Drone Scene

Wondering where you can fly your drone in the UK — and get £5,000,000 public liability insurance cover? Welcome to Drone Scene!

Wondering where you can legally fly your drone in the UK? Drone Scene helps you find great flying locations and provides £5m Public Liability Insurance cover for complete peace of mind when flying throughout the UK and Europe.

What is Drone Scene? Drone Scene is an interactive drone flight safety app and flight-planning map — built by drone pilots, for drone pilots. Trusted by tens of thousands of hobbyist and professional operators, it is the modern, feature-rich alternative to Drone Assist, featuring thousands of recommended UK flying locations shared by real pilots.

What makes Drone Scene the number one app for UK drone operators? It brings together live data including NOTAMs, Flight Restriction Zones (FRZs), Airports, Airspace Restrictions, and National Trust land boundaries, alongside trusted ground-hazard layers and detailed airspace intelligence — giving you the clarity and control to plan safe, legal flights on desktop or mobile, with no installation required.

×You must be logged in to see NOTAMs, Airspace Restrictions, National Trust boundaries and other interactive map layers.

Powis Castle, Welshpool added to National Trust in Wales by D0c.Col on 29/06/2023

Powis Castle
The present Powis Castle was built in the mid-13th century by a Welsh prince - Gruffudd Ap Gwenwynwyn who wanted to establish his independence from the aggressive princes of Gwynedd in North Wales. This was an act of defiance and in contrast to those built by the English at Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech in order to suppress the Welsh and consolidate Edward I’s conquest of Wales.
By the late 13th century, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd of Gwynedd had established himself as Prince of Wales, and in 1274 he destroyed Powis Castle, forcing Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn into exile.
However, within three years Llywelyn’s principality had crumbled leaving Gruffudd of Powys able to regain his lordship and rebuild the castle. Gruffudd, his son and grandson had all died by 1309, and with no male heir, the castle and lordship passed to an heiress, Hawise who married Sir John Charlton from Shropshire.
In 1312, Hawise’s uncle attacked the castle in an attempt to claim the lordship but failed. Charlton repaired the damage and built two great drum towers that can be seen today, either side of the castle’s west entrance.
Descendants of the Charltons continued as Lords of Powis for over 100 years but in 1421, the lack of a male heir resulted in the castle and estate being divided between two daughters, Joyce and Joan, who had married Sir John Grey and Sir John Tiptoft respectively.
Under the Tiptofts and their successor, Lord Dudley, the Outer Ward of the castle was neglected and needed considerable restoration. Luckily, in the 1530s Edward Grey, Lord Powis, took possession of the whole castle and began a major re-building programme.

In 1587, Edward Herbert purchased the castle and estate and it remained in the hands of the Herbert family until 1952 when George, 4th Earl of Powis, bequeathed the castle and gardens to the National Trust.
In 1902 George began its modernisation by introducing electric lighting and a state of the art hot-water central heating system, and at the same time he worked with his architect to re-establish the 17th Century décor in many of the state rooms, a style he thought more befitting of a medieval castle.
The estate was at its height during the Edwardian Period with notable guests arriving every weekend throughout the winter season, including the Prince and Princess of Wales in November 1909. However, this golden era was not to last as George was to suffer a number of family tragedies. The countess died following a car accident in 1929, both his sons, died whilst on active service, Percy from wounds received at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and Mervyn in a plane crash in 1943. With no direct heir to the castle, on his death bed in 1952, George bequeathed Powis to the nation, in the care of the National Trust.
In the garden four of the 150m long original terraces remain, the last two having reverted to banks of earth covered with shrubs. The top Terrace is planted with a range of yew trees, a distinctive feature at Powis.

William Emes, apart from the destruction of the water garden, did make improvements to the estate. A road that cut through the park just below the castle was diverted, and much planting was undertaken on the Wilderness Ridge, the line of hills opposite the castle, on the other side of the Great Lawn. The last major transformation of the gardens was undertaken in the early 20th century by Violet, wife of the fourth earl.

