Aircraft Spotting at Wales' Airfields and Airports

N5834N, WENTLOOG, CARDIFF

This rests in a field next to Neal’s off the Parkway, Tremorfa.  More specific directions would be welcome.

 

ABERGAVENNY

Head west out of Raglan on A40.  After approx 8 miles, take last exit at roundabout on to A465 to town and Hereford.  Strip is about half a mile on right.

Added 4 May 2006

 

CAERNARFON-LLANDWROG - TWR 122.25

Head south out of Caernarfon town on A487. After about 3 miles, turn onto A499 at the roundabout. From there, follow the signs for Morfa Dinile and the airfield is just north of here.  Also a museum here, entrance costs £4.50.  For more info visit http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~airworld/

Updated 24 July 04

 

CARDIFF-TREMORFA HELIPORT – TWR 120.65

Head west on M4, come off at J29 and head southwest on A48(M) to Cardiff city centre.  After the motorway part ends (after 2 miles), take the third exit (a further 2.5 miles) and turn left at the roundabout on to A4161 signed Cardiff Docks.  Take middle or right lane (I forget which) to go over the flyover and at the next roundabout go straight over.  Follow this road until you reach the main dock gates and turn left just before it.  Should be signed Heliport and it’s at the end of this road on the left.  Website http://www.veritair.23xc.co.uk.

Updated 12 February 2007

 

CARDIFF-WALES - TWR 125.0, APP 126.625

Southwest of Cardiff, head west out of Barry on A4226 and follow the signs to the airport.  No places to stop at the terminal but a quick drive round should net you one or two that are parked near the fence.  For flying club follow signs for RZVP.  You’re allowed in to the clubhouse and can use the bar and first floor lounge, which may help you to get some that you can’t see from the fence. For airport parking visit Website http://www.cardiffwalesflyingclub.co.uk/.  Yahoogroup http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/cwlspottersgroup.

Correct as of 12 February 2007

CHIRK-LEY FARM - TWR 129.825

Head north out of Oswestry on A5.  After 5.5 miles, going past the village of Chirk, at the A5/A483 roundabout, turn right and at the next roundabout turn right.  This takes you back under the A5 and Ley Farm is on the left immediately after the A5.  Entrance is either here or take the next left and it’s on the left.  Very friendly, ask for permission.  If no one around, knock on the owner’s door, usually happy to show you round.  A good time to visit is on a Sunday when they host a car boot sale.

Updated 17 June 2007

 

HAVERFORDWEST - TWR 122.2

Just north of town on A40. Friendly, ask in clubhouse or tower for access to the hangars.

Correct as of 19 November 2005

 

HAWARDEN - TWR 124.95, APP 123.35

Just west of Chester off the A5104. Viewing points are: 1 - North of the airfield to one side of the crashgate looking down the runways. 2 - The newly built industrial estate. 3 - Turn in to Grate Walls of Fire and down to the old hangar site. 4 - Pull into Chester Air Park and walk on top of the railway bridge to view into the Aviateknik compound. 5 - Passed the A380 factory and stop behind the Raytheon site on the flint road. 6 - Approach road to corporate jets security.  Head out of Chester on A5104 and turn right at a roundabout in Broughton on to the B5125 towards Hawarden village.  The airfield is on your right, the crash gate on your right at the runway end gives views of the tower ramp, the Beluga ramp plus distant (but readable) views of one end of Raytheon plus Hawarden Air Services. Park on the grass so as not to block the crash gate.  Carry on the B5125 towards Hawarden village then turn right into Manor Lane at the roundabout (2nd exit). At the next roundabout turn right into Manor Road, go straight on (Arriva bus depot on left) then turn right at the next roundabout. This goes up to a dead end by a substation building, from here you can see most of the ramp between the Raytheon hangars.  Go back to the Manor Lane/Manor Road roundabout and turn right (2nd exit). Carry on and go straight over the next roundabout (2nd exit) and the A380 wing facility will be on your right. Park in a pull in to a field on the left then walk down the road past the A380 building. From here any remaining items on the Raytheon ramp can be read.  You can cross the field and walk up to the airfield fence here but normally everything can be seen from the verge.  Back to the car and carry on down the road past the A380 building, cross the railway bridge and park in one of the pull ins on the left.  A walk along the road may reveal anything in the first Raytheon hangar (if doors open) plus anything which was parked nose on from the other areas. Also the Russian stuff and any other bits may be seen behind Hawarden Air Services from the bridge.  Contact Hawarden Air Services prior to your visit as you may be able to arrange a tour.  For more info visit http://www.hawardenspotters.info/.

