Pilot reviews of Tiree Airfield

Visited Tiree (EGPU) from Netherthorpe (EGNF) via Oban (EGEO)for fuel on 23/07/2014. Paid £2.42 per litre for fuel at Oban. We were in G-ROLY, a C172 based at Netherthorpe.

Glorious day throughout the UK, after some early morning radiation fog lifted, very warm everywhere. We routed via POL, DCS and TRN VORs for Oban. Left Oban and headed 270 for Tiree after getting PPR.

The approach offered stunning views and we had a basic service from Scottish Info and then the same from Tiree Information. Very quiet upon landing at Tiree using runway 17. After parking we eventually found where we needed to go which was right to the top of the control tower to pay the landing fee over just over £20. No cards were accepted but luckily I had some cash on me. I asked if they would activate the flightplan for us on departure but he said we should call Scottish Info instead even though they had an AFPEx terminal in the tower.

The man in the tower suggested we could walk a short distance to the Café (The Cobbled Cow) and then take a 10 minute walk to the beach. The Sandwich at the Cobbled Cow was not the cheapest the bread was not the freshest but the filling was good quality. Two sandwiches and 2 soft drinks were around £9.

We then walked to the beach which was lovely and walked along the road and got eaten by insects in the hot weather along the fields and then ended up walking back to the tower the same way we started!

A woman with a Flybe uniform let us out to the aircraft and we called the tower but there was no answer. Upon looking at Pooleys we noticed that the airfield had closed! We simply made blind calls and departed using runway 11 for the return flight to Netherthorpe with a stiff headwind!

A great day's flying, some lovely views over the Lake District including Windermere and Ullswater on the return, it is easy to see why my mum (Sandra Sandie) and I love the area so much and then the view over Scotland were impressive also.

Would have been nice to have more time on Tiree and possibly hired a car (there was one at the airport actually) to see the island, maybe one for another day though.

The Scarinish hotel was very good for its 2 stars and the food was outstanding.

http://www.tireescarinishhotel.com/  

The views of the islands on the way out are just spectacular and enough reason alone to make the trip. There is a VOR on the field and an extremely helpful and friendly ATC. There is no fuel but careful planning and a dipstick should mean very little inconvenience. If I had not had adverse winds and weather I would have flown direct to/from Carlisle.

It is easy to hire a bicycle; a car is hardly necessary as the island is relatively flat and there is a very cheap ‘ring and ride’ bus service. There are numerous spectacular beaches.

As expected, the islanders were all very helpful and friendly. It is odd initially to get a wave from every (infrequent) passing car. There is no virgin mobile service but major networks are probably OK.