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Photo: Chris Chambers |
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LFA7 / Wales The whole of Wales is contained within LFA7 and also includes the Tactical Training Area (TTA) LFA7T and the helicopter training area around Snowdon. Whilst the TTA is the least used TTA in the UK, LFA7 and certain locations in Wales are probably the most popular with many low flying aircraft movements and quite often many aviation photographers trying to photograph them. Most aircraft seen are Hawks from RAF Valley but just about any other aircraft can also be seen depending on your luck. You are more likely to catch a Hercules or one of the Boscombe Down aircraft in Wales than in any of the other popular locations elsewhere in the UK. Machynlleth Loop The most appropriate place to start with is the Machynlleth Loop which is usually referred to by aircrews as ‘The Loop’ although the USAF crews refer to it as ‘The Roundabout’. It is literally a roundabout of flowed valleys running counter-clockwise following the A470 north eastwards from Machynlleth in the south to Dinas Mawddwy then heading north west to join the A487 at the Cross Foxes Inn. From here it follows the A487 southwards through Corris to end back at Machynlleth. Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL23 is recommended for anyone planning a visit. It is arguably the busiest part of the UK low fly system and although the cold war days of up to 80 plus movements in a day are long gone it is still sometimes possible to see 30 plus aircraft in one day. The usual daily total is usually between 10 and 20 aircraft mainly made up of Hawks with the odd Tornado, Harrier or Hercules thrown in. It is certainly the place to go to practice your panning technique. It takes about 3 minutes for a jet aircraft to do a circuit of the Loop and multiple passes by aircraft is not an uncommon sight, especially by Hawks. So whenever you see an aircraft it is worth checking to see if it looks like doing a circuit as you may be lucky enough to see it again in 3 minutes. Machynlleth Loop - Bwlch
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=52.735&lon=-3.775&scale=25000&icon=x Bwlch (nearest english pronunciation is bwuulk but it usually just referred to as bulk) means gap in Welsh and there are many Bwlchs in Wales. This particular one is Bwlch Oerddrws and is at the top of the pass on the A470 between Dinas Mawddwy and the Cross Foxes Inn. At 1180 ft it is one of the highest passes in Wales. Fortunately for us there is a car park at the top of the pass with ample parking; although be careful not to block the gate. The most popular locations for photography are the ledges to the south east of the car park. To get to these follow the path from the car park southwards. After about 75 to 100 yards after you have started to climb you’ll need to leave the path and then head eastwards whilst still climbing up the side of the hill. There is not a clearly defined path so take care as there are many pot holes and rocks. You will need to negotiate a fence but eventually you will arrive at one of two ledges. The highest one is the most popular as can be witnessed by the well trampled grass. This ledge is 315 ft above the car park. At this height most RAF aircraft will be at or below your position but F15s tend to be higher and if you want to photograph these you may have to remain on the path from the car park and head for the very top of the hill. The Bwlch location is popular with photographers as the sun is behind you most of the day, the only poor period being up to about 11:30 BST (10:30 GMT) so once you have made the climb you can relax in the knowledge that you will not have to change location to allow for the sun. Aircraft come into view as they round the corner from Dinas Mawddwy and then snake their way down the valley and after about 10 seconds they will be flying past you right to left. As they exit the pass remember to note if they look to be turning left as they could be heading round the Loop and therefore may re-appear in about 3 minutes time. Here is the view looking down the valley towards Dinas Mawddwy. A focal length of 300mm on a 1.6x crop digital camera seems to be a popular choice with photographers at this location and the un-cropped photographs of a Hawk and GR4 below give an idea of how aircraft will look with this combination.
