Golf Hotel Whiskey

Golf Hotel Whiskey: for pilots and aviation enthusiasts

Airports

Shoreham (EGKA)

Airport information

Nearest town: Shoreham-by-Sea (3m by car), West Sussex

Opening times:

  • Winter: Mon 0800-1800; Tue-Sat 0800-1900; Sun 0830-1800 and by arrangement
  • Summer: Mon-Sat 0700-1900; Sun 0730-1900 and by arrangement

Longest runway: 1036m, Asphalt

Fuel: AVTUR JET A-1, AVGAS 100LL (For refuelling with AVTUR JET A-1 at specific times call 01273-467395)

Phone: 01273 467373

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

AIP: plates and airport diagram

Landing fees: From £17.62 for aircraft 1.5 MT and under to £105.72 for aircraft 5.5MT and over

Note: Shoreham is a PPR airport from Mon to Sat 0800-0830 (winter) and 0700-0730 (summer).

Airport Map

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Airport services

Pubs

  • The Duke of Wellington, Brighton Road, Shoreham-by-Sea (01273 389818). A 1920s pub that’s been renovated for a more modern look. The main attraction is that this is a Dark Stars brewery and serves the Dark Stars range as well as some good guest ales.
  • Buckingham Arms, Brunswick Road, Shoreham-by-Sea (01273 453660). One of the most popular pubs in the area with a really large selection of real ales. The flipside is that it tends to get crowded and though the service is friendly, it can take some time to get the staff’s attention.
  • Lazy Toad, High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea (1273 441622). Smallish ‘local’ pub that serves some good beers straight from the barrel. Tends to attract a slightly older crowd.

Restaurants

  • Tosca Ristorante, 39-41, High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea (01273 441001, www.tosca-restaurant.co.uk). Centrally located Italian restaurant and pizzeria that has a reputation for good food in comfortable surroundings. Does gluten, dairy and wheat free options on request.
  • The Ginger Pig, 3, Hove Street, Hove (01273 736123, www.gingermanrestaurants.com). This one is fairly new but has already won much acclaim; a comfortable pub that serves an innovative menu based on local ingredients.

Hotels

  • Old Tollgate Hotel, The Street, Bramber, Steyning (01903 813362, www.oldtollgatehotel.com). A Best Western property in rural surroundings with all modcons, this is a convenient option for those going on to London or Brighton.
  • The South Lodge Hotel , Brighton Road, Near Horsham (01403, 891711, www.southlodgehotel.co.uk). If you feel like indulging yourself, this is a luxury 5-star hotel in a country house set in woodland and parkland. Nothing is too much to ask here, including champagne breakfasts!

Golf Courses

  • Worthing Golf Club, Links Road, Worthing (01903 260801, www.worthinggolf.co.uk) Two downland courses with lovely views of the Channel. Visitors welcome with advance notice.

Activities

  • Shoreham airport is a good base for trips over to Northern France.
  • Sussex has many different walking, cycling and horse-riding trails for the outdoors enthusiast (www.ruralways.org.uk).
  • A visit to Pallant House Gallery, Chichester (01243 774557, www.pallant.org.uk)  which has one of the best collections of 20th C. British art in the world.
  • For history buffs, a visit to the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings (01424 773792, www.english-heritage.org.uk) where the ruins of an abbey built to commemorate William the Conqueror’s victory still stand.

Useful Information

Samedan (LSZS)

Samedan is the final moutainous airport in this series, after Sion and Saanen. Located in the eastern Swiss Alps, in a narrow valley, at 5’600 feet AMSL, Samedan is the highest airport in Europe (altiports and glacier landing places excluded). Whatever the season, landing up there is never simple and careful flight preparation is a must.

