BUGC

As well as using thermals to stay up, mountains and ridges provide hours of exciting flying.

Bristol's location means we can exploit the ridges of the Cotswolds and the mountains of South Wales for 300km ridge flights and 16,000ft+ wave climbs.

Hills and ridges force the wind to go up - glider pilots exploit this by riding the ridge lift for as long as the wind blows. See the videos in the gallery for more.

Mountains force the wind to go up higher and faster and create an effect called Mountain Wave.

UK glider pilots have used wave to set record altitudes of over 30,000ft - yes, up with the airliners!

Climbing in mountain wave is an amazing experience, smooth as glass, the glider climbs with almost no control imputs needed - handy, as you can eat your lunch and enjoy the views!

Bristol's location means we have a gliding site on top of an 800ft ridge allowing lots of ridge flying.

Just over the river Severn are the Mountains of South Wales. These commonly give wave to over 12,000ft. Sometimes accessible from our club or a short day expedition to Talgarth GC.