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Parking/TOAL: 51.640909, -1.858546

There has been a church on this site since at least AD 890 - not surprising when you consider the age of Cricklade itself, which was a thriving town in the late Saxon era.

One of the finest parish churches in Wiltshire, St Sampson's is a superb medieval building with a striking Perpendicular tower that rises high over this ancient Saxon town.

The dedication to St Sampson is unusual; it is one of only five churches in England dedicated to Sampson, who was a 6th-century Welshman, an abbot of Caldey, and the first Bishop of Dol in Brittany.

At the time of the Domesday Book, the church was held by Westminster Abbey in London. It seems that the Abbey rebuilt the Saxon church around 1080. Remnants of this 11th-century construction can be seen in the lower section of the west wall of the nave.

Much of the current St Sampson's dates to a major rebuilding in the period 1240-1280, though the most striking feature - the central tower - was begun in the early 16th century and finished by the Duke of Northumberland in 1551-1553. Perhaps the tower acts as the Duke's legacy, as he was beheaded for treason shortly after it was completed. The chancel was rebuilt 1350-1370 and a large chapel was added by Sir Edmund Hungerford before his death in 1484.

Back to the tower; it is decorated with large octagonal turrets at each corner. These rise well above the battlemented top of the tower and are capped with striking spirelets. The tower facade is highly decorated with blind arcading and emphasizes just what an imposing and impressive structure it is.

There are remnants of the early Saxon church to be seen in the current building; over the north door (the main entrance) are pieces of a 10th-century cross shaft and part of a grave slab of similar age, both showing traditional Saxon interlace carving patterns.

A Saxon pilaster strip is built into the wall of the south aisle, composed of two carved stones are set high on the south aisle wall; the westernmost stone shows a pair of beasts, while the other stone shows two figures thought to be of Roman origin, but later recarved in the 11th century. Another possible Roman remain is incorporated in the font.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Sampson%27s_Church,_Cricklade

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Co-ordinates: 51.64056, -1.857997 • what3words: ///baseless.noticing.toffee

I don't think you need to obtain permission from anyone to fly.
Parking is on Snake Road (Snake Pass Summit) on the A57.
It's a few miles to the crash site and weather can change so be prepared.
It can be a bit treacherous under foot to reach the site.

NOTE - I made a mistake with the take off and landing location.
We took off and landed at the crash site itself.

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Co-ordinates: 53.45062, -1.865011 • what3words: ///hints.pave.dished

Dunskey Castle is a short 20min walk from Portpatrick along a public footpath.

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Co-ordinates: 54.83544, -5.109852 • what3words: ///cigar.purse.lined

Boscobel House is a great historic place to visit, easy to find just off the A5, and as it's an English Heritage property, it has their full usual amenities available. At the time of my visit you could get a 15% discount by obtaining tickets online before you go. It has a large carpark that costs £3 for all day (you can leave and come back same day), but on the day of my flight, I parked just passed the house on the grass verge by the entrance to a farmers field, on Shackerley Lane. There is also other historic buildings nearby such as Chillington Hall and the White Ladies Priory (the latter is also on the edge of the Cosford FRZ).

Some of the footage I took was taken inside a FRZ so I strongly suggest you get prior authorisation from RAF Cosford before you fly here. Cosford ATC is not always manned during the day so you need to request their form by email to [email protected]. You need to submit your forms by email at least 24 hours prior to your intended flight, however, they do not check their emails on a Thu or Fri as they work the weekends, therefore you need to take this into account. They have a contact number of 01902 377030, but all you can generally do is leave a message. The RAF also have a pre-flight reporting number of 0800 515544 but I've never had to use it yet.

Happy flying!

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Co-ordinates: 52.6717, -2.241865 • what3words: ///create.worms.regret

Two fights close together. Park on the small carpark for free W3W " conceals, skips. reserving. Take the right path, walk up the hill with the houses on your left, pass the gate pole, approx 75m the Cave House are on your left in the dip. W3W gourmet. dabble. baguette. Be careful of the trees keep the drone low.
Re join the path walk 50m and you will come to a stone with a hole through it, a arrow points left, follow the path up the hill and you come to the stone sun dial W3W, reserving. walnuts. dress.

