Pilot reviews of Dunkeswell Airfield

“First visit to Dunkeswell - decision to go was based on reviews about the food and the friendliness of the sirfield. Easy to find being perched at such a high elevation, fortunately no gliding in the area or parachuting taking place so no problems with the approach. Runway wellmarked and good standard. Well received and informed by A/G - you do need to be patient because it seems the post is not manned 100%. Restaurant area was spacious - only about four or five tables occupied. Food was of a fairly good standard but have to mark down on the service which I thought was uninterested at best!”

“yesterday I flew for the first time from Dunkswell. Everyone was very friendly and my parents went off and had carvery in the airfield pub. We flew for 40 miuntes beacause of the bad weather and i flew for at least 30 mins. My instructor was was very friendly and helpful and felt I was doing well enough to let me land. Great planes, airfield and surroundings.”

“Visited Dunkeswell on 7th July 07. Very good A/G radio service, excellent runway surface and there seems to be a newly resurfaced taxiway leading from the runway intersection back around to the grass parking area by the club. Only had a very light snack while there but it was very good and the prices were sensible. Well worth a visit.”

“As a club flyout we were supposed to be going to Alderney and Le Havre, but TAF's said otherwise. So with 9 aircraft booked we were at a loss as to where to go. Dunkerswell was mentioned and after a bit of quick re-navigation we set off, 8 aircraft arrived and disgorged about 25 people. Bless them, the lovely girls and staff who were under pressure with an already busy Fathers Day Carvery made us very welcome and within an hour of arrival were filling our empty stomachs (I believe all pilots have empty stomachs) with the most superb sunday roast I have tasted outside home and the price was an unbvelievable at £6.95 for as much as you could eat. A Big Up to them. The flying facilities have improved since I last went there 3 years ago, with good runways and by the look of it a newly tarmac'd taxiway, !!WELL DONE DUNKERSWELL”

“I flew to Dunkeswell last Tuesday, the first time I have ever landed away. After the ordered life of a major airfield, this was a joy. The radio is a little informal - as I reported joining overhead, for left-hand to 23, I got a reply on the lines of "You do what you like, my love, I'm on my own". I think I had the Devon sky to myself. Sadly, we didn't have time to eat, but I had the nicest cup of tea I've had in years. I'll be back!”

“Dunkeswell has become a bit of a favourite for me. Spacious cafe with proper food and an amazing cavery on Sundays (booking usually required) Staff are friendly and welcoming, when I stayed on holiday I easily found someone to lend me a ladder to check the 172's fuel tanks, and was shown to a briefing rooms to get the weather and notams.”

“Made a second visit to Dunkerswell yesterday. Apparently , at 836' amsl it is the highest airfield in the UK - certainly means that you need to set the QFE properly.

On both of my visits the airfield has been very busy and it has been necessary to key a very good lookout. Yesterday there was gliding in the area , parchute fdropping, PPL training, air experience flights plus all of the normal visiting traffic.

Nice long runway on 23 / 05 but watch out for the very diplaced threshold on 23. This is really critical because the fule pumps are essentially on the end of the runway so it is generally busy with traffic crossing etc. I found that it was necessary to make an extra effort to discount the intial runway and focus on the actual threshold.

There is a decent restaurant with good views out onto the airfield and a flying club who were happy to let me use their PC to pck up the TAFS before I returned.

”

“Re: Upottery (Smeatharpe): microlighting, hang gliding & paramotoring take place at various times from there, but visitors also need to be aware of gliding activity at North Hill (Devon & Somerset GC) 1.5nm WSW of Dunkeswell, which is why the circuits tend to be to the east of the field but also avoiding Dunkeswell village.”

“First visit to Dunkeswell - when approaching from Taunton from a northerly direction it was easily identfied by looking for Upottery Gliding site to the North East of the field. ATC allowed us to do a downwind entry into the circuit for R/W 35 , make sure you have the QFE though as this field is high at 839 amsl!