The arrival from “W” is impressive, and finding it in winter is not easy – this reporting point is overhead a mountain lake that gets frozen and snow covered. The arrival from the Albula pass is also memorable, as the valley to the pass is also quite narrow. Because the local relief does not offers a lot of alternatives it is important to study the weather in details so as not to get trapped below clouds in a valley, or be stuck on top before descent. In winter, don’t forget to call the airport to ensure that the runway is clear of snow and that parking is available. The parking area is not fully de-snowed in winter so make sur to get good information about how to taxi on snow – particularly if you fly with a retractable landing gear. A recent accident involving a Falcon jet and a snow-wall close to the runway highlighted the specificities of winter operations in Samedan.

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Flying to Samedan in summer also requires good preparation, particularly regarding performance. The runway is rather long (1’800 meters) but with summer temparatures above 20°C, the density altitude can exceed 8’000 feet. Don’t expect a short take-off roll and steep climb out. Don’t assume that any single engine piston aircraft can safely take-off and climb with full load under such conditions. Leaning the mixture before take-off also makes sense as the airport is already above 5’000 feet.

The airport circuit is narrower than in Sion and there is no room to fly a base leg. Even with a continuous turn from downwind to final it is usual to overshoot the runway axis. A higher circuit is published for light twins and it makes sense to use if with certain high performance singles. Don’t forget that the single engine landing point is in the middle of the runway, not at threshold. Click here to see landing and take-off videos in a DA40. Note that the final turn is steeper than usual and beacause of relief there is no natural visual horizon. Keep enough speed to make the steeper turn possible…

The best part of each flight to Samedan is to pay the landing fee. The office also sells excellent Graubünden nut pies. Don’t miss them – no excuse will be accepted. Samedan is localted in the Graubünden region. There are numerous ski resorts around, including St-Moritz, Laax and Davos. The airport is intensively used during the World Economic Forum in Davos and is closed several days, usually in January, because of the forum.

All these specifities make a flight to Samedan a bit more difficult but good preparation makes is achievable for a well prepared pilot. Great alpine flying rewarded by a nice landing there and a nut pie makes a perfect day.

White Waltham (EGLM)

Nearest town: Maidenhead (4 miles by car), Berkshire

Opening Times: Winter – 0800- to S+ 30 and by arrangement; Summer – 0700 to SS+ 30 or 1900 if earlier and by arrangement.

Longest Runway: 1110m

Fuel: AVTUR JET A1, AVGAS 100LL

Phone: 01628 823272.

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

AIP: plates and airport diagram

Note: White Waltham is a PPR airfield

Airport Map

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Airport services

  • Handling: West London Aero Club (01628 823272, ops@wlac.co.uk)
  • Taxis: Berkshire Taxis (01628 823636), Express Taxis (01628 777981), Maidenhead & Marlow Taxi (01628 634000), Mayfair Cars (01628 628899),U-Want Taxi Service (01628 622110). Note: All these services are based out of Maidenhead, not at the airfield itself.
  • Car Hire: Practical Car and Van Rental (01628 777100, www.practical.co.uk), Abbey Car Hire (01628 529059). Note: All these services are based out of Maidenhead, not at the airfield itself.
  • Facilities at airport: Bar and Restaurant, fully equipped room for meetings
  • Flying Schools: West London Aero Club (01628 823272, ops@wlac.co.uk)

Pubs

  • The Stag and Hounds, Lee Lane, Pinkneys Green, Maidenhead (01628 630268). A bit of a hidden gem, this one is a very friendly pub with no frills, but some good real ales and homestyle cooking.
  • Crawford Arms, Gringer Hill, Maidenhead (01628 625153). Quite a small pub, but welcoming hosts and a nice atmosphere, including a jukebox.

Restaurants

  • West London Aero Club, White Waltham Airfield, White Waltham (01628 823799). An extremely convenient option at the airfield, with a very lively atmosphere and the attraction of shop talk.
  • Fat Duck, High Street, Maidenhead (01628 580333, www.fatduck.co.uk). Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant with a very innovative menu and extensive wine list.
  • The Waterside Inn, Ferry Road, Bray (01628 620691, www.waterside-inn.co.uk). Another high end restaurant serving French cuisine, with the added attraction of views over the Thames from the restaurant terrace.
  • The Emperor of India, Windsor Road, Braywick (01628 624100). Smartly done-up and popular Indian restaurant; the food here is not your average curry-house quality.

