After spending a weekend in the lakes, having a play with a kite and realising that they're shed loads of fun I have decided to fork out a good chunk of my next pay cheque on a power kite.

So, can anyone suggest a good place in or near Sheffield to fly one.

If it's somewhere of the in the peaks, some vague directions would also be very much appreciated. :)

Crosby beach :D

'Cept when it's full of statues :(

Indeed, the statues are a bit of a problem. However, Crosby beach is a popular spot for kite buggying, which is what I'd like to try after getting to grips with controlling the kite. Then kite land boarding and kite surfing. Hmmm, best take it one step at a time and sort the kite out first. :)

Possibly Stanage Edge - up Ringinglow road about four miles, stop for an ice cream and enjoy the view at 'Devils Elbow' carry on and turn first right after the sharp bend.

No more than six miles from where you live, Andy :)

I think these directions are right. If not, I know someone will be quick to correct me :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Draggletail
Possibly Stanage Edge - up Ringinglow road about four miles, stop for an ice cream and enjoy the view at 'Devils Elbow' carry on and turn first right after the sharp bend.

No more than six miles from where you live, Andy :)

I think these directions are right. If not, I know someone will be quick to correct me :rolleyes:

That sounds cool. Erm, where's devils elbow? I probably drove past it tonight because I think I came along Ringinlow Road. Not 100% sure though. I mean, I've only lived here 7 years and driven that route a million times. How am I supposed to know place names? :confused:

I never knew it was called that 'till recently, Andy. It's at a sharp left hand bend with a stone built bridge, water tumbling down to your left, very pretty. If you follow through the bend and do not take the previously mentioned right turn to stanage edge, you would come to a T junction - if you went right you would go to Hathersage, left would take you 'home'

Ahhh yup, I think I know that. Cheers pal :thumbsup:

You're welcome - just to add.... you get a few hang gliders out there, and people with kites, so it may get a bit busy on the weekend ;)

Cool, I was thinking that night flying could be fun :)

Originally posted by Andy78
Cool, I was thinking that night flying could be fun :)
Take a tent, beer, a few mates and a lighter for a camp fire too.
In fact is there a forum nightime kite flying picnic in the offing here
;)

I'd love to do that. If only there was anywhere legal to camp in the peaks other than the typical caravan/camp sites. :mad:

Isn't stanage edge more or less a cliff top? You want even, level ground with no obstacles, as you do do a lot of walking about with your eyes looking skyward.

The field by the sportsmen pub on the way to redmires is popular - i believe a kite club meets there.

Not into power kiting mesself, preferring aerobatics and freaking out birds. I have a 6' Flexifoil and a couple of others. The flexi is fun though, even if I am half terrified of chopping people up when I fly it (imagine 2 cheese wires hitting you at 60mph).

I've got two soft kites, one is a kids kite and the other is a parafoil stunt kite which is aaaaaaaaaamazing (and almost too fast to control).

I've tried Graves Park, which isn't bad when the wind gets up, but you need to fly your kite above the treeline for good laminar airflow.

The same applies at the field by the pub, but I've yet to find a top spot in sheff. Beaches are great but sand abrades the crap out of ripstop, and fluffing a wingtip dunk in the ocean means you have now got 2 lines attached to a big sea anchor, pulling you out.
Originally posted by Andy78
I'd love to do that. If only there was anywhere legal to camp in the peaks other than the typical caravan/camp sites. :mad:

the season for bivvying out is almost over, but it's easy enough, if you are prepared to forgo a few luxuries (like a tent).

Cheers Phan.

Kiting off a cliff may be fun, but probably not too sensible.

Don't know redmires too well, so I may take a drive up there tonight and see if I can find it. I'd prefer to get up into the peaks than a park as I've realised that I don't make enough use of them. Kiting is a perfect excuse for yomping around a beautiful country park.

Was looking at a Flexifoil blade or similar. Will prob have to Ebay it though as I can't really afford splashing out £200 on a new one. :(

Have you bought a power kite yet?? I have a 3metre Flexifoil Blade 2 4-line kite that I am going to sell as I just dont get the use out of it.

As for flying, Graves park is also quite good. The grounds behind the Sportsman are where many people meet but it is quite sheltered so you often find there is not enough wind. Stannage ? Edge is also a good place as it's always windy, the glider flyers tend to get in a strop though and it's hard on your ankles as the ground is very rough.

Hi Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!

Not bought one yet; don't get paid till Friday. I will have to budget first though, because I'm not sure how much I can afford to spend. Certainly handy to know that you're selling yours though :) What kind of price would you be looking at?

We could try it off my roof, mate?

Hell yes Kathy! Such a simple idea.

naturally, when I buy a kite, you will be invited to play with it too. :)

hey Andy, this site's (http://www.extremekiteshop.com/kites/flexifoil-flexifoil-blade-3-c-1_17_28.html) having a sale; I don't know if they're still too pricy though, :)

Originally posted by Andy78
Hell yes Kathy! Such a simple idea.

naturally, when I buy a kite, you will be invited to play with it too. :)

YES!!!!

:clap:

Originally posted by Strix
Crosby beach :D

'Cept when it's full of statues :(

I like going a bit further up to Formby beach and Ainsdale Sands!

I usually fly my big kite on the field by Treeton Dyke - just by Falconer Lane. You get a fantastic airflow down there.

