Golf Hotel Whiskey

Golf Hotel Whiskey: for pilots and aviation enthusiasts

Belfast City Airport (EGAC)

Airport Information

Nearest town: Belfast (2m by car from city centre), Antrim County, Northern Ireland

Opening times: Winter – 0630-2130; Summer: 0530-2030

Longest runway: 1829m, Grooved Asphalt

Fuel: AVTUR (JP1)

Phone: 02890 939093 (Administration), 02890 454871 (ATC)

Website: www.belfastcityairport.com, Wikipedia entry

AIP: plates and airport diagram

Landing fees: £12.00 per half tonne or part thereof for aircraft up to 2 tonnes and £23.60 per tonne or part thereof for aircraft over 2 tonnes

Airport Map

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Airport Services

  • Handling: Airside Standards (02890 935027)
  • Taxis: There is a taxi rank immediately outside the terminal building
  • Car Hire: Budget (02890 451111, www.budget-ireland.co.uk), Europcar (02890 450904, www.europcar.com), Hertz   (02890 732451, www.hertz.co.uk), National (02890 739400, www.nationalcar.co.uk)
  • Facilities at airport: Food court, deli, bar, coffee pub, shopping, tourist information centre, bureau de change, ATM, wi-fi

Pubs

  • Auntie Annies, 44, Dublin Road, Belfast (02890 50166)0. Very friendly pub with a disco, that caters to a youngish crowd
  • The John Hewitt, 51, Donegall  Street, Belfast (02890 233768, www.thejohnhewitt.com). A quiet sort of community pub where you can enjoy some local ales. Often hosts literary or artistic displays.

Restaurants

  • Beatrice Kennedys, 44, University Road, Belfast (02890 202290, www.beatricekennedy.co.uk) This cosy little restaurant serves up some excellent modern Irish food using local produce, at reasonable prices. There is also a good choice of mid-priced wines.
  • Mourne Seafood Bar, 34 Bank Street, Belfast (02890 248544, www.mourneseafood.com). As the name indicates, seafood is the focus here – especially mussels, which they are renowned for. The flipside is that this is one of the most popular restaurants in Belfast and waiting times tend to be long.
  • Feed the Soul at Espresso Soul, 4B, Cromac Quay, Belfast (02890 327474). If all you’re looking for is a light bite, this comfortable cafe does some good sandwiches and light eats.

Hotels

  • Ten Square, 10, Donegall Square South, Belfast (02890 241001, www.tensquare.co.uk). A relative new comer to Belfast, this chic Boutique hotel with 23 rooms has quickly made a name for itself as a stylish, yet comfortable destination.
  • The Old Rectory, 148, Malone Road, Belfast (02890 667882, www.anoldrectory.co.uk). Originally an old rectory in the early 20th C., this is now a friendly B&B with large, quirkily decorated rooms and stained glass windows. The Old Rectory is especially noted for its breakfasts, although they are quite strict about the timings!
  • The Fitzwilliam Hotel, Great Victoria Street, Belfast (02890 311588, www.fitzwilliamhotelbelfast.com). Elegant luxury hotel with wi-fi and all other amenities, ideal for those who want to stay in the centre of things.

Golf Courses

Activities

  • Visit The Ulster Folk & Transport Museum (www.magni.org.uk). Voted the Irish museum of the year, this museum has excellent exhibits on the life and changing traditions of the people of Northern Ireland.
  • Go pub hopping – Northern Ireland has some of the highest concentrations of pubs in the UK.  www.belfastbar.co.uk is devoted exclusively to pubs in Belfast.
  • Belfast is a good base for those interested in exploring outdoor activities on Northern Ireland’s Antrim coast.

Useful Information

C152 to Jaguar at KHPN

This is a guest post by Jason Schappert from the highly recommended M0A blog.

Having been a pilot all of my young life I find having an aviation story to inject into just about every conversation a cinch.