Hotels

  • Sunny Cottage Guest House, Manor Lane, Maidenhead (01628 770731, www.sunnycottagebb.co.uk). Located close to the Maidenhead train station and convenient as a base for driving to the many towns in the region, Sunny Cottage is regarded as a very comfortable B&B with highly personalised service and excellent breakfasts.
  • The Bakehouse, 31, Wellington Road, Maidenhead (01628 778858, www.maidenheadbakehouse.co.uk). Originally a bakery in the early 20th C., this is now a charming B&B that has been variously described as ‘cosy’, ‘welcoming’, ‘impressive’ and ‘family-style’.
  • Walton Cottage Hotel,  Marlow Road, Maidenhead (01628 624394), www.waltoncottagehotel.co.uk). A friendly and comfortable hotel that has a ‘Poets Parlour’ lounge, equipped with a nice fire in winter; there are suites too for those staying a longer time.

Golf Courses

  • Bird Hills (UK) Ltd., Drift Road, Hawthorn Hill, Near Maidenhead (01628 771030, www.birdhills.co.uk). A par 72 course set in the Berkshire countryside.
  • Maidenhead Golf Club, Shoppenhangers Road, Maidenhead (01628 624693, www.maidenheadgolf.co.uk). A 100-year old challenging course. Visitors with a handicap are welcome on weekdays.
  • Temple Golf Club, Henley Road, Hurley, Near Maidenhead (01628 824248, www.templegolfclub.co.uk). A par 70 course with beautiful views of parkland and of the Thames. Visitors need a handicap certificate.
  • Winter Hill Golf Club, Grange Lane, Cookham High Street, Maidenhead (01628 527613, www.winterhillgolfclub.net). Friendly and welcoming club open to visitors. A putting green is available for beginners.

Activities

  • White Waltham boasts of a very active Friday Afternoon Club that flies out every Friday afternoon along with CFI David Coe to interesting locations in the UK and Europe. (Call 01628 823272 for details of upcoming flights).
  • A visit to the Roman ruins of Calleva Atrebatum, at present day Silchester (http://www.silchester.rdg.ac.uk), near Reading.
  • A visit to Basildon Park, a grand 18th C. mansion featured in a recent film adaption of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’
  • Wellington Country Park (www.wellington-country-park.co.uk), 350 acres of beautiful parkland, with a lake, nature trails as well as attractions for children.

Useful Information

Wycombe Air Park (EGTB)

Airport information

Nearest town: High Wycombe (3 miles by car), Buckinghamshire

Opening Times: Winter: 0900-1600 and by arrangement; Summer: 0800-1630 and by arrangement.

Longest Runway: 735m, Asphalt

Fuel: AVTUR JET A-1, AVGAS 100LL

Phone: 01494 529261

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

AIP: plates and airport diagram

Landing fees: From £13 for light, single-engine aircraft

Airport Map

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Airport services

  • Taxis: Neales Taxis (01494 522555), Dick’s Taxi Service (01494 442799), DS EXecutive Taxi (01494 535293), Academy Private Hire (01494 535600), Eagle Taxis (01494 444414), Associated Taxis (01494 527272)
  • Car Hire: Hopper Hire (01494 474600), Euro Car Drive Rental (01494 258401), Bucks Car Hire (01494 463277), United Rental Group (01494 444075), Practical Car & Van Rental (01494 535000, www.practical.co.uk), Enterprise Rent A Car (01494 444321, www.enterprise.com)
  • Facilities at airport: Bar & Restaurant
  • Charters: Helicopter Services Ltd. (01494 513166, www.helicopterservices.co.uk)
  • Flying Schools: British Airways Flying Club (01494 529262, www.bafc.co.uk), Wycombe Air Centre (01494 443737, www.wycombeaircentre.co.uk), Booker Gliding Centre (01494 442501, www.bookergliding.co.uk)

