Seefin NE (Co.Kerry)

Seefin NE in County Kerry, south-west Ireland, is a short NE-facing ridge with a superb thermal — one thermal off launch can take you to cloudbase over the big mountain behind. It needs a sunny day for the house thermal to really work; otherwise the ridge itself is quite short for pure soaring. The best thermal is on the left of takeoff — commit to the first turn and you're away. Best option to land is on top; failing that, cross the river to the fields below, but watch for near-invisible wires around the bottom LZs.

Launch & conditions

52°3.55'N 9°53.9'W. On the low ridge below the main mountain, NE direction. You may need to walk up the last section — the track has been eroded, so only a good 4x4 will get you to takeoff.

Getting there & local rules

Drive 12 km west from Killorglin towards Glenbeigh. 1 km after crossing the bridge, take the first left signposted 'Treanmanagh'. Follow this road for 2 km to the top of the pass. At the junction, go right on the dirt track towards the mountain; drive as far as you can, park sensibly, and walk up. On top there's a large flat area — walk north to the flying area. Landings: best option is top-landing on the large flat area behind takeoff (very easy, including for HGs). Otherwise land across the river at the bottom of the hill — those fields are usually quite wet.

Local rules & hazards

Sometimes the wind picks up without warning — if that happens, top-landing on the large flat area behind takeoff is a safe bail. If the wind goes easterly, stop flying — there's rotor from the hill by the lake to the east; move to Ballaghasheen Gap instead. Watch for near-invisible wires around some of the bottom fields.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Seefin NE (Co.Kerry), 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 Seefin NE (Co.Kerry) with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.