Golf Hotel Whiskey

Golf Hotel Whiskey: for pilots and aviation enthusiasts

Airports

Fairoaks (EGTF)

Airport information

Nearest town: Woking (11m by car), Surrey

PPR: Yes

ICAO: EGTF

Phone: 01276 857 700 (Administration); 01276 857 300 (AFIS Station)

Website: www.alanmann.co.uk/services, Wikipedia entry

Landing fees: £10 – £76 (0-9,999kg)

Runway: 813m x 27m, Asphalt

Opening times: Mon-Sat 0800-1800; Sun 0900-1800

Fuel: AVTUR JET A-1, AL48, AVGAS 100LL

AIP plates and airport diagram (PDF format)

Airport map

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Airport services

  • Handling: Mann Aviation Group Engineering (01276 857 888).
  • Taxis: Wey Cars (01932 344 334), All Airport Cars (01483 771 166), Express Taxis (01483 751 166).
  • Car Hire: Europcar (01483 757 007, www.europcar.co.uk), Woking Car Hire (01483 720 991), Avis (01483 728 122, www.avis.com).
  • Nearest railway stations: Woking.
  • Passenger facilities: Hangar Café (Open for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon pastries). Customs and immigration by arrangement.

Pubs

  • Inn the West End, 42 Guildford Road, West End (01276 858 652). Proper gastropub with very impressive menu and a wine cellar.
  • The Castle Grove, Castle Grove Rd, Chobham (0127 685 819). Indian menu at the back of the bar.
  • Cricketer’s Inn, The Green, Airfreight (01483 473 198). Well located for walkers.

Restaurants

  • Zinfadel, Bagshot Road, Chobham (01276 858 491). Cuisine inspired by California’s Napa Valley plus excellent desserts.
  • Runwong, 18-20 London Rd, Guildford (01483 536 092). Opened in 1976 as one of the UK’s first Thai restaurants, Runwong is still going strong. Also features a good Thai market.
  • L’Auberge at the Onslow Arms, The Street, West Clandon (01483 222 447). French classics served with style in a modern interior.

Hotels

  • Asperion, 73 Farnham Road, Guildford (01483 579 299, www.asperion-hotel.co.uk). Luxurious boutique hotel.
  • Hillside Hotel, Perry Hill, Worplesdon (01483 232 051, www.thehillsidehotel.com). 15 rooms, set in award-winning gardens.
  • Great Fosters, Egham (01784 433 822, www.greatfosters.co.uk). Grade One listed building on a 50-acre estate, a favorite with celebrities.

Golf courses

  • Foxhills Club and Resort, Ottershaw (01932 872 050, www.foxhills.co.uk). Nine-hole Manor course and two 18-hole Championship courses set in lovely forest.
  • West Byfleet Golf Club, West Byfleet (01932 343 433, www.wbgc.com). Includes the famous ‘pond hole’ on the 13th.
  • Chobham Golf Club, Chobham (01276 855 584, www.chobhamgolfclub.co.uk).

Activities

Useful information

Wellesbourne Mountford (EGBW)

Airport information

Nearest town: Stratford-Upon-Avon (5m by car), Warwickshire. Also close to Warwick and Coventry.

Opening Times:

  • Winter: Daily 09:00 – S/S + 30 mins, or 17:30 (whichever earlier); winter night flying Wednesday, Friday and Saturday by arrangement.
  • Summer: Daily 09:00 – 17:30 BST and by arrangement

Longest Runway: 917m, Asphalt

Fuel: AVTUR JET A-1, AVGAS 100LL

Phone: 01789 842007 (Admin), 01789 842000 (ATC)

Website: www.wellesbourneairfield.com, Wikipedia entry

AIP: plates and airport diagram

Landing fees: from £10 singles, £15 twins

Note: Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield is unlicensed after 17:30; within published hours, no PPR is required.