Pubs

  • The Belle Vue, Gordon Road, High Wycombe (01494 524728). Despite the French name, The Belle Vue is anything but fancy. A comfortable, ‘down-to-earth’ pub, this one serves some very good ales, though the selection keeps changing.
  • Old Queens Head, Hammersley Lane, Penn, High Wycombe (01494 813371, www.oldqueensheadpenn.co.uk). Winner of the ‘Les Routiers’ Pub of the Year Award. Close to some beautiful walks in the Buckingamshire countryside, this pub serves up some excellent food as well.
  • The Royal Standard, Wooburn Common Road, Wooburn Green, High Wycombe (01628 521121). Large-ish pub noted for a very wide choice of real ales.

Restaurants

  • Aubergine at the Compleat Angler, Macdonald Compleat Angler Hotel, Marlow Bridge, Marlow (01628 405405). The country cousin of the well-known London Chelsea restaurent, Aubergine, this one too is a French-style fine dining restaurant.
  • The Sausage Tree, Saffron Road, High Wycombe (01494 452204, www.sausagetreepub.co.uk). An unusual pub-restaurant that serves up a range of gourmet sausages. They also do an interesting grill-on-your-own-table meal.
  • Eat-Thai, 14-15, Easton Street, High Wycombe (01494 532888, www.eat-thai.co.uk). Fresh Thai food in comfortable, modern settings.

Hotels

  • Wendover Arms, 136, Desborough Avenue, High Wycombe (01494 474747, www.wendoverarms.co.uk). A modern pub with five rooms and the promise of some good British as well as Thai food.
  • Squirrel House, 129, New Road, High Wycombe (01494 520709, www.squirrelhouse.co.uk). Nothing unusual about this B&B but it does offer extremely comfortable beds and a very friendly atmosphere.
  • Malvern House, Fernie Fields, Off New Road, High Wycombe (07792 815846, www.malvernguesthouse.co.uk). Family run smallish 4-star hotel that has been variously described as ‘extremely comfortable’, ‘sophisticated’ and ‘exclusive’.

Golf Courses

  • Flackwell Heath Golf Club Ltd., Treadaway Road, Flackwell Heath, High Wycombe (01628 520929, www.fhgc.co.uk). This is a private club that welcomes visitors with a handicap certificate, on weekdays only.
  • Hazlemere Golf Club, Penn Road, Hazlemere (01494 719300, www.hazlemeregolfclub.co.uk). An 18-hole par 70 course set in the beautiful landscape of the Chiltern Hills.

Activities

  • A visit to Wycombe Museum (01494 421895), which has some interesting material on the history of the Buckinghamshire region.
  • The area around Wycombe has some very fine walking trails, including those in the Chiltern Hills.
  • A visit to the Hell-Fire Caves (01494 533739, www.hellfirecaves.co.uk), 300 feet of tunnels and nooks underground containing a lot of local history and the odd ghost.
  • A visit to Hughenden Manor (01494 755573), a Victorian country house that was the home of erstwhile Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.

Useful Information

Southend (EGMC)

Airport information

Nearest town: Southend-on-Sea (7 miles by car), Essex

Opening Times: 24 hours

Longest Runway: 1605m, Asphalt with friction course

Fuel: AVTUR JET A-1, AVGAS 100LL, Water/Meth 45/55/0

Phone: 01702 608100

Website: www.southendairport.com, Wikipedia entry

AIP: plates and airport diagram

Landing fees: £20 for every tonne of aircraft weight or part thereof

Airport Map

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Airport Services

Pubs

  • The Cornucopia, Marine Parade, Southend-on-Sea (01702 460770). Tiny little pub but makes up for it with plenty of character, a friendly welcome and very good ales.
  • The Sutton Arms, Southchurch Road, Southend-on-Sea (01702 469400, www.suttonarms.com). Conveniently located near the town centre, this pub hosts some good live bands and other entertainment over the weekends.
  • The Spread Eagle, Victoria Avenue, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea (01702 213674). Close to the Southend United Football Club, this can sometimes get packed with supporters, but interestingly, the landlord promotes different ales each week.