The Herbert family continue to live in part of the castle, under an arrangement with the National Trust. The Trust has undertaken a number of major works of restoration during its ownership, including the Marquess Gate,[ the Grand Staircase, and the sculpture of Fame in the Outer Courtyard. Powis Castle is a Grade I listed building, while its gardens have their own Grade I listing and together they form an irresistible attraction that receives over 200,000 visitors a Year.

The flight was inside a FRZ but had authorisation from the relevant ATC and the local council does not have a bylaw to prevent TOAL. I was easily able to launch the DJI mini 3 Pro close from a public path just outside NT property and maintained VLOS with the assistance of a spotter (my wife).

https://www.youtube.com/@DocColVideo/

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

Co-ordinates: 52.65246, -3.15728 • what3words: ///strongman.snapper.just

The originator declared that this location was inside a flight restriction zone at the time of being flown. Permission to fly was obtained from Welshpool ATC. 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.

Where to fly your drone

Filter ()
Tump Terrett Castle, Monmouthshire (By gasbag43)

Tump Terrett Castle, also known as Trellech Castle, is a medieval motte-and bailey site in the village of Trellech, south Wales.

The castle consists of a large, steep sided earthen mound with a flat summit about 14 metres across, surrounded by traces of a defensive ditch—best preserved on the northern side.

First recorded before 1231, it likely served as an administrative centre within the Norman lordship of Usk and stood beside a thriving planned town established by the de Clare family. By the late 13th century, Trellech had grown into one of the largest towns in Wales, larger even than Chepstow, though it later declined.

Archaeological surveys indicate structural remains in the former bailey area, Today, the site survives as a scheduled monument and an important example of early Norman fortification.

Just a short flight away are Harold's Stones -a striking trio of Bronze Age standing stones forming a 12 metre alignment, each one leaning at a different angle—likely due to subsidence or centuries of disturbance rather than intentional design.

The tallest stands over 4 metres high, with the others measuring roughly 3.5 and 3 metres. Their original purpose is unknown, though they may once have been part of a larger ritual landscape. The stones were significant enough to influence the village’s name—Trellech, often interpreted as “village of the three stones.

For those interested in ancient historic churches, The Church of St Nicholas is the local parish church with its origins in the 14th century. The historical and architectural evidence suggests that it was constructed largely in a single building period c.1300. It’s a Grade 1 listed building and nice to view from the air

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.74465, -2.725734 • what3words: ///playful.muffin.funky

St James Selham, Chichester (By grandad1950)

St James parish church in the South Downs National Park hamlet of Selham is a grade 1 listed building dating from the 11th century

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.97802, -0.672441 • what3words: ///hasten.reserved.backpacks

Framwellgate Bridge, County Durham (By grenlen)

This bridge is a Grade I listed building and it was built in the 1400s and back then it was the main traffic route across the River Wear until 1969 when Milburngate Bridge was built and now it serves as a pedestrian bridge across the river. The picture is shown to have the bridge in the foreground and Durham Cathedral in the background with the River Wear flowing off centre to the right.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 54.77605, -1.577997 • what3words: ///play.rises.venues

Durham Train Station, County Durham (By grenlen)

Durham Train Station was built in 1857 with the original building near the car park is still intact today and serves as the ticket office. The train station serves destinations such as York, Newcastle, Carlisle, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness, London Kings Cross, Manchester Airport, Liverpool Lime Street, Plymouth, Darlington etc with train companies such as Cross Country, London North Eastern Railway (LNER), Transpennine Express and Northern stopping here.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 54.77975, -1.581506 • what3words: ///trip.alarm.rock

Durham Viaduct, County Durham (By grenlen)

A famous Viaduct located on the East Coast Mainline that offers great views of the Durham City from above with the cathedral in the distance and see trains like Transpennine Express, LNER, Northern, Freight Trains, Cross Country, lumo that often use this line and viaduct. It's also a Grade 2 listed building.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 54.77814, -1.583394 • what3words: ///branch.chains.void