Airport map

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Airport services

  • Taxis: Barford Cabs (01926 620096), Main Taxis, in Stratford (01789 415333), Teddy Bear Kabs (07771 622970), Wellesbourne Taxis, (07900 616783).
  • Car Hire: Hertz (01789 298 827, www.hertz.co.uk). Note: by train station in Stratford-Upon-Avon, not on airfield.
  • Facilities at airport: Touchdown Cafe with fine view of the runway.
  • Flying schools: OnTrack Aviation (01789 842777, www.ontrackaviation.com), South Warwickshire Flying School (01789 840094, www.southwarwickshireflyingschool.com),.

Pubs

  • The Black Swan aka The Dirty Duck, Waterside, Stratford upon Avon, 01789 297312. The actors’ pub with great food.
  • The Old Thatch Tavern, 23, Greenhill St, Stratford Upon Avon, 0871 917 0007. Atmospheric, old pub with dark and cozy interiors, and a real fire.
  • The Windmill Inn, Church St, Stratford upon Avon, 0871 917 0007. A 350 year old pub known for its hearty lunches.

Restaurants

  • Coconut Lagoon, 21 Sheep Street, Stratford-upon-Avon (01789 293546, www.coconutlagoon.com). Handy for the theatre.
  • Vintners, 4 & 5 Sheep Street, Stratford upon Avon, (01789 297259, www.the-vintner.co.uk) . Good for a Sunday brunch.
  • Drucker’s at Nash’s House, NULL Halls Croft, Stratford upon Avon (01789 297848). A little secret place for tea and a light lunch.

Hotels

  • The Charlecote Pheasant, Charlecote, Stratford upon Avon (0844 855 9126). Attractively located beside Charlecote Manor and Park and close to the river Avon
  • Glebe Hotel, Church Street, Barford (01926 624218). 5 miles from the airfield, this is a church rectory converted to a small hotel.
  • The Kings Head Inn, 39 Saltisford, Warwick (01789 840206, www.thekingsheadwarwick.com/). A 400 year old inn very close to Warwick castle.
  • Alveston Manor Hotel, Clopton Bridge, Stratford-upon-Avon (0871 508 8768, www.alvestonmanor.co.uk). A 4-star hotel believed to be the site of the first performance of A Midsummer Night’s dream.

Golf courses

  • Stratford-on-Avon Golf Club (1789 297 296, www.stratfordgolf.co.uk). Has a number of challenging holes for golfers of all aptitudes.
  • Stratford Oaks Golf Club (01789 731980, www.stratfordoaks.co.uk).
  • Ingon Manor Golf and Country Club (01789 731857, www.ingonmanor.co.uk). Set in 130 acres of countryside that includes a 14th century country house hotel.

Activities

  • Wellesbourne Wartime Museum (01789 778816) on the airfield, open 10-4 on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Also on the airfield, a Vulcan Bomber (www.xm655.com).
  • Charlecote Park (www.nationaltrust.org.uk), a lovely Tudor mansion house run by the National Trust, a fifteen-minute brisk walk to the North of the airfield.
  • The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (01789 204016, www.shakespeare.org.uk) owns five Elizabethan houses in Stratford and the local area, including the bard’s birthplace.
  • Stratford-upon-Avon racecourse. (01789 267949, www.stratfordracecourse.net).
  • Royal Shakespeare Company. (01789 403444, www.rsc.org.uk). Walking tours and small exhibitions as well as plays.
  • British Motor Heritage Museum (01926 641188, www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk ) at Gaydon is about half an hour’s drive from Wellesbourne.
  • Warwick Castle (www.warwick-castle.co.uk, 0870 442 2000) Well-run castle with all mod cons, including dungeons and peacocks.

Useful information

Enstone (EGTN)

Airport information

Nearest town: Chipping Norton (3m by car)

Opening Times: 08:00 to 19:30 (last takeoff) and sunset (last landing)

Longest Runway: 1100m, Asphalt

Fuel: AVGAS 100LL, JET A1

Phone: 01608 677208

Website: www.enstoneaerodrome.co.uk, Wikipedia entry

Landing fees: Single £ 8.50, twin £17.00, microlight £ 5.00, multiple landings £20.00

PPR required

Airport map

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Airport services

Pubs

  • The Crown Inn, Church Enstone, 01608 677262. 17th century inn listed in the Good Pub Guide. Food and real ales.
  • The Carpenter’s Arms, 122 North Street, Middle Barton, Chipping Norton, 01869 340378. Quiz nights on Tuesdays.
  • The Falkland Arms, The Green, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, 01608 683653. Excellent food, a huge draw in the local area, good range of beers.

