alfred Marlborough, the lord of Ewias Harold. Here it was noted that the land had been held by Earl Harold before Domesday at a value of £16, and according to the canons of St Guthlac's he and his father, Earl Godwine, had seized it illegally from them. The land had been waste in 1066 and was now worth £10 10s. Interestingly the land was measured as being of eleven hides minus one virgate. The question is why is one virgate missing from the productive land that the Domesday surveyors were looking for? It has been suggested elsewhere that castles were ignored in the survey simply because they were drains on local resources, rather than sources of revenue. If this is the case at Pembridge it may well suggest that the castle was already in existence in this border area. It would therefore seem likely that Ralph Pembridge (1075-1103+) was the first member of that family name to be granted the town by William Braose of Bramber (1073-c.1094). William apparently became lord of Radnor, some time soon after the Domesday survey. Some time in the period 1119 to 1139 and probably between 10 July 1137 and April 1138, it was noted that all the estates of Alfred Marlborough were in the hands of Miles Gloucester (c.1119-43) except for Pembridge. This was elsewhere noted as being held by William Braose.

Ralph Pembridge was one the leading men of the district who witnessed a grant of Philip Braose at Radnor, probably in the period 1094 to 1120, soon after the death of William Braose about 1094. By 1203 his descendant, Henry Pembridge, held five knights' fees in Herefordshire, which almost certainly included Pembridge. Henry died in 1211 and Ralph Pembridge fined with king John for 100 marks and one good horse to enjoy possession of his father's lands. Of this amount he immediately paid 25 marks into the Treasury. Ralph may well have been dead by 22 November 1221 when first mention is made of another Henry Pembridge who had certainly inherited Pembridge by 1230 when his overlord, William Braose, was executed by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. The lordship of Radnor was subsequently passed into the custody of Ralph Mortimer of Wigmore (1211-1246) who married one of the Braose heiress's to his own eldest son Roger Mortimer of Wigmore (1232-82). In 1242 Henry Pembridge was noted as holding Pembridge and the adjacent vills for one knight's fee of the honour of Radnor, then in the custody of Ralph Mortimer.

By 1249 it was noted that Henry Pembridge held Burton of Roger Mortimer's land of Radnor and soon after Henry was made escheator of Worcestershire, an office in which he was replaced on 4 May 1251 by Simon Ribbesford, another Mortimer tenant. Around this time Henry appears to have married Elizabeth Gamages, and through her inherited the lordships and castles of Boughrood and Trewern in Elfael. In 1255 Henry was made sheriff of Hereford, and pursued his new office with great diligence, and consequently tripling the paperwork being kept at the Exchequer. At the start of the first Welsh War of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in 1256 Henry Pembridge and his overlord Roger Mortimer of Wigmore, appear to have acted in unison for on 28 June 1258 a commission of oyer and terminer was given to Gilbert Talbot and Robert Turbeville touching trespasses and excesses committed against Roger Mortimer and Henry Pembridge in the parts of Wales, by Roger Tony, Richard Thunderley and Alan the constable of Painscastle. No doubt this concerned the manors of Boughrood and Trewern, which Henry therefore appears to have been holding as a member of the lordship of Radnor. On 23 February 1259 Henry was ordered to send 100 marks, from where he was serving with the army of Monmouth, to Roger Mortimer as part payment of his debt to the Crown, in order that Roger could continue his war against the Welsh. Roger's war took a decided turn for the worse in November 1262 when he, with Humphrey Bohun, was defeated at Cefnllys by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. As a consequence on 24 December the king ordered Henry Pembridge and others to defend the Marches, and soon afterwards Henry Pembridge in particular was ordered to defend 'his castle in the Marches'. Whether this castle was one at Pembridge, Pembridge Castle at Welsh Newton, Boughrood or Trewern is unknown, but one would suspect that Boughrood is meant, although all these regions were then directly threatened by Llywelyn.

