& PSS (Power Scale Soaring) Resource
The website for RC model glider and power radio control model plane modelling community in the Dublin, Wicklow and other Mountain slopes.
Bray Head, Co Wicklow - north - northeast - east - southeast - south slopes
The view from Bray seafront to the north shows the steepest slopes well. Access to the top is up a steep climb through an old wooded slope. |
 The reverse of the picture on the left but looking down on Bray from "The Cross". A calm day view north to Dalkey and Killiney, with Howth in the distance. It's a real climb ! |
 The north end is the steepest. That's the cliff walk at the wall above the railway, too close to be flyable. But up at the top of the Head is perfect. Howth lies in the distance. |
 The overall layout of the whole of Bray Head.
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 The middle of Bray Head. The railway prevents access to the sea so the cliff path is no good here (you need to go further south) but the top path (out of sight) is just perfect here for easterlies. |
 The midsection of Bray Head: from the top path, looking south from the cross. The distant hilltop is the bit overlooking the picture to the left, and is perfect for an easterly breeze. |
 The Brandy Hole, the southermost promontory, has sea access over the railway, from the Cliff Walk. You get lift in a southerly on the far side. Beyond is Greystones, and on the horizon - Wicklow Head. |
 The view from Greystones to the south shows the south facing side of the Brandy Hole promontory where it juts into the sea. The secondary high slope at the trigonometric marker is also visible. |
Bray Head, with it's
"three humps" is the massive
rocky outcrop 15 miles south of Dublin Day, just south of the town of
Bray, Co Wicklow. This was once the worlds top location for fossil hunters
and geologists, due to special rock formations present. At one time the
oldest fossil ever found was from here. It is
incredible for soaring. How many places can you fly
in a 180 degree selection of wind directions?
There's a beautiful view to the north - you see Killiney
Hill, Dalkey Head, Sound, and Island, and away in the distance Howth peninsula
on the north side of Dublin Bay. Bray town nestles under Bray Head and
is all laid out in front of you in a northerly wind. To the south
lies Greystones, Kilcoole Beach, and Wicklow Head.
There is a railway along the cliff tops, and if a model goes down there
are some places which are inaccessible. The east facing cliffs, and
above them, the slopes are seven hundred feet high, the east wind comes over the sea and the lift is
excellent. You don't have to go right on the cliffs, though they are
spectacular, because there is a second slope higher up with better
access to recover a "downed" model. The Brandy Hole is an
exception, with good low level sea access.
There is a 5km Cliff Walk from Bray seafront to Greystones Harbour. You can go north from the
North Beach, Greystones if you wish, but many slopes are within 2km of
the Bray end so via Bray is the way to go. The high path to the north &
east slopes is VERY STEEP. The lower cliff path takes you to the more
southerly east & south facing Brandy Hole if you wish.
From Dublin turn left after the Royal Hotel, and right onto the
promenade. Drive south along the Bray seafront, near the end, turn right
onto Putnam Road, then left and left again to the viewpoint carpark.
From here you can climb up to the top, or walk straight out along the
cliff path.
Please email me your info about where you fly, so I can include it.. n o r m _ f l y e r @ y a h o o . c o . u k