Restaurants

  • The Chequers, Goddards Lane, Chipping Norton, 01608 644717. Well-sourced British cuisine with an attractive covered courtyard.
  • Tollgate Inn and Restaurant, Church Street, Kingham, 01608 658389. Organic offerings in Georgian former farmhouse.
  • Chav Brasseries, 7 Horsefair, Chipping Norton, 01608 645968. Good quality French – look out for the wonderful bread.

Hotels

  • Swan Lodge, Enstone, 01608 678736. 17th century former inn with easy access to local attractions.
  • The Crown and Cushion, 23 High Street, Chipping Norton, 01608 642533. Former home of The Who’s Keith Moon. Includes leisure and conference facilities.
  • Heythrop Park Hotel, Golf and Country Club, Enstone, (01608 673333, www.heythroppark.co.uk). Magnificent Roman-influenced country house.

Golf courses

Activities

  • Oxfordshire Sportflying Limited provides training for the NPPL-SLMG licences, including for Bronze & Silver C glider and for microlight pilots at the airfield.
  • Blenheim Palace (www.blenheimpalace.com). Baroque masterpiece set in 2100 acres of beautiful parkland.
  • Batsford Arboretum (www.batsarb.co.uk). One of the largest private collections of trees and shrubs in the country.
  • The Rollright Stones (www.rollrightstones.co.uk). Ancient stone circle site.

Useful information

Exeter (EGTE)

Airport information

Nearest town: Exeter (11m by car), Devon

Opening Times:

  • Winter – Mon 0001-0100, 0700-2359; Tue-Fri 0001-0200, 0700-2359. (PPR before 0800 and after 2000) Sat 0001-0200, 0800-1700; Sun 0830-2359. (PPR before 0900 and after 1700)
  • Summer – Mon 0600-2359; Tue-Fri 0001-0100, 0600-2359; Sat 0001-0100, 0530-2000. (PPR before 0700 and after 1900) Sun 0700-2359. (PPR before 0800 and after 1900)

Longest Runway: 2083m, Asphalt

Fuel: AVTUR JET A-1, AVGAS 100LL

Phone: 01392 367 433

Website: www.exeter-airport.co.uk, Wikipedia entry

AIP: plates and airport diagram

Landing fees: £7.50 per 500kg up to 3000 kg

Airport map

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Airport services

Pubs

  • Double Locks by the canal outside the city (01392 256947)
  • The Bridge Inn in Topsham (01392 873862, www.cheffers.co.uk/bridge.html)
  • The Lighter Inn in Topsham by the Quay (01392 875439)

Restaurants

  • Michael Caine’s, www.michaelcaines.com. Michelin-starred restaurant on Cathedral Green. 01392 310031
  • Gidleigh Park, www.gidleigh.com. Two stars. Impeccable service. Beautiful location on Dartmoor. 01647 432367
  • The New Angel in Dartmouth, www.thenewangel.co.uk. John Burton Race’s TV-star restaurant on the quay. About an hour’s drive but worth it. 01803 839425

Hotels

Golf courses

Activities

Useful information

Pireps

  • Exeter Bill Bryson said “Exeter is not an easy town to love” in his Notes from a Small Island. Having lived there myself for six years when I was at school, I have to differ. Exeter is a lovely town. Once known as the redbrick Bath, because of its elegant Georgian circuses and parades, it is a good mix of city sophistication and provincial charm. Much of the old city was destroyed by bombing in 1942, although small pockets remain and, fortunately, the Norman Cathedral and the old buildings around it, including Francis Drake’s favourite pub, were unharmed.
  • The New Angel The New Angel is buzzy and has a relatively unadorned dining room without any tablecloths, or carpet. Half one wall is replaced by a bar top, which leads across into the kitchen so that all the delicious looking dishes appearing one after another are on full view to the hungry multitude. John Burton Race sent me away delighted I had taken the trouble to fly from Denham. He had passed his unwitting exam with flying colours. As far as we were concerned he richly deserved his Michelin star.

