West Midlands Flying areas

elsmeghead · Mar 20, 2019

Hi everyone.
I'm one of the admins for West Midlands Drone Club on Facebook and am putting together a Google Earth overlay (.kml file) of recommended places to fly in the county. I would appreciate your input as to where you fly yourselves so we can add it to the layer.
Please feel free to add yourselves to the group.
Thanks, Andy.

rtb069 · Mar 28, 2019

Richard P said:
Any members out there flying in/around Birmingham who have found good places to fly?

I am a new flyer looking for a large area in NE Birmingham/Sutton Coldfield to practice. We have the expanses of Sutton Park on the doorstep but it can get busy with dog walkers, children etc at the weekend.

Hi

I have used the farmers forum/weekly website to find friendly farmers, posted on forum and had several farmers get in touch saying they would be happy for me to fly on their land

rtb069 · Mar 28, 2019

woodys2512 said:
I live near Worcester, does anyone know of any drone members in this area that would care to meet up as a group on evenings for flights or to help a new pilot and where people don't have much going on family commitments etc???

Hi Woody loads of places to fly around Worcester, malvern etc, am happy to meet up

Soxer123 · Apr 22, 2019

RaRaRasputin said:
Hi Richard

New here myself too. I'm just of J9 M6 IKEA

Haven't flown yet, but will most likely at the weekend, probably locally for first flight etc

Was thinking that maybe Cannock Chase would be a good safe place to fly at some point, once I have gotten over the newbie pilot with an expensive bit of kit syndrome.

Sutton park sounds good too and I'm sure there are plenty of take off/landing areas there which are suitable and away from everyone else etc. May even venture up that way myself at some point in the near future.

Close to me is also Sandwell Valley and Walsall Arboretum, just need to find an area that is kind of secluded.

Will post more when I have gotten over first flight jitters and am comfortable with venturing out with it.

You will find some restrictions at Sutton Park, due to its proximity to the airport and being on the low flight path. I had problems with warnings at Barr beacon this morning plus a loss of connection.

I think Cannock Chase is a good bet.

Try the air map app for information on restrictions.

Also, I fly early mornings, because of nosey people. I need to concentrate when flying, both on keeping the thing flying where I want it and the video recording what I want.

Soxer123 · May 21, 2019

RaRaRasputin said:
Hi Richard

New here myself too. I'm just of J9 M6 IKEA

Haven't flown yet, but will most likely at the weekend, probably locally for first flight etc

Was thinking that maybe Cannock Chase would be a good safe place to fly at some point, once I have gotten over the newbie pilot with an expensive bit of kit syndrome.

Sutton park sounds good too and I'm sure there are plenty of take off/landing areas there which are suitable and away from everyone else etc. May even venture up that way myself at some point in the near future.

Close to me is also Sandwell Valley and Walsall Arboretum, just need to find an area that is kind of secluded.

Will post more when I have gotten over first flight jitters and am comfortable with venturing out with it.

I contacted Walsall council and was told you can fly in any of their green spaces but of course observe the drone code. I've noticed Brr Beacon has become a less pleasant place to fly recently. I've had two disconnections when the aircraft was about 700 feet away. You now get warnings too when you power up a Mavic air at least. Slowly I am sure, the anti drone crew will spoil the pleasure people who fly quite legally. The times I am approached with the question "is that legal" ?

jleavy0 · May 16, 2020

BrumLee said:
Not far from the Beggar's Bush, so Sutton Park is only a short distance away. I've read Lickey Hills is okay for drone flying but I'm concerned about the drone police that think they know where you can't fly, i.e. the general public.

I have flown at lickeys without any issues

jleavy0 · May 16, 2020

LouDaGr8 said:
I'd recommend Sandwell valley. I've started down by the rowing club where it is a bit quieter on a normal day.

Warley Woods have also been great too. It is not a council owned space but a community trust, I've swapped their permission to fly at their events for images they can resell as Christmas cards in the local shop as a fundraiser.
I often have people come over and ask me what I'm up to, but in an inquisitive manner.
I tend to find that if you set you're self up somewhere that is easy for people to see and speak to you they get the message that you have nothing to hide. It's working for me so far.

I have also flown at sandwell valley without any issues.
not sure about warley woods as the golfers are motorios about moaning when then think people should not be on the course even though there is multiple rights of way

Shents · May 23, 2020

Hi All,
I'm a new member and have just taken delivery of a Mavic Air 2. This is my first drone and could really do with some suggestions where ti can fly safely. I live in Hayley Green, Halesowen so any suggestions would be great.

elsmeghead · May 23, 2020

Shents said:
Hi All,
I'm a new member and have just taken delivery of a Mavic Air 2. This is my first drone and could really do with some suggestions where ti can fly safely. I live in Hayley Green, Halesowen so any suggestions would be great.

Hi Shents. I live close to Halesowen. Have a look my Flying Locations Map, I've just added a few more this morning.