The above three images show the different results with the same lens, all were shot at 300mm from the top ledge. To fill the frame on a 1.6x crop camera with a Hercules a focal length of 100mm to 135mm will be required. Photographic opportunities exist as the aircraft turn to approach the pass as these two images, which have been cropped, demonstrate. Machynlleth Loop - Ochr y Bwlch (Bwlch north side)
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=52.735&lon=-3.759&scale=25000&icon=x Although not as popular as the south side, probably due to the fact that you have the sun in your face all day, the north side of the pass provides the opportunity to get some different angles and backdrops to your shots. It is worth trying on those bright overcast days when there are no hard shadows from the sun. There are several positions to choose from. The nearest location is simply to follow the path from opposite the car park to a suitable height on the side of the hill. The problem with this location is that you do not get much notice of approaching aircraft. If you want more notice then you need to head east to get on the cusp of the finger of land that juts out into the valley. To get here follow one of the many sheep tracks that head east from the stile opposite the car park until you get to your desired location. How high you go is up to you but if you want to get the vapour effects on the aircraft as they turn you will need to remain at about the same height as the car park otherwise you can be too far away. For full frame shots of the fighters, a lens between 300mm and 400mm on 1.6x crop camera will be required.
From this location you will see aircraft departing the Loop at Dinas Mawddwy. Generally speaking if you see the bottom side of the aircraft they are heading up the Dyfi valley and over Bwlch y Groes and then onto to Bala but if you see the top side of the aircraft they are heading into Cwm Cymarch. Machynlleth Loop - Bwlch exit
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=52.736&lon=-3.784&scale=25000&icon=x Another choice is to head west towards the exit of the pass. There is no defined path to this location. Leaving the car park there is a choice of either heading immediately in the direction you want to go and negotiating boggy ground or using the path up the side of the hill and then making your way westwards at a suitable point. There are many suitable areas of flat ground and crags to choose from so it comes down to personal choice from where you want to view the action. Depending where you end up it can be very exposed so this may be the place to try when it is less windy. The view towards Dinas Mawddwy is partially blocked so you can miss the aircraft as they turn into the valley but usually enough warning is given by hearing them as they turn towards the pass. As they exit the pass the aircraft can head off in a number of directions: turning left towards Tal-y-Llyn pass and remaining on the Loop, or heading straight on to the west over Dolgellau / Barmouth and out to sea, or heading north west towards Trawsfynydd or turning right towards Bala. The exit chosen by the aircraft will determine how large it will appear in the viewfinder but generally speaking a lens between 300mm and 400mm will be required on a 1.6x crop camera to get usable shots. The un-cropped shots below will give you some idea of what can be achieved. A downside for this location is that some aircraft are high when they exit the pass so you are unable to get land in the shot. However, this is more than compensated for by the backdrops that can be achieved when they are low enough and in a single pass it is possible to get mixture of heath land, mountains and open countryside as backdrops as this pass by a Jaguar GR3A shows (Below centre)
As a bonus, spending a day at this location gives you the opportunity to witness all the movements on the northern part of the loop. Besides seeing the aircraft leaving the Bwlch you get a good view of aircraft entering the Loop from the Barmouth, Trwsfynydd and Bala directions and those that are transiting in both directions between Bala and Barmouth. Machynlleth Loop - Tal-y-Llyn pass west side (Cad West)
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=52.7087&lon=-3.8450&scale=25000&icon=x
Another popular location with photographers is the west side of the entrance to the Tal-y-Llyn pass on the A487 about 2 miles south of the Cross Foxes Inn. It is usually just referred to as Cad West which takes into account its proximity to the mountain Cadair Idris. For some photographers this is the place to go to, to watch low flying aircraft and a great place to get topsides of the aircraft. As with the Bwlch there is a spacious car park very near to the top of the pass. From here climb over the style in the car park and make your way northwards following the sheep tracks to the fence line at the mouth of the pass and then following the path up the hill to a suitable height. The most popular location is a small flat area adjacent to a post that is noticeably larger than the others in the fence but positions higher or lower than this can also be used.
The view from here is well worth the climb and aircraft approaching the pass can clearly be seen. They tend to approach from three directions: from Barmouth / Dolgellau on the left; from Bala in the north and from the Bwlch exit on the northern part of the Loop on the right. On a first visit you can wonder just how the aircraft can fly through what appears to be such a narrow entrance which is also on a slight bend. The way the aircraft negotiate the pass can be broadly split into four: Firstly there are those that are low on the approach and low through the pass; then there are those that appear to be low on the approach only to climb higher to negotiate the entrance and then drop down into the pass once past the entrance. Thirdly there are those that high on the approach only to drop down in spectacular fashion to enter the pass and finally there are those that are high on the approach and remain high. What photographers are looking for are aircraft that are low through the entrance to the pass. Some days it can seem like every aircraft is too high and to cap it all the sun is against you until about 15:30 BST (14:30 GMT). Despite these setbacks when an aircraft is low through the pass then there is probably not a location in the UK to match Cad West. Full frame shots are possible at 200mm on a 1.6x crop camera and using a longer focal length can bring dramatic results.