That Henry Pembridge was ordered to defend one of his castles suggests that he had already taken the baronial side in the brewing conflict that was to be called the Barons' War. This impression is strengthened on 6 March 1264 when Henry Pembridge and other Marchers were ordered to stop Llywelyn, who was attacking the king's men in the Marches. Those actually being attacked at the time were none other than Roger Mortimer and his supporters and it would appear that Henry was not supporting his overlord, if not directly moving against him at this time. Whatever the case, Henry Pembridge survived the battle of Evesham on 4 August 1265 and was at the council of Westminster in September. Here he insulted Prince Edmund and, enraged, set fire to Warwick before being captured by the royalists. Henry was then given into the charge of Roger Mortimer, who had his own grudges to settle. Henry and his family were incarcerated at Wigmore castle and his estates forfeited to his overlord of Radnor. Roger then forced him to make a formal conveyance of Pembridge to him and ratify this before the court of the county at Hereford. Then, holding his sons hostage, Roger took him to Clarendon where he acknowledged his quit-claim before the king. Four instruments recording this are still preserved in the Mortimer cartulary, and well show Roger's determination to gain the rich land of Pembridge. On 16 November 1265 the king ordered the restoration to Henry of all the lands he had lost to the king's enemies. As Roger Mortimer had never been the king's enemy this did not include Pembridge and Henry Pembridge Junior failed in his 1267 attempt to regain the vill, and with this the Pembridge family appear to have accepted the loss, with Pembridge from now on being a demesne land of the lordship of Radnor. They remained however, lords of Pembridge castle by Welsh Newton until the death of Richard Pembridge in 1346.

The current ruins of Pembridge castle were founded before 1208 by Matilda St Valery, the Amazonian wife of William Braose (d.1211). The western front of the castle consists of a fine three storey round keep standing in a corner between a great hall and solar block and a much rebuilt twin-towered gatehouse. Although the towers here are unequal there are other gatehouses like this throughout the British Isles. Various English examples survive at Beeston, Bungay, Clifford, Dover, Longtown, St Briavels, the Tower of London and Whittington. In Wales they exist at Caerphilly, Carmarthen, Chepstow, Criccieth, Degannwy, Dinas Bran, Llanstephan, Llawhaden, Oystermouth, Powis, Rhuddlan, Tinboeth and White Castle. In Scotland they can be found at Kildrummy and Urquhart and finally elsewhere in Ireland at Carrickfergus, Castle Roche, Limerick and Roscommon.

The eastern front boasts the castle chapel and two unique turrets. Much of the castle still stands to battlement height, although much Victorian rebuilding has taken place. The castle is now a private house, rarely open to the public.

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

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

Co-ordinates: 51.8698, -2.744954 • what3words: ///biggest.compiler.observer

The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 22/10/2023. 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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Fishing boat wrecks, Wyre (By Seadog)

When the fishing industry collapsed in Fleetwood many boats were just left to rot (probably too expensive to maintain.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.91962, -3.009546 • what3words: ///rewrites.bravo.nickname

St Margaret's Church, Wealden (By dandf19)

Grade 1 listed buliding failry isolated from Isfield Village near Uckfield, East Sussex. Peaceful and quiet area, a few dog walkers. Plenty parking down Church Lane (single track but in good condition) which ends at the church (TN22 5EY). Turn onto Station Road by the Lavender Line (heritage railway station - probably worth a visit but is only open (some) Sundays for their Summer Season) follow the road for a while and turn onto Church lane.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.9445, 0.054001 • what3words: ///slicing.cowboys.brisk

Bradwell-on-Sea Coastal Defence Barges, Maldon (By uav_hampshire)

A set of 11 WW2 sunken barges that were filled with concrete to protect the wetlands, mudflats and salt marshes in the Special Protection Area at Dengie from coastal erosion.

Obviously more visible as the tide recedes but they can be captured also without a low tide at times. Not recommended if the wind picks up as it does gust at that location without notice.

No issues with TOAL whatsoever along that stretch of coast but it is popular with visitors to the nearby historic chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall.

From eyesight to the barges from a small public carpark is around 20-30 minute walk depending how fast you are!