Website http://www.learnhowtofly.co.uk/.

Updated 19 October 2007

RHIGOS

Head southwest through the village and after half a mile you’ll reach a sharp right hand bend.  Continue round and past the left hand turn to Cwmhwnt and the strip is on the left.

Added 4 May 2006

 

RHUALLT-EMLYN’S STRIP

From Rhedyn Coch below, back on A55 heading east and come off at the next junction.  As soon as you come off the A55 heading north, take the very first left turn and follow it around the back of the house to run parallel with the A55 to the end.  Through the gates and up the track to the hangar/lock ups in the next field at the top.  Emlyn is very friendly ask for access.

Added 28 September 2007

 

RHUALLT-RHEDYN COCH

Exit the A55 at Junction 29 and turn left to Cwm, following the Caravan Park sign.  On passing the caravan Park (Penisar Mynydd), take the next left after about 400m, then bear to the left, following the road for around 300m, where you will find the entrance to the field on the left.  Now this strip is owned by the same chap who has Rhuallt-Emlyn's Field just a mile down the road.  There are three small hangars here, the first is through a path and holds flexwings, then around the corner at the bottom of the field are two fixed wings.  Friendly, ask for access as the stored PA18 is locked away at the house.  For Emlyn’s, get back on A55 heading east and come off at the next junction, then see above.  Website http://fly-121.co.uk/4466.html.

Added 28 September 2007

 

St. ATHAN

Follow Llantwit Major road, don’t go to St Athan village, keep on to Llantwit Major.  The field is on your right over a rail track.  There is a road bridge over this – take it and follow lane to T junction.  Turn left and it runs up to south perimeter fence.  As you go up the lane, the hangars on the right house the Harrier unit, the Grobs are kept in the black hangars to the right of these and across the runway

SWANSEA - TWR 119.7

On A4118 west of city, follow the signs.  First hangar on left is Bond Air Services (I think), the next belongs to the flying club and up the top is the main terminal and car park.  It’s very quiet since Air Wales moved on, so if you ask at the information desk in the main terminal, one of the fire crew might be able to escort you round.  If no one is available, you can ask at Horizon Flying Club.  Two owners, very friendly, they’ll give you a high viz jacket and escort you round their hangar and the aircraft parked on the grass.  If you don’t get access, providing the hangars are open, you can log most from the airport fence.

Correct as of 19 November 2005

 

USK

Take the Usk exit from the A449 and follow the signs for Chepstow just after the slip road. After about a mile the road turns sharply right, with a smaller road going straight on. take this road and the airfield is about 3/4 of a mile on the left.  Website http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~tonyho/.

 

WELSHPOOL-TREHELIG - TWR 128.0

Head south out of town on A490 and just after the A483 crossroads, turn immediately right.  Airfield is on left, permission given for access.

Website http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/ACS_AviationServices/page5.html

 

WHITSON-UPFIELD FARM

Exit M4 J24, take the A455 Ringland way (road has since been renumbered A48 but some signs still say A455) and at the 3rd roundabout turn left towards Nash.  Keep on this road until you come to Whitson (approx 3 miles) and strip entrance is on the right just past a road to Gt Porton.  Note small farm entrance marked Upfield Farm. Friendly, ask for access to hangars in offices or farmhouse.

Correct as of 19 May 2006