Machynlleth Loop - Tal-y-Llyn pass east side (Cad East)
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=52.7036&lon=-3.8440&scale=25000&icon=x The east side of the Tal-y-Llyn pass is equally popular with photographers not just because the sun is in your favour for most of the day but also due it having the easiest access when measured in terms of physical effort. Heading south on the A487 from the Cross Foxes Inn there is a long straight stretch of road before it turns right and starts to climb for the pass. At the point where it turns right there is a farm gate on the left. This is the route to take up the hill; it is part of National Cycle Network Route 8 and it is possible to drive up that track. The cyclist road warning signs let you know you are approaching the gate. The track is only wide enough for a car so take care. Remember to always shut the gates after you. You are likely to meet livestock, usually sheep and cattle but if you approach them slowly they’ll usually move out the way. You will fairly quickly arrive at another gate - pass through this one. When you arrive at the next gate you will notice a space that can be used for parking 3 or 4 cars. You can park here if there is space but if it is full pass through this gate and try the space about 50 yards further on. Please note that the farmer at this location is becoming increasingly worried about the number of people driving up the track and congregating on his hillside. Although we ensure that all litter is taken away and we cause no damage, the area is used for grazing and frequent interruptions from people or motor vehicles are not welcome. Therefore when using this location, please consider walking from the car park at Cad West which is only a 15 minute walk. There are two locations popular with photographers. The lower location is got to by heading off in north westerly direction from the car and within a minute or two you should be standing at the edge of the sheer drop to the road below. The higher location can be got by following the fence line from the car. The higher location is some 500 ft above the A487 below. The approach the aircraft take is covered in the description of the west side but because you are much higher aircraft are seldom too high. On a 1.6x crop camera, a lens between 300mm and 400mm will be required for the fast jets but a Hercules will be filling the frame at 135mm. You may need to master an unusual panning technique at this location as aircraft seldom pass you right to left in a straight line and your expensive lens IS or VR feature may become redundant. This sequence of pictures of a 3Sq Harrier GR7 shows how an aircraft typically presents itself. They are all un-cropped and taken on a 1.6x crop camera and a 300mm lens combination. If the west side is good for topside shots you will not be surprised to see that underneath shots predominate on the this side of the pass. This not to everyone’s taste but it is possible to get side-on shots as the aircraft level out but the best feature of this location is to get impressive head on shots, especially frame filling shots of the Hercules.
A second location on the Eastern side can be reached by following a foot patch towards Corris. From the top of Cad East the track leads down the hill side for a further 400 yards before reaching a series of ledges. From these ledges you have a clear view out towards Bala and can also see any aircraft exiting the Bwlch or turning in from Dolgellau. A 300mm lens is more than adequate from here for Hawks, larger aircraft may require even shorter lenses. It is not advisable to attempt reaching this location from the road side as a near vertical climb would be required.
Machynlleth Loop - Minffordd (Corris Corner)
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=52.679&lon=-3.8740&scale=25000&icon=x Most aircraft passing through the Tal-y-Llyn pass turn left at Minffordd, north of Tal-y-Llyn Lake, to follow the A487 towards Corris. Over time enthusiasts have referred to aircraft doing this as Turning for Corris and hence referred to the corner as Corris Corner. The hill that needs to be climbed is called Mynydd Dal-ffanog and there are two possible routes up there. On the A487, just south of where the B4405 leaves it, there is a track that heads diagonally up the hill and it is possible to park close by in the car park off the B4405 close to the junction. You’ll need to follow this path all the way to its end; pass through the gate and then head straight up to a suitable height. Alternatively, you can continue on the A487 and park in one of the lay bys higher up the road. From here head towards the nearby gate and follow the track all the way to the top of the hill. After passing through the gate at the top you’ll need to head west to the fence line and then find a suitable place to position yourself. As usual remember to always close the gates behind you. Quite often you will hear the aircraft before you see them as they head down the Tal-y-Llyn pass and as you are on the inside of the turn you’ll be treated to aircraft topsides. Not all aircraft take the turn and about 10% of them head straight on and out towards the sea. Very occasionally aircraft will head in from the sea and join the loop here. View looking north towards the Tal-y-Llyn pass.