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Co-ordinates: 52.78069, -2.041029 • what3words: ///drank.width.duties

Gawton's Well is a peaceful hidden spot - a healing well hidden in a grove of Yew Trees, if not for the signage showing where it is then I am sure most would never find it...

Depending on your sources, Gawton was either a servant at nearby Knypersley Hall or a local villager, who was afflicted with a skin complaint and bathed in the waters of the well, which was said to cure him, he then became a hermit, living in the woods under the nearby Gawton's Stone...

The second of 4 videos from that day, and 3 filmed within a quarter of a mile of each other. I was aiming to show the peace of the place and to document what is, given the shaded area and abundance of trees I flew only the AVATA as it was not really safe to fly either of the cine camera drones, I hope I have done the place justice...

To get here, follow the path inland from the Warder's Tower and then follow the signs, path can be muddy, but otherwise accessible to the wall and within, but the well itself requires a few steep steps to be climbed.

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Co-ordinates: 53.0971, -2.15339 • what3words: ///cuddling.attracts.strumming

Nice place to fly in de morning sun!
Wait for the ferry to leave Ardgour for the perfect picture!

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Co-ordinates: 56.72145, -5.242674 • what3words: ///brings.urgent.baseballs

Hidden behind the trees on the banks of Knypersley Pool - a reservoir built between 1825 and 1827 to feed the canal system - lies the impressive sandstone Warder's Tower - or Warden's Tower as it was called when I was a child growing up in the area!

Home now to several endangered and at-risk species of bat it was originally a gamekeeper's lodge for the Knypersley Estate, and was lived in until the 20th Century.

Captured at the end of September 2024 with the MINI3 Pro and AVATA1, just with the first blushes of autumn colours in the trees, I think another few weeks and the woods there will be stunning...

Parking can usually be had roadside near the dam, which gives about a half mile walk to the tower, but the road is currently shot for maintenance, meaning you have to park in the free car park - marked on map - which makes it a much longer walk - about 4 miles all told but only about 200ft of ascent in total.

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Co-ordinates: 53.09521, -2.155606 • what3words: ///plug.thundered.melons

Along the A838 (NC500), between Tongue and Durness, the long road snakes around Loch Eriboll, and at the Choraidh Tearoom there lies a small Highland Stream, Allt an Lagain.

With far-reaching views across Loch Eriboll this small river drops from the higher moors down a series of exposed rock runs and small waterfalls past clumps of bright purple heather flowers - and through one of the first privately built and run Hydro-Electric systems. The water is stained brown with Peat, and some of the exposed rocks are thusly stained red.

Perhaps not as stunning as a large waterfall, but it has its own quiet peace and beauty, and although the wind was on the limits of what was possible on our visit, we managed to make a quick flight up the river to capture this short video, I hope it is enjoyed...

Car Parking available at roadside or in the cafe Car Park. Fly up the hill, watch out for Golden Eagles and Peregrine Falcon though, both had a look at the drone on this flight!

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Co-ordinates: 58.49235, -4.729075 • what3words: ///deploying.shopper.curbed

Great an quit place to fly!!!

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Co-ordinates: 56.7845, -5.82922 • what3words: ///views.skylights.crashing

Parking available on the B6011 via a layby between Linby and Papplewick villages. A small walk down a trail gets you to this historic church.

The church is thought to have been built in the 12th century. In the grant made by Henry II to Newstead Priory, part of the endowment was “The Town of Papplewick with the Church of the same name and the Mill.”. Legend has it that Alan A’Dale, one of Robin Hood’s men, was married here. The present tower dates from the 14th century. The nave and chancel were rebuilt by the Right Hon. Frederick Montagu in 1795 (after he had rebuilt the Hall.). In 1855, Papplewick was united with Linby. The Parish is now called ‘the Parish of St. Michael, Linby cum St. James, Papplewick‘. The building was further restored and repaired in 1938 in memory of John Chadburn, son of Mr. C. W. Chadburn who lived in the Parish.

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Co-ordinates: 53.05827, -1.187194 • what3words: ///flushes.mindset.clockwork