Wales Low Flying Area, Wales, UK
Also known as LFA7 and more commonly known as the Mach Loop, this is the best low flying area in the UK accessible to the aviation enthusiast. In 2009, my mate Shaun and I had a few days spare between the Flying Legends airshow and RIAT so we decided to go to Wales and check out this famous area - in terms of low flying areas that is.
Any aviation enthusiast worth his salt has heard of or seen photos of the Mach Loop. Very few have been there. It is a must for any aviation enthusiast. We stayed in the Buckley Pines Hotel but there are several good places to stay. The hotel in question is situated in Dinas Mawddwy (don't ask me to pronounce that one - or any other Welsh name - it's not what you think). It is a quaint little village with a couple of good pubs (of course) and is not too far from the action. In fact, the village is in the middle of the Mach Loop.
Now, CAD EAST and CAD WEST are probably the best spots for photography in the Loop - one is easy to get to (but not the best photos) and the other is about a 40 minute hike to get to but you get the best photos! CAD EAST is accessible with a vehicle with a short 100m walk to the top. Unfortunately, the aircraft bank the other way going over CAD WEST so you will always get the top view from this vantage point - and a vantage point it is. You actually look down on the aircraft flying below you. I haven't been to CAD WEST but the photos I have seen are awesome. To get to CAD WEST, it is a long walk and sharp climb from the valley floor.
This experience is a must but don't expect loads of aircraft coming down the valley. You will have hours of waiting - and 10 seconds of pure adrenaline rush as the aircraft powers past you.
Unfortuanely, I was using a new camera and didn't get the best photos but I am going back sometime to CAD WEST armed with my "old" kit to get the shots I missed last time..... I used a Canon 5D MkII and a Canon 300mm F2,8 lens