The view looking south west over Tal-y-Llyn lake.
The sun will be behind you during the morning but after about 12:30 BST (11:30 GMT) aircraft will be turning into shadow. On a 1.6x crop camera a 300mm lens should be enough to fill the frame of most of the Hawks that take the turn and should be more than enough for a Tornado.
Machynlleth Loop - Arterial routes As the Loop is a low level roundabout then, the valleys adjoining the Loop will also see traffic. There are many to choose from but the most popular locations are the Dyfi valley from Dinas Mawddwy up to Bwlch-y-Groes and part the Wnion valley at Carreg yr Aderyn between Dolgellau and Bala. Machynlleth Loop - Arterial route - Bwlch y Groes Bwlch-y-Groes
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=52.784&lon=-3.6245&scale=25000&icon=x There are many places in the Dyfi valley to try but the most popular location seems to be at the top of the Bwlch y Groes pass. The pass is 1770 ft above sea level which needs to be kept in mind if the cloud base is low. There is a car park at the top of the pass which lies on the minor road between Dinas Mawddwy and Ponty Pandy (Home to Fictional kids TV hero Fireman Sam) just to the south of Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake). From the car park suitable locations can be got to by heading south on either side of the valley; the west side being the most popular as there is no climbing involved. Virtually all the traffic will appear from the south and in general this location will see less traffic than locations on the Loop. However, it does offer the opportunity to get something different as aircraft are quite often inverted as they climb over the top of the pass. You should also see or hear any traffic entering and leaving Lake Vyrnwy. As this is a south to north valley, on sunny days you may need to change sides to keep the sun behind you. A 300mm lens on a 1.6x crop camera should be enough for the fast jets. Machynlleth Loop - Arterial route - Carreg yr Aderyn (Heartbreak Hill)
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=52.8095&lon=-3.7350&scale=25000&icon=x Carreg yr Aderyn is the rocky outcrop overlooking the small hamlet of Pont Fronwydd on the west side of the A494 midway between Dolgellau and Bala. There is ample parking close by either in the lay by to the north of the hamlet or close to the factory and houses. From the factory head north a little distance to a gap in the fence; go through this gap and then straight up the hill following what appears to be a natural fire break. You will need to continue past a small outcrop on your left and up an even steeper section until the ground levels off and you can then find a suitable viewing location.
This is the view looking south towards the Bwlch exit and Tal-y-Llyn pass.
This is the view looking north to Bala. This is not a flowed valley and so you will have to master the art of looking in two directions at once so as not to be caught out by approaching traffic. You will have plenty of notice of anything coming your way from the south but anything from Bala will only give you a maximum 10 seconds notice. You will also get to see traffic exiting the Bwlch y Groes pass some of which may come your way. On a good day this could possibly be the busiest part of the Loop but on a bad day it can be very frustrating to watch the aircraft exiting the Bwlch and not coming your way or to see a succession of aircraft joining the Loop from the Barmouth direction. As this is a south-west to north-east valley the light will be against you until about 15:30 BST (14:30 GMT) so it is probably a location to try on those, all too frequent, welsh overcast days. For the fast jest a lens between 300mm and 400mm on a 1.6x crop camera should be sufficient.
