‘Walking in the Air’, an experience no longer reserved for the main characters in The Snowman, but available to all who dare. Paragliding is an extreme sport where a free-flying glider wing carries you through the air, while you sit below in a harness. If you want to soar through the sky, taking in the views around you, while experiencing a thrill few will ever know, then Paragliding may be the opportunity for you. Read on to discover the top spots in Brighton to get your adrenaline fix, and to experience the stunning Sussex scenery from above.
Fly Sussex
As the largest flying centre in the UK, and the only full-time paragliding school in the UK, Fly Sussex is the perfect way to experience phenomenal paragliding from expert instructors, gliding over the South Downs.
With the 1-Day Paragliding Experience, Fly Sussex will guide you through to solo gliding in just one day! The experience includes safety briefings, parachute landing rolls, guidance through the equipment and site, as well as how to launch. You’ll use this guidance to practice launching your own wing on the flat, and as the day goes on, to progress up the slope and achieve some higher flights.
For just £180 for weekdays, or £199 for any other day of the week, a 1-day experience with Fly Sussex is a great value way to explore solo paragliding, as well as learning the essentials of gliding, equipment and the site. If you would prefer to skip solo gliding for now, then why not enjoy a tandem experience for that extra layer of reassurance instructor accompanying you through the air.
Weather dependent, you can enjoy a longer soaring flight, or multiple shorter flights. Either way, you will experience the thrills of paragliding with the reassuring presence of a pilot. Prices range between £200 and £220 for the tandem experience.
More experienced gliders are catered for too, with a 5-Day Elementary Pilot (EP) course to take you from beginner to stage one of the BHPA rating scheme. Over the course, you will gain extensive training in Ground Assessing and Handling, First Hops and Flight Exercises, as well as theoretical lectures. The course also involves a short 30 minute exam. Priced at £850, passing the course will give you the license to fly a paraglider solo, but not outside of the school.
For those aiming to solo paraglide anywhere in the world, you can follow on from the EP course with the 5-Day Club Pilot (CP) Course. The CP course is priced at £999 and involves a full assessment to ensure your safety in solo flying. On passing this assessment, inspection of your kit and the two theoretical exams, you will be qualified to solo paraglide without an instructor, anywhere in the world.
For the EP and CP bundle, you can complete both courses over a combined 10-Day course for a discounted rate of £1700. All courses remain valid for one year, and training days do not have to be used consecutively, making it the perfect, flexible way to enjoy paragliding tuition.
Website: https://flysussex.com/
Telephone: 01273 858 170
Email: info@flysussex.com
Blue Skies Paragliding
If you’re searching for unforgettable paragliding experiences over the most luscious landscapes of Sussex, tucked in tandem with an expert instructor, Blue Skies Paragliding may be the choice for you.
With ten flying sites available, from the beautiful cliffs of Beachy Head to the spectacular South Downs and Devil’s Dyke, you are sure to find yourself soaring above some sensational scenery.
Suitable for beginners, the Introductory Flights allow you a 20 minute instructional flight, as well as an expert introduction to all areas of paragliding. The expert pilot will take you through every step of the journey, as well as answering any questions about the world of paragliding. Priced at £179, these lessons will give you a great introduction to paragliding, as well as a truly exhilarating experience.
For an even more intense experience, why not upgrade to a Double Length Tandem Flight, offering you miles of flight over the South Downs or coastal cliffs. With 40 minutes of air time, you will experience a true aerial adventure. While pricier at £250, these sessions are perfect for the avid airborne explorer.
If that still hasn’t scratched your extreme sporting itch, then perhaps a Cross Country Flight is the one for you. With approximately an hour of airtime, you will set off from local hills to find sun-warmed thermals to carry you into the air.
Riding these thermals across the country, you will see some of the best views on offer, as well as experiencing the thrill of soaring through natural thermals. With an included retriever driver to bring you back to base, as well as an edited or unedited HD video of your experience, for £450 you can feel like a true paragliding pro.