Landing fee reasonable £10. Restuarant near apron had a good selection for lunch and has large tables for groups indoors and out. Would recommend a visit!

”

“I went to Dunkeswell yesterday - a most enjoyable flight and the aerodrome is really easy to find. Also I got a free cream tea voucher included in the £4.50 landing fee (bargain!).

The only awkward bit was the radio, which seems to be a somewhat sporadic activity for the chaps there. If there is no radio (as was the case when I got back to Swansea, since they go home at five) then you can call "traffic" and you get some kind of response. Having someone occasionally acknowledging calls whenever they have a minute to spare is worse than useless - I called finals twice before someone got back to me, and I only found out it was a left-hand circuit by looking in the book beforehand.

Note that Runway 23 has a very long threshold - it gave me a bit of a turn to see aircraft apparenty parked on the runway, until I noticed that the numbers were a lot further up than I had expected. I'm probably not the only dumbcluck who would make that error!

However, apart from the radio everything else was fine - nice long runway, excellent caff and friendly welcome all round.

”

“Flew down to Dunkeswell today, in fine sunshine, with another pilot. Radio seemed unmanned most of the time.

On arrival, was told to park on the grass, in front of the cafe. Very nice airfield, but watch for the gliding site, on top of the hill to the west of the airfield.

Cafe was first class, and the mega breakfast was only about £4.00 odd. Spent lots of time, out on the grass looking at all the various types of aircraft parked there. The landing fee was £9.00, and it was worth it.

I would recomend a visit to this airfield.

”

“Don't rely on the signal square - never updated and used as a playground by kids whilst their parents are at the carvery!”

“Dunkewell always a good place to visit. If the vis not so good make sure you get the correct field as I almost didn't once (before GPS days) The place is full of WW2 history - just search 'Dunkeswell' and see what you come up with”

“I have visited Dunkeswell three times including an overnight stop.

Found the ops staff extremely helpful, proving tie downs for my a/c with no bother at all.

On my last two occasions I have visited at weekends, I found the service in the Cafe to be v. slow, this was due to the volume of people passing through I think, probably best to expect a while on the ground for food at the weekends here!! Food however is excellent, including the carvery.

Worth a go! Watch out for North Hill (gliders & cables) a short distance to the west especially if using the westerly runway departure!!

Picture shows departing off Northerly Rwy

”

“I was offered a ride on a mate's nav-ex to Dunkeswell and it was my first taste of 'real' flying to and from somewhere as opposing to around and around the circuit. So excitement may have coloured my enthusiasm somewhat but it still seemed a lovely, lively little airfield.

I had a very plump bacon butty and watched all the action from the large and comfortable cafe, which has an absolutely stunning mural decorating the walls and ceiling.

”

“went to dunkeswell realy worth the trip much better than the near by exeter airport. nice place for lunch and a stop off every one should go there if they can.”

“My first visit to Dunkeswell last Sunday and I was most impressed. It was a real hive of activity (both airside and land-side), with an excellent mix of aviation (including parachutes) plus lots of gliders soaring from a nearby site. Everywhere is clean, tidy and well-maintained. It's obviously a local attraction for the public, despite it being well off the beaten track by road. The newly extended bar/restaurant has got alot to do with it. The Sunday-only carvery, at less than £6 per head, was doing a roaring trade (I was told the previous weekend it did 85 covers). we couldn't pass up the unexpected chance for a such a good meal and were not disappointed! ”

“I recently visited too, and I have to say that the roast lunch was one of the most impressive I've had, e-var. Not only is there a choice of three roast meats, but you can even have some of each! ”

“I visited Dunkeswell yesterday (31 May 2003) and the landing fee for a light single (C172) was £9.00. Also the airfield IS PPR. There is parachute activity at the airfield and I was asked to talk to there a/g on 123.475 if I wanted to join overhead to ensure separation from drops. The were happy for me to join without r/t at circuit height if I preferred.”