Paragliding Courses FAQ – Learn to Paraglide

Booking a paragliding course is very straightforward. After reviewing what our school offers, you may contact us to check availability.
Choose either the 2-day beginner course or the 5-day beginner course. To secure your place, visit our paragliding course booking page and follow the instructions.
Once we receive payment, you will receive confirmation by email with full booking details. Please include your contact number, weight, and preferred course dates in your email.

In a BHPA (British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association) school environment, injuries are rare. This is thanks to fully trained, experienced instructors, beginner-friendly equipment, and a controlled learning environment. Accidents usually happen to pilots without proper or no training Flying on unsuitable equipment, at the wrong sites, and nearly always in the wrong weather conditions. It’s just as important to know when not to fly to reduce risk. Support doesn't end when you leave school. BHPA club coaches are available free of charge to help you stay safe and continue improving your skills.

To learn paragliding, you will need to weigh between 45 kg and 100 kg, as glider size depends on your weight. A reasonable level of general fitness is required — enough to walk up gentle hills and run a short distance. There is no upper age limit, but if you have any health concerns, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor first.

Please note that training takes place in the countryside on grassy slopes with some undergrowth, so there is always a small possibility of tripping or slipping. Proper footwear with ankle support is recommended.

learning to paraglide in the UK typically involves two courses:

First the Elementary Course – around 5 days, £695
Then Club Pilot Course around 5 days, £850

You will also require mandatory BHPA membership £174 paid when you start and required for all paragliding in the UK. This includes third-party insurance and a monthly magazine.

If you wish to purchase your own equipment, new gear (glider, harness, helmet) starts from around £3,850. Used equipment varies but is usually from £2,400.
The cost of training can often be offset if you buy equipment from the school.
You can check out courses & prices on our courses page.

Although you can technically fly all year if the weather permits, winter days are often unsettled, making training more difficult and prone to cancellations. The best season for learning runs from mid-April to the end of October, when conditions are generally more consistent. Summer typically offers steadier weather, longer days, and warmer temperatures making learning safer, more comfortable, and more fun.

A paraglider is an inexpensive, portable “flight machine” that weighs less than 10 kg, folds into a small bag, and can take you thousands of feet high and many kilometers cross-country — all while surfing the sky in pure silence. It’s that Peter Pan moment most people dream of, something that can’t be described, only experienced. Paragliding is more mind-blowing and fun than most people ever experience in a lifetime, guaranteed to change your perspective. It’s available to anyone over 16 and is surprisingly easy to learn with BHPA-qualified instruction.

Everyone starts as a complete beginner, and paragliding is relatively easy to learn, especially for women, because it relies on technique rather than strength. Your first lessons start on the ground, inflating the wing and walking gently while learning to steer. As your control improves, you progress to short take-offs and gradually higher flights, guided every step by BHPA (British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association) qualified instructors.

Wear comfortable outdoor clothing in layers, even in summer, so you can add or remove layers as needed. Some students choose to wear shorts in warm weather, but we recommend loose-fitting trousers or jeans for better protection. You'll require sturdy footwear with good ankle support, such as walking boots — trainers are not suitable. All technical safety equipment, including helmets, is provided by the school.

By car, the journey from London is straightforward and takes around 1 hour, with parking available in our private on-site car park.

If you're traveling by train, it’s about 1 hour from London Victoria to Shoreham-by-Sea station. A taxi or Uber takes around 10 minutes and costs approximately £10. There is also a taxi rank at the station.

We can usually arrange a lift back to the station at the end of the day.

The evening before your training, the duty instructor will contact you by phone or text, usually before 7:30 pm, to confirm the weather and final details. Training normally starts at 10:00 am, meeting at our premier site in Steyning, within the South Downs National Park.