Website: https://blueskiesparagliding.com/
Telephone: +44 (0) 7429 113 119
Email: info@blueskiesparagliding.com
Natural High Paragliding
Natural High Paragliding will do exactly what it says on the tin, getting your blood rushing, your heart pumping and magical endorphins giving you that sought-after rush. With glides tailored exactly to your skill level and preferences, the expert instructors will guide you through a personalised and exhilarating gliding experience that’s just right for you.
The Premiere Tandem Paragliding Experience includes a 20-30 minute flight, led in tandem with an expert pilot to guide you through. Whether you’re after a gentle float through the air, an introduction to aerobatic flying, or to have a go at flying the glider yourself, you will experience the joy of your personalised paragliding experience. Tandem Paragliding is priced at £179, which also includes membership with the BHPA (British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association).
Also available are Group Tandem Flight Experiences, where between two and six of you can get together to experience the magic of paragliding together. Group experiences are still priced at £179 per person. They also come with the option to add HD Videos either for each person (an extra £300 total) or one for the whole crew (an extra £240 total), and also include membership with the BHPA for each member.
So, whether you’re enjoying a tandem flight for just you, or getting a group together for a joint rush, you will never forget your time with Natural High Paragliding.
Website: https://naturalhigh-paragliding.co.uk/
Telephone: 07787 172 093
Email: info@naturalhigh-paragliding.co.uk
Free Flight Brighton
Offering advanced paragliding tuition through a range of courses, Free Flight Brighton is perfect for qualified paragliders looking to hone their skills.
With one-day single sessions, as well as six and 12 month courses of weekly sessions, newly qualified BHPA Club Pilots can gain experience and expertise in piloting, supporting them to take the BHPA Pilot exam. Tandem flights are available for qualified pilots to develop their understanding and confidence with thermals, and are priced at £150, requiring your own equipment and a radio.
The six and 12 month courses require annual membership with the BHPA and are priced at £150 to £160 per month respectively. Both courses support pilots to maximise their flying potential, with four bookings a month, zoom tutorials and expert tuition in a session with between three and six clients.
So, if you are newly qualified pilots looking to develop your paragliding experience and expertise, Free Flight is the place for you.
Website: https://www.freeflightbrighton.co.uk
Telephone: 07958440519
Email: freeflightbrighton@gmail.com
PGBase
PGBase offer tandem paragliding across London, Sussex, Brighton and the South Coast. Wherever you choose to enjoy your paragliding experience, you will enjoy the chance to see the world from a bird’s eye view, under the guidance of expert pilot.
Suitable for even the most nervous or inexperienced paragliders, the Standard Tandem Flight allows gliders to enjoy a beautiful, relaxed panoramic flight lasting between 15 and 20 minutes. The gentle thermals and soft soaring will put you at ease, allowing you to just relax into the experience. A single tandem flight is priced at £179 and will be tailored exactly to your level of experience, nerves and preferences.
For those after a more intense paragliding experience, PGBase also offer Cross Country Tandem Flights. On these experiences, you and your instructor will try to fly as far possible, normally lasting between 30 and 50 minutes and travelling between 10 and 25 km. Suitable for more experienced tandem gliders, the price for this will be negotiated on the day depending on the weather conditions, which will dictate whether a cross-country flight is possible.
Whichever flight experience you choose, you will receive an induction from the expert pilot, as well as learning how the paraglider launches, steers and lands. Your flight package also includes membership with the BHPA. If you’d like a souvenir from your experience, pictures and videos can be purchased from your pilot on the day, for the perfect keepsake of your gliding time.
Telephone: +44 (0)784 678 1982
Email: martin@pgbase.co.uk
So, whether you’re a paragliding newbie or a qualified pilot, Brighton boasts some of the most idyllic spots to enjoy solo, tandem or group sessions, soaring through the Sussex downs.
