Cox Tor

Cox Tor is a Dartmoor site west of Tavistock, working several wind directions: NNW to NNE, WSW to NW, and SSE to SSW (the southern face is used for training). The 429 m launch is not very steep, so dynamic lift is limited — but XC potential is excellent. The west face is the classic XC launch, letting pilots follow the moor road toward Two Bridges, Dartmeet, Ashburton and beyond. The north face's XC option quickly runs into the sea. The northwest corner is rocky and awkward; the south face is shallow and difficult to soar but suits training. Flying on Dartmoor is legally controlled — the South Devon HG & PG Club holds the licence and only members (full or temporary) with BHPA and current third-party insurance can fly designated sites. Dartmoor is also a military training area and designated DANGER AREA from ground level to 10,000 feet; do NOT cross the areas marked on the club's danger-area maps.

Launch & conditions

Launch surface is good but watch for large boulders. Landing is similar — good but boulder-strewn. The site can be rough at any time, especially in strong winds (22 mph or more). Modern hang gliders are difficult to land on the west face. The south face's shallow slope makes soaring difficult but suits student progression.

Getting there & local rules

Leave Tavistock on the B3357 toward Princetown. For the west and north launches, as the road leaves the fields on the steep part of the hill, turn left and pass a barn just visible from the main road. Follow the road about 400 m to the west site, or a mile to the north site. The south (training) launch is reached by parking at the top of the hill on the main road, in the car park on the right. Do NOT park more than 15 metres from the road or track. Club and BHPA membership are prerequisites for flying — this is not a site for showing up unannounced.

Local rules & hazards

Flying is controlled by law and limited to insured club members with permission; the area is a military danger zone from ground to 10,000ft. Never cross the range marker boards when red flags fly, and never pick up unidentified objects. It's remote, so carry map, compass and water; several conservation areas are closed to landing.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Cox Tor, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Cox Tor with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.