One sold yesterday on Ebay for £151 + postage so I was hoping for a similarish price. It has hardly been used and comes complete with the Flexifoil bag etc. I can deliever and obviously would not encounter any Ebay charges etc so would drop the price a bit.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
[B]Isn't stanage edge more or less a cliff top? You want even, level ground with no obstacles, as you do do a lot of walking about with your eyes looking skyward

It's the area below 'the edge' where all the kite flyers go Phan - I just neglected to say ;)

There's always people up there flying something or other - like neeeeek says, there is a constant breeze :thumbsup:

Originally posted by Andy78
After spending a weekend in the lakes, having a play with a kite and realising that they're shed loads of fun I have decided to fork out a good chunk of my next pay cheque on a power kite.

So, can anyone suggest a good place in or near Sheffield to fly one.

If it's somewhere of the in the peaks, some vague directions would also be very much appreciated. :)

I would recommend my freinds to fly their kite some where safe very open fields. My enemies please fly them in the middle of the national grid

Originally posted by Draggletail
Possibly Stanage Edge - up Ringinglow road about four miles, stop for an ice cream and enjoy the view at 'Devils Elbow' carry on and turn first right after the sharp bend.

No more than six miles from where you live, Andy :)

I think these directions are right. If not, I know someone will be quick to correct me :rolleyes:

I would definitely not fly a POWER kite near an EDGE! That seems like a bad idea. You need somewhere large and flat with no pylons. That is if you're using the kind of power kite my mate uses that drag you FAR and FAST - I wasn't on wheels of any kind. I was glad of the huge beach I was on then.

Edit: just read the posts after this one - maybe below stanage is ok...

up a hill - plenty of them in sheffield to go at

Neeeeeek,

I'll have to wait and see how much I can afford on Friday. I've got a really bad feeling that my pay's going to get messed up this month because I've just extended my contract and Hallam HR are very good at messing up pay.

If it comes down to it, I may have to downsize to a more basic kite like the Radsail Pro2 or something (a cheaper version of the Blade).

I'll keep you posted dude. :)

Originally posted by tim_rutter

Edit: just read the posts after this one - maybe below stanage is ok... [/B]

Phan thinks it may be too rough underfoot, so I guess the only way Andy will find out is if he goes up to have a shufty :)

Well, haven't got muchto do, so I'm going for a drive to check out these places. I will report back with my findings. That's if I can find my way back home

dunno about near sheff, weve flown em up on the north york moors near here, wikkid

So, I've been for a little adventure and checked out Redmires and Stanage Edge. Can I just double check, is Stanage Edge first right after devils elbow and the first car park on that road? Kind of like a big mound made out of rocks? Nice view incidentally.

Most days on the sportsman field off redmires rd you will see power kites, but I do know they all meet up every Thursday night there.
Probabaly the best place to get advice and practice, seen people having lessons there.

Cheers Modesty, much appreciated. :)

Originally posted by alchresearch
I like going a bit further up to Formby beach and Ainsdale Sands!
Say 'Hi' to the squirrels for me ;)

Alot of People get together on the beach at Cleethorpes (South end) Go Through Thorpe Park holday village and you can pull up right next to the beach.

Many take tents and pitch on the beach in the dunes, theres usually a mixture of power kiters, buggies and surfers, it's really fab!
There is a yearly kite show in clee as well, and a good shop on the main road, you might find out more about it with googlin'

If you dont mind driving a distance then the beach at Filey is pretty cool as there is a massive space and it doesnt get that busy up there. Def worth a look!!

I'd reccommend the field at the rear of The Sportmans pub on Redmires Road.

This traditional pub also does excellent meals at good prices and the beer is first class.

There is always somebody kiting on the field in the evenings.

Happy Kiting!

When are we going andy? Lets go somewhere with a pub.

I warn you, I will be singing:
Lets go fly a kite, up to the highest height

Well I'm hoping to have it by next week. Maybe one evening after work? By the sportsman would be good, because we can get the bus/walk and then we can drink in the pub afterwards :)

On a side note, I've just been up to the stone circle and watched the sunset. Lovely! Hmmm, should metion that on the sunset thread.

...and send it soaring...up through the atmosphere...

:clap:

I'm really excited about this. I love kites. Let me know when you're off work andy cos I'm having some time off from next week so I'll be free lots :)

Not sure I'll be off work next week. Erm....hang on, I've got 9 days to take and only a month left until I've finished. Of course I can take a day off :clap:

OK, we'll see how things go. I could arrange for a day off when I get it then go to redmires or the peaks or something. WooHoo!

what's everyone doing tomorrow. not sure what the wind forecast is....

edit -

westerlies (prevailing) at 15mph for tomorrow, broken cloud - sounds good.

Sportsman at 2pm?

If I could get time off that quickly Phan, I would. Unfortunately I can't though :(

Guys, I just spent a weekend surfing (without a kite) and spent most of the weekend enviously watching guys flying power kites. This has made me think I may invest in such a devise. If you're all heading up to the said sportsman field then I may come along. It'd have to be evening or weekend mind.

Anyone know of any second hand kites going anywhere? Can't be spending too much...

Especially not if I'm gonna get a harness/board etc. Tho I was thinking that it wouldn't be that hard to make a board with wheels - old pram, plank of wood etc.

As the new Argos advert is proudly showing them off I can't wait to see the chavs crashing into each other on any bit of open space they can find!

But would they get their kite lines or gold chains tangled if they collided?