Restaurants

  • The Glasshouse, 43, Alexandra Street, Southend-on-Sea (01702 348088). High end European restaurant that serves some delicious food with dessert being the highlight.
  • The Bank, 1470, London Road, Leigh-on-Sea (01702 719000, www.thebankonline.co.uk). A comfortable and popular restaurant in what used to be a bank. Offers cafe-style food as well if all you want is a bite.
  • Zabrano, 127, Leigh Road, Leigh-on-Sea (01702 476999, www.zabrano.co.uk). Excellent Italian cooking and a decent wine list make this a good option. Their Sunday roasts and steaks receive good reviews too.

Hotels

  • Pier View, 5, Royal Terrace, Southend-on-Sea (01702 437900, www.pierviewguesthouse.co.uk). A Georgian period hotel that’s been renovated to offer modern amenities. Has lovely views of the Southend pier and estuary.
  • Ilfracombe House Hotel, 9-13, Wilson Road, Southend-on-Sea (01702 351000, www.ilfracombe-hotel.co.uk). A family run hotel with about 20 comfortable rooms and friendly service. Plus, it’s close to the seafront.

Golf Courses

  • Belfairs Park Golf Course, Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea (01702 525345). A parkland course that is open to visitors, with prior booking.
  • Garon Park Golf Complex, Eastern Avenue, Southend-on-Sea (01702 601701, www.garonparkgolf.co.uk). Large course with 27 holes including a 9 hole par 3 course ideal for beginners.
  • Thorpe Hall Golf Club, Thorpe Hall Avenue, Thorpe Bay (01702 582205, www.thorpehallgc.co.uk).  A 100-year old golf course with a fine bar for the thirsty golfer.
  • Rochford Hundred Golf Club, (01702 544302, www.rochfordhundredgolfclub.co.uk). A flat parkland 18-hole course in beautiful surroundings.

Activities

  • A visit to Southend Pier and Museum. While Southend Pier is well known as the longest pier in the world, the Southend Pier Museum (www.southendpiermuseum.co.uk) is a little more hidden away. Worth a visit for its displays of old trains, trams and machines.
  • Take the funicular ‘Cliff Railway’ from the seafront up to Clifftown. This is a relic of Southend’s heydays in the 1950s when day-trippers from London would besiege the town on weekends.
  • Art lovers will find the Beecroft Gallery (01702 347418, www.beecroft-art-gallery.co.uk) of interest with some valuable permanent exhibits (including 17th C. Dutch paintings) as well as many exhibitions through the year.
  • If you have the time, there are many beaches in the vicinity of Southend, including the Bell Wharf, Westcliff Beach, Three Shells Beach and Jubilee Beach.

Useful Information

Deauville (LFRG)

I flew to Deauville yesterday with the missus and a couple of friends. It was a lovely, blue-sky day.

Deauville airport (LFRG) is small and friendly. It has an ILS and a long runway so it’s easy to get into. Sea fogs can cause problems, as with many airports in northern France. In the summer, visitors park on the grass but yesterday I parked on the main apron. Customs and landing fees take minutes and every time I have been there a taxi has always been waiting outside. The only frustration is that it can take a while to get a clearance and taxi instructions to get airborne (20 minutes yesterday).

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Honfleur, a 15-minute cab ride, is a beautiful harbour town. It reminds me a little of Brixham and Dartmouth, near where I grew up.

Honfleur harbour

Avoid the harbour-side tourist cafes and walk a minute or two into the town for lunch at L’Homme De Bois (30, Rue Homme de Bois). It’s quieter and quainter with a great (mainly) seafood menu.

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There is also an excellent ice cream parlour right by the harbour.

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