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.74432, 0.939631 • what3words: ///skippers.bleaker.sheep

East Hoathly, Wealden (By grandad1950)

A fine old village in East Sussex. Lots of room to fly at the recreation ground .
The village is worth a stroll.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.92621, 0.16174 • what3words: ///slyly.thrashed.flask

Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton (By D0c.Col)

Nestled in the heart of Wolverhampton, England, stands Wightwick Manor—a breathtaking Victorian masterpiece. This architectural gem, with its rich Arts and Crafts design, is a time capsule of Pre-Raphaelite beauty, brimming with William Morris textiles and wallpapers.
Built in 1887 and expanded in 1893, Wightwick Manor was the vision of Samuel Theodore Mander, a member of a prominent Wolverhampton family. The Manders had made their fortune in the paint and varnish industry, shaping the city's industrial and cultural landscape for generations.
The family's roots in Wolverhampton date back to the 18th century, when Thomas Mander moved to the town from Warwickshire. His son, Benjamin Mander, founded a japanning and tinplate works in 1773 and over the years, the business flourished, evolving into the renowned Mander Brothers paint company. By 1879, Samuel Theodore Mander and his cousin Charles had become company directors, continuing the family's legacy.
Wightwick's history stretches back much further. The oldest building on the estate, the Old Manor, dates to the early 17th century, built by Francis Wightwick and his son, Alexander. The Wightwick family had lived on this land since at least the 13th century and had taken their name from the estate owning it until 1815, when it was sold to the Hinkes family. Samuel Theodore Mander re-acquired the estate in 1887, once more breathing new life into its legacy.
Inspired by the Tudor Revival style, Theodore commissioned architect Edward Ould to design the manor. The result was a stunning fusion of craftsmanship and artistry—timber-framed exteriors, intricate carvings, and grand fireplaces—all reflecting the ideals of the Arts and Crafts movement.

The Manor is in the middle of a suberb in Wolverhampton, so if you haven't got NT membership you can park just outside in one of the streets. TOAL is right next to the property so Line of Sight is good, just watch out for the Karen's and Ken's.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.58368, -2.194129 • what3words: ///pure.manage.tall

Buxted Deer Park, Wealden (By grandad1950)

No deer but fine parklands to explore. A lovely old church and an upmarket hotel to be discovered

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.98602, 0.114096 • what3words: ///shame.proposes.frostbite

The South Coaster (By pross)

Ship wrecked in Dec 1943 easily accessible from pebble beach.

You do have to cross a live traintrack so remember to look both ways!

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.61459, -3.442264 • what3words: ///spite.squabbles.gripes

Wintour's Leap, Forest of Dean (By gasbag43)

Wintour's Leap is a noted rock climbing location and viewpoint located near the village of Woodcroft in Gloucestershire, on the English side of the Wye Valley, north of Chepstow.

Wintour's Leap is named after Royalist Sir John Wintour who, hotly pursued on his horse by Parliamentary forces, according to local myth survived a leap off the cliff and, landing safely in the Wye (100 metre drop…) below, swam to safety in the nearby Chepstow Castle. In fact, Wintour did escape from the Roundheads by using the river nearby on two separate occasions, but from less spectacular positions at Lancaut and Sedbury.

The area around Wintour's Leap is a very popular limestone rock climbing area. It contains over 300 recorded routes most of which are multi-pitch. It has a high proportion of quality climbs up to 100-meters in length.

The location is pretty spectacular (albeit better when the tidal river is higher!) with the cliffs to the left of the photo while to the right is the "lost village" of Lancaut. All that remains of this medieval village are the ruins of St James Church said to have been built by the Lord of Chepstow Castle around 1067.

Access is via the Offa's Dyke footpath. TOAL site is a 10 square foot of bare rock 10 feet off the footpath (you need to push through some bushes to access it) with a 100 metre sheer drop at its edge and no safety barrier.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.66297, -2.66367 • what3words: ///sheds.spike.months

Crowborough Leisure Centre, Wealden (By grandad1950)

Lots of parking and room to fly. After you have finished flying you could go for a jog .

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.06322, 0.166131 • what3words: ///inflation.behind.snowballs

Tretower Castle, Powys (By gasbag43)

Tretower Castle is a Grade I-listed ruined castle in the village of Tretower in the county of Powys, Wales. It was built around the beginning of the twelfth century as a motte and bailey castle, enlarged in the early thirteenth century, but later fell into ruin.

This monumental tower with four storeys and stone walls nine feet thick is roughly triangular in plan, with the motte and keep occupying the western corner. The 12th century shell-keep is an irregular enclosure with a gate-tower on the line of approach from the bailey. In the centre of the shell stands the tall cylindrical 13th century keep. The keep is of three storeys, with an original entrance at first floor level

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.88399, -3.185778 • what3words: ///reconnect.nickname.hush


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