Drone Flying Locations - Google My Maps

Good drone flying locations around the West Midlands. Map by West Midlands Drone Club

www.google.com

elsmeghead · May 23, 2020

Tonight in just over an hour (11pm UK time, 23rd May) I'll be premiering the West Midlands Drone Club Meets Compilation video if you're interested. The best of the last 2 years of meet-ups flying drones around the county.

masedn · Jun 5, 2020

elsmeghead said:
Hi Shents. I live close to Halesowen. Have a look my Flying Locations Map, I've just added a few more this morning.

Drone Flying Locations - Google My Maps

Good drone flying locations around the West Midlands. Map by West Midlands Drone Club

www.google.com

Hey, thanks for the map.

How did you get into Upper Bittell?
I went yesterday and the only gate I could find had what looked like an electricity station in with a sign marked private property.

I'd love to fly here and do a range test.

elsmeghead · Jun 5, 2020

masedn said:
Hey, thanks for the map.

How did you get into Upper Bittell?
I went yesterday and the only gate I could find had what looked like an electricity station in with a sign marked private property.

I'd love to fly here and do a range test.

As you drive up Groveley Lane from Cofton Park, on the right as you near the top of the hill you'll see a large broken double metal gate. You can park there (or a little further up on the right) then go through the broken gates and follow the footpath to the left. This will take you through a gap in some gorse bushes. Once through there, head towards the clump of trees just in front of you and on the other side of those you'll see the reservoir to the right. That is where we fly from (the 3rd photo on the map pin)

masedn · Jun 5, 2020

elsmeghead said:
As you drive up Groveley Lane from Cofton Park, on the right as you near the top of the hill you'll see a large broken double metal gate. You can park there (or a little further up on the right) then go through the broken gates and follow the footpath to the left. This will take you through a gap in some gorse bushes. Once through there, head towards the clump of trees just in front of you and on the other side of those you'll see the reservoir to the right. That is where we fly from (the 3rd photo on the map pin)

Thanks, think I've found it on the Google maps - that is right next to the wooden gate I was at, but the private property sign spooked me so I didn't go in :/

elsmeghead · Jun 9, 2020

masedn said:
Thanks, think I've found it on the Google maps - that is right next to the wooden gate I was at, but the private property sign spooked me so I didn't go in :/

Yeah it's this one. I park in the yellow area and walk down to the gate, turn left over the gate, follow the main path through the bushes. Dog walkers use it all the time.

elsmeghead · Jun 10, 2020

View from the reservoir up to the launch point.

masedn · Jun 10, 2020

elsmeghead said:
Yeah it's this one. I park in the yellow area and walk down to the gate, turn left over the gate, follow the main path through the bushes. Dog walkers use it all the time.

Cheers buddy. I'll take a trip at some point.
Sure would be nice to be living in those houses that back onto that land.

elsmeghead · Jun 17, 2020

masedn said:
Cheers buddy. I'll take a trip at some point.
Sure would be nice to be living in those houses that back onto that land.

I went up there on Monday to film this test of the Smatree Mavic Mini charging hub. Included a few aerial shots too

jonuk20 · Aug 17, 2020

elsmeghead said:
Hi Shents. I live close to Halesowen. Have a look my Flying Locations Map, I've just added a few more this morning.

Drone Flying Locations - Google My Maps

Good drone flying locations around the West Midlands. Map by West Midlands Drone Club

www.google.com

Hello,
I’m new here and fairly new to drone flying. I have a Mini and so far very impressed. Thanks for the map it’s great work. I live near the hawkesbury village old golf course and it’s a nice place to learn to fly. Main problem is in and around Coventry there isn’t many other flight locations unless anyone has any further ideas?
On a side not ok heading to the Lake District next week and hope to get some footage there.
Great forum and hope to post lots.

colinrcarter · Sep 10, 2020

Just checking in, new member, got my pro this week and looking forward to my first proper test this week, moved from a mini a few days ago. Based in Kings Heath Birmingham so probably going to the ‘Lickeys’

Bigpapagee · Nov 26, 2020

FL1H1 said:
Others can correct me if I'm wrong and I know its not a strict law of thumb but I'll be flying mine in public spaces outside of opening hours. What that means is, I have vast areas of land nearby which isn't farmed, nor built on because its flood plain and much as there is a river in the valley, loads of lakes, ponds, marshes there's also huge areas of open to the public land with public footpaths - few of these are paved, just exist on a map. It means I'm not trespassing and drones, they're not banned in these areas. Public parks are different but enquiries suggest - I have yet to apply for one, that it is possible to get a permit to fly from them so my advice to you is stick to areas open to the public, not National Trust land and you should be OK, just watch for things like nature reserves, they can be strictly off limits too to protect nesting sites and stuff like that too.

My understanding is that on national trust and English heritage sites, no drone flying but to my mind that's from their land and not over it, put simply they don't own or manage the airspace above their land and property so as long as the drone code is adhered to, they don't have a leg to stand on. Just my thoughts