A5 Pass The A5 pass is a flowed valley between Capel Curig and Bethesda and is a popular route for Hawks returning to RAF Valley. Other jets are not so common but it is popular with helicopters as the valley lies within helicopter training area centred on Snowdon. When driving up the pass from Capel Curig you have to wonder what goes through a pilots mind as they approach the right hand bend at the western end of Llyn Ogwen at 420 kts as all that would be in view through the windscreen is a wall of rock. A good reason to visit the A5 is to get photographs with some spectacular rocky backgrounds. Ordnance Survey Explorer map OL17 is recommended for anyone planning a visit. A5 Pass - Creigiau r Dena / Tryfan Bach
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=53.1206&lon=-3.9888&scale=25000&icon=x Criegiau r Dena is the collection of large rocks that lie to the south of the westerrn end of Llyn Ogwen. There are ample parking spaces alongside the A5 at the western end of the Lake. Setting off from here, head towards the stile and follow the path up the hill. After a while you will need to head in a westerly direction and start clambering up the large rocks until you reach a suitable location. If you do not fancy the clambering then Tryfan Bach, the top of the large slab of rock shaped like a shark fin on the left of the path could be your choice but you are further away from the aircraft here. With the sun behind you all day you might think that the light may not be a problem but due to the very high and steep sides of the valley the light levels can be quite low when the sun isn’t shining. You should have plenty of notice of incoming aircraft and a lens of 300mm to 400mm on a 1.6x crop camera should be enough for the fast jets but as the helicopters fly much lower and sometimes much further away, even a 400mm lens might not be sufficient.
A5 Pass - Pont Pen-y-benglog
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=53.1268&lon=-4.0177&scale=25000&icon=x This location is the northern side of the pass at the eastern end of Llyn Ogwen on the apex of the bend. Park outside the youth hostel and follow the path up the northern side of mountain until you reach a suitable height. At some point you will need to head in an easterly direction so that you have ample warning of incoming aircraft. As you are on the northern side of the pass the light will always be a problem here however topsides abound as the aircraft make the turn and if there is any moisture in the air then spectacular results can be obtained. Looking east over Llyn Ogwen.
A 300mm to 400mm lens on a 1.6x crop camera should be enough for most traffic. Vale of Rheidol
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=52.3922&lon=-3.907&scale=25000&icon=x The Vale of Rheidol follows the Afon Rheidol from Devils Bridge to Aberystwyth. Although no where near as busy as the ‘Loop’, this valley still sees a fair amount of traffic and the power station in the valley floor provides a suitable target for simulated attacks. The area around here is a very busy part of LFA 7 and even if the aircraft do not drop into the valley there should be enough movements in the vicinity to keep you entertained. The narrow gauge steam Vale of Rheidol Railway also runs along the southern edge of the valley. Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 213 is worth purchasing for anyone planning a visit. Most of the valley is treed in which limits the number of suitable locations from which to photograph any aircraft. A location that has proved successful in the past can be got to by following the A4120 westwards from Devils Bridge and after about two miles taking the minor road on the right signposted to Aberffrwd. After the cattle grid there is a large enough verge where you can park the car. Make sure that you leave enough room for any traffic, including wide farm traffic, to pass and do not block the gate on the cattle grid. Walking down the road 40 yards or so, pass through the gate on the right and take the track towards an old stone building. Do not follow the track when it turns left but continue in a straight line alongside some gorse bushes and after climbing slightly you should breach the hill and be able to see down into the valley. Most RAF types can be seen in this valley and a lens between 300mm and 400mm will be required for the fast jets. Although not a flowed valley, most aircraft approach from the west but you should be prepared for stuff sneaking up on you from the east.
Helicopter training area Much of the Snowdon mountain range is used for helicopter training and on most days you can see Squirrels from Shawbury flitting about the valleys in the area along with the helicopters from RAF Valley. The area is regularly used by the army and this can result in the appearance of the front line types on deployment using local sites or RAF Valley to operate from. There are many locations where a helicopter may be seen and besides the A5 pass, the Llanberis pass and areas around Beddgelert are thought to be worth a try
An army Apache on deployment to RAF Valley caught in the A5 pass. Photo Robert Tomlin. LFA7 / Wales guide written compiled by Brian Hodgson |
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Warplane.co.uk does not accept any liability for the accuracy of the information contained within this site. Information is provided for reference only and you should ensure you have permission to enter any private land and are suitably prepared for the location you are visiting, including clothing and emergency provisions. |
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