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Aircraft Spotting at Somerset's Airfields and Airports
CHEWTON MENDIP-FRANKLYN'S
FIELD
Head south out of town on A39. Go past B3114 left turn and take next left turn (East End Lane?). Then I think it’s the second right (Mannings Lane?) that will take you to the strip.
Updated 2 August 04
EAST PENNARD-LOWER WITHIAL
FARM
Head south out of Wraxall on A37 and after 2 miles turn right to Stone. Head through Stone, and halfway along the long left band bend you’ll pass a house on the left. Turn right not long after the house down a track. Go through the field and you’ll be at the end of the runway. Take care and keep a good lookout, drive parallel but not along the runway, the hangars are halfway along.
Added 11 March 2008
FELTON-NEW FARM
From B3130 in Winford, head west on Felton Lane to Felton. After Raglan Lane and Long Cross on the right, turn right at the crossroads and right again at the next crossroads onto Vee Lane. There is a track just here on the left that leads to the strip. If locked up, there are gaps in the hangar.
Updated 14 April 2008
HENSTRIDGE - TWR 130.25
Located in village just off A30. Permission usually granted on request. Heading west along A30 and before you get to Henstridge there will be a turning on the right to Lower Nyland followed by a bridge over Bow Brook. Take the next left and airfield is on the left. Aircraft are parked in two different areas. Main area is on left with hangars. Ask in clubhouse for access. Over to left is a building with gyros in but is normally locked up. On right, if you drive down the old runway it will take you to the other side. Website http://www.henstridge.flyer.co.uk/
HEWISH
Head west out of Congresbury on A370 and after you pass through Hewish, turn right towards East Hewish. The strip and hangars are just beyond this village. The microlights from Kingston Seymour strip moved here when that strip closed down.
Added 15 July 2006
LANGPORT-HIGH HAM
Towards the centre of High Ham, head west out of the village on
Turnhill Road (at crossroads?) and go past the church. There is a sharp right bend, followed
by a shallow left bend and strip is on right.
LULSGATE/BRISTOL - TWR 133.85, APP 136.075/125.65
Southwest of Bristol on A38 near
village of Lulsgate Bottom. Follow
signs to airport when on A38.
There are a couple of pull-ins on the A38 that crosses the runway and a
popular viewing area is adjacent to runway 09 threshold. Directions are, travelling south on the
A38 towards Lulsgate, take the right hand turn next to the Airport Tavern
public house, before you get to the airport entrance. Pass the freight entrance
on your left, and take the next left hand turning into Cooks Bridlepath just
after a lay-by with an old style telephone box. Take the single track road, and
follow it around the end of the runway and up the hill. There are pull ins at
the top of the hill overlooking the runway. Gets busy, especially on summer weekends. Views of the main,
and western apron area but at a distance and views of the north side hanger area.
Views of the main apron and the south side flying centre can be obtained from
the eating area on the top floor of the terminal, but the car park is expensive
if you stay too long. As you drive
towards the terminal, look left as you may catch glimpses of one or two parked
at the terminal. For flying club,
leave the terminal and at the roundabout turn right, signed Silver Zone
parking. Go past the end of the
runway and at the next roundabout, take 2nd exit to Silver Zone long term
parking. You’ll see the Flying
Centre buildings and car park. If you
ask at the desk, they are usually ok with you logging from the window, but they
won’t allow you on to the apron.
Straight ahead beyond the parked club aircraft is a big black hangar
with aircraft parked outside, some are down in a dip – how do you get round
here? To the right of this is the
cargo area and further right is the terminal and main apron. To the left of the flying club building
is a crash gate that may get you a couple more and if you walk in to the long
term car park and walk along the fence you’ll be able to pick up a few
more. As you are about to leave
this area, on the left is a small track that leads to a gate, this may get you
one or two more that are parked at the terminal. For more info visit http://www.eggd.co.uk/ and http://www.biagrouponline.co.uk/. For airport parking visit 
or 
Correct as of 5 April 2008
WESTON-SUPER-MARE (HELICOPTER MUSEUM)
Visit museum website for directions, opening
times, admission, exhibits http://www.helicoptermuseum.co.uk/
WESTONZOYLAND – TWR
129.825
Take the A372 east out of village and airfield is on left. Very friendly here, ask in the control point/mobile clubhouse. Website http://www.westonzoylandflyingclub.co.uk/
Updated 10 April 2008
YEOVIL
You can see the ramp outside the final production
shed from a public footpath right under runway 28 approach. Go into Yeovil (mass of roundabouts -
get onto the Lysander Way/Road dual carriageway). You will come to some traffic lights near a MacDonalds and
opposite PC World - turn right into West Henderford. Turn left into Seaton Road, turn left again into Westland
Road. This is a dead end and goes
up to a Weslands car park - park considerately in the residential street. Walk towards the car park and you'll
see a short lane on the right with half a dozen houses - this is also a public
footpath and once you get past those few houses runs along the perimeter of the
airfield and leads right to the 28 approach. Views are not fantastic as the choppers are often tail on
and in a bit of a dip. Make sure
you get to the runway 10 end too - sometimes they park choppers out at that end
for ground trials. It also has a
good clear view if anything was to move.
There is a large lay-by in front of some padlocked gates near an
industrial building on the left that allows you to park up for a short while.
YEOVILTON (FLEET AIR ARM MUSEUM)
Head west out of Ilchester on B3151 and take next right. Follow signs. Museum website: http://www.fleetairarm.com/.