I’ll never forget the day our school agreed to send myself and a fellow classmate 600 miles west in the schools C-152, all expenses paid. We were the laughing stock of the school leading up to the flight; I at the time was 6’4and my friend was 6’6. Our classmates marveled at the idea that we could possibly last as long as we did crammed in a Cessna 152. [Read more…] about C152 to Jaguar at KHPN

Carlisle Airport (EGNC)

Airport Information

Nearest town: Carlisle (6 miles by car), Cumbria

Opening Times: Winter – 0900-1830 and by arrangement; Summer – 0800-1730 and by arrangement

Longest Runway: 1837m, Asphalt

Fuel: AVTUR JET A1, AVGAS 100LL

Phone: 01228 573641 (Operations), 01228 573629 (ATC)

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

AIP: plates and airport diagram

Airport Map

[post-geocode zoom=”14″]

Airport Services

Pubs

  • The Kings Head Inn, Fisher Street, Carlisle (01228 533797, www.kingsheadcarlisle.co.uk). One of the oldest and most atmospheric pubs in Carlisle, this is nevertheless not a ‘touristy’ pub, but remains a quiet, comfortable sort of place where you can have your beer in peace.
  • The Howard Arms, Lowther Street, Carlisle (01228 532926). Another well known Carlisle pub with interesting interiors (think jumble of rooms, antique tiles, overall cosy effect) that usually serves Theakstons Bitters and Black sheep.
  • The Magpie, Victoria Road, Botcherby, Carlisle. An Oakwell brewery pub where the evenings tend to get a bit loud noisy – very popular with locals, especially football supporters. A good option for those who fancy some company and football talk.

Restaurants

  • Gallo Rosso, Parkhouse Road, Kingstown, Carlisle (01228 526037, www.gallorosso.co.uk). Very comfortable Italian restaurant and excellent food, including freshly baked bread.
  • Crosby Lodge Country House, Crosby-on-Eden, Carlisle (01228 573618, www.crosbylodge.co.uk). Fine dining restaurant that serves classical French cuisine. Known especially for their desserts.
  • Alexandros Greek Restaurant, 68, Warwick Road, Carlisle (01228 592227, www.thegreek.co.uk). Somewhat expensive but does some of the best Greek food in this region.

Hotels

  • Crown & Mitre, 4 English Street, Carlisle (01228 525491, www.peelhotels.co.uk). An Edwardian style building that houses a hotel with comfortable rooms and all mod-cons. Located very conveniently in the town centre.
  • String of Horses Inn, Faugh Heads Nook, Near Carlisle (01228 670297, www.stringofhorses.com). A traditional inn 10 miles away from Carlisle, that started up way back in 1659 as a halting place for stagecoaches on the road. While the interiors have been modernised, this is still an attractive option for those wanting to combine a bit of history with some ruralising.
  • The Tranquil Otter, The Lough, Thurstonfield, Carlisle (01228 576661, www.thetranquilotter.co.uk). 5 miles away from Carlisle, the Tranquil Otter set in the countryside on a private nature reserve offers wildlife watching and luxury cottages for those who want their privacy. There is a microlight flight option to Carlisle airport as well.

Golf Courses

  • Carlisle Golf Club (01228 513 029, www.carlislegolfclub.org). Set on undulating parkland terrain, this club welcomes visitors with a handicap certificate on advance reservation.
  • Dalston Hall Golf Club, Dalston, Carlisle (01228 710271, www.dalston-hall-hotel.co.uk). A club that has its own castle on acres of private gardens and woodlands!
  • Stoneyholme Municipal Golf Course, St. Aidan’s Road, Carlisle (01228 625222, www.carlisleleisure.co.uk). An 18-hole golf course that welcomes visitors and is conveniently close to the town centre.

Activities

  • Carlisle is a convenient base for a visit to Hadrian’s Wall (www.hadrians-wall.org), the famous remnants of old Roman barriers.
  • Carlisle Castle and Cathedral are also well worth a visit.

Useful Information

Norwich (EGSH)

Airport information

moz-screenshot-3Nearest town: Norwich (4 miles by car from city centre), Norfolk

Opening Times: Winter: Sun-Fri 0630-2215; Sat 0630-2200 and by arrangement. Summer: Sun-Fri 0530-2115; Sat 0530-2100 and by arrangement

Longest Runway: 1841m, Asphalt/Concrete

Fuel: AVTUR JET A1 (with or without AL 48), AVGAS 100LL.

Phone: 01603 411923

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

AIP: plates and airport diagram

Landing fees: From £9.18 per tonne or part thereof for aircraft up to 5 tonnes and £18.37 per tonne or part thereof for aircraft over 5 tonnes

Note: Norwich is a PPR airfield. Movements outside the published hours incur extra charges.

[Read more…] about Norwich (EGSH)