Cawdor Quarry, Derbyshire Dales (By stevesb)

Excellent FPV location but access is super limited so best suited to those that are agile as there is no actual access to the site without a bit of climbing, so a crashed drone is an adventure in its self. Parking is at the marker with a 200m easy walk to the main gate. flight is possible from there, but by going into the field to the left of the main gate and following the fence you can get a bit closer by the wall.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.14305, -1.577571 • what3words: ///royal.bordering.intrigued

All Hallows Church, Chichester (By grandad1950)

Nestled in the south downs national park All Hallows parish church in the hamlet of Tillington is a grade 1 listed building dating from 1180. Slight care needed for TOAL as it joins Petworth estate which is all National Trust

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.98934, -0.629148 • what3words: ///bulb.listed.inefficient

Wintersett Reservoir, Wakefield (By skysnapper13)

Wintersett Reservoir is a large, popular carp fishing lake in West Yorkshire, England, part of the Wintersett Fisheries complex, offering silver membership for its quality carp and other species, alongside walking trails around it and nearby Anglers Reservoir. It's known for quality fishing with large carp, features extensive fishing swims, and is surrounded by woodland, with ongoing improvements to access tracks and facilities.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.62889, -1.432217 • what3words: ///nightcap.estimate.options

Twmbarlwm Hillfort, Caerphilly (By gasbag43)

Twmbarlwm, also known as Twm Barlwm, Twyn Barlwm or locally known as "the Twmp" (translation: hump) is a hill situated 2 km (1.2 mi) to the northeast of Risca in South Wales. It is 419 m (1,375 ft) high and is a well-known landmark throughout the region.

It commands extensive views across the Motorway 4 corridor and out over the Bristol Channel.

At the top of the hill, near its summit, are the remains of an Iron Age hillfort, believed to have been built by the Silures, the Celtic tribe that inhabited the area before and during Roman times.

There is also a Roman signal point and a substantial Norman motte-and-bailey castle incorporated into the eastern end of the for. The area is a scheduled monument.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.62703, -3.096079 • what3words: ///outermost.gourmet.eggs

Ford Green Hall, Stoke-on-Trent (By D0c.Col)

Ford Green Hall stands quietly in the north of Stoke-on-Trent — a rare survivor from a time long before pottery kilns, factories, and industry reshaped the city.

Built in 1624 during the reign of King James I, this historic farmhouse was once the home of Hugh Ford, a yeoman farmer whose life was rooted in land, labour, and self-sufficiency. For nearly two centuries, the hall remained at the centre of a working farm, witnessing some of the most turbulent moments in English history, including the English Civil War, the execution of King Charles I, and the beginnings of industrial change.

Ford Green Hall is a beautiful historic building on the edge of the Whitfield Valley Nature Reserve— its architecture, interiors, surrounding farmland, and the quiet rhythms of rural life that once defined the area. It also reflects on the hall’s later history, including its survival through industrial expansion, flooding from the nearby Ford Green Brook, and its preservation as a historic house museum.

Blending calm narration with aerial footage, historic imagery, and atmospheric reconstructions, this video offers a gentle journey through four centuries of local history — reminding us that Stoke-on-Trent’s story began long before industry, shaped by land, labour, and ordinary lives quietly lived.

There is a carpark right next to the hall, but it is so close the road that there are loads of opportunities to park and film from. There is a petrol station opposite the hall so I'm confident that you could get a drink and a snack if you're feeling dry and peckish! The Whitfield Valley Nature Reserve looks superb, but I ran out of time to explore. I do know that it stretches back a fair way and you end up at the Whitfield Colliery Heritage Museum!

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.05491, -2.1696 • what3words: ///skips.actors.coast


Show All Locations

Our Recommended Retailer

Grey Arrows Drone Club recommends purchasing drones and drone accessories from Leicester Drones Ltd, our partnered retailer of choice, where our Club members are eligible for a discount on most purchases.

Service provided by