Blackpool (EGNH)

Airport information

Nearest town: Blackpool (3m by car), Lancashire

Opening Times: Summer – 06:00 to 20:00; Winter – 07:00 to 21:00

Longest Runway: 1869m, Asphalt

Fuel: AVGAS 100LL, AVTUR JET A-1

Phone: 08700 273 777 (Admin)

Website: www.blackpoolinternational.com, Wikipedia entry

AIP: plates and airport diagram

Landing fees: from £10 singles, £15 twins

Airport map

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Airport services

Pubs

  • Bay Horse Inn,Bay Horse Lane, Ellel, Lancaster (20m), 01524 791204. Lovely gastropub with real fires.
  • Brannigans, 29-37 Market Street, Blackpool, 01253 752277. Known to host a lively crowd and parties every week.
  • Tapas Bar, 11-13 Queen St, Blackpool, 1253 293287.  Friendly service and a range of appetizers.

Restaurants

  • Twelve, www.twelve-restaurant.co.uk, Marsh Mill Village, Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire, 01253 821212. Restaurant and lounge bar in the shadow of a working windmill.

Hotels

Golf courses

Activities

  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach, (www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com), amusement park and rides, children’s theme park, musicals, circus and a range of restaurants all in one place.
  • Blackpool Tower, (www.theblackpooltower.co.uk), circus and other entertainment options, especially for children.
  • Blackpool Zoo, (www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk)
  • Grundy Art Gallery, in central Blackpool. Exhibits include Victorian as well as modern British art and photographs of historic Blackpool.

Useful information

Elvington (EGYK)

Airport information

Nearest town: York (27m by car), Yorkshire

Opening times: Dawn to dusk

Longest runway: 3000m, Concrete and Asphalt

Fuel: 100LL Jet A1

Phone:   01759 305851

Website: www.elvingtonairfield.co.uk, Wikipedia entry

Note: York Elvington Aerodrome is an unlicensed private aerodrome and pilots use it at their own risk. PPR required. PPR is at sole discretion of the aerodrome owners by telephone to Elvington Events Limited (01759 305851)

Airport map

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Airport services

  • Handling: From £ 12
  • Taxis: Victoria Travel (01759 306 910), Central Taxis (01759 302146), Car 9 (01759 306 596)
  • Car Hire: Thrifty (01904 438844  , www.thrifty.co.uk), Enterprise (01904 623000  , www.enterprise.com)
  • Facilities at airport: Cafe
  • Charter: Available from Prive Jets (02080 990 375  , www.privejets.com)

Pubs

  • The Black Bull, 18 Market Place, Pocklington,   01759 302649  . Good value menu.
  • The Black Swan, Peasholme Green,   01904 686911  . Traditional pub with great beers, lots of character and a reputation for being haunted.
  • The Gillygate, 48 Gillygate,   01904 654103  . Excellent fish and chips.

Restaurants

  • 1331 Gastrobar, 13 Grape Lane, York,   01904 661130  . Decent gastropub fare sourced as locally as possible in this fashionable locale.
  • Betty’s Café and Tearooms, 6-8 St Helen’s Square, York,   01904 659142  . A local institution, now combined with a shop selling gorgeous snacks.
  • The Blue Bicycle, 34 Fossgate, York,   01904673990  . Good seafood served in an atmospheric former brothel.

Hotels

  • Acer, 52 Scarcroft Hill, York (01904 653839). Small – just four rooms – comfortable and welcoming. Good breakfasts.
  • Mount Royale Hotel, 119 The Mount, York (01904 628856). Set in mature English gardens, antiques in every room.
  • The Parsonage Country House Hotel, Escrick, York (01904 728111  , www.parsonagehotel.co.uk)  Classic hotel with a modern twist. Restaurant features ‘Yorkshire farmers’ menu’.

Golf courses

Activities

Useful information