The county town of Ceredigion, Aberystwyth, has one of the most important universities in the whole of Wales. It’s fantastic for gaining a higher education and expanding your horizons, but in this remote and beautiful part of the country, we have a different project in mind: learning to fly. Is a fantastic destination for paragliding, with hills that enjoy reliable winds from the Irish sea and have sloping sides that are perfect for take off. And once you’re in the air, the views of the landscape and coastline that open up below your feet and extend to the horizon are hard to beat in all of the UK.

There are several places where you can learn to be a paraglider in Ceredigion, but if you prefer, you can also enjoy a flight as the passenger of an experienced flight instructor and enjoy the views. A paraglider, which doesn’t have a rigid frame or motor and can be packed up to fit in a large rucksack, is the flying machine which offers the closest experience to the flight of a bird that’s yet been developed. That’s why has become the most popular form of unpowered flight around in recent decades, and if you choose this experience, you’ll be joining the ranks of the coolest club out there.

Where are the best places to go paragliding in Ceredigion?

• Aberystwyth: The regional capital sits in the middle of Cardigan Bay. There are two hills, Constitution Hill to the north and Pen Dinas to the south that are suitable for getting a paraglider into the air, and then you can start to enjoy the sights. The town has two beaches separated by a castle, with a harbour full of the masts of sailing ships at the end. Travelling along the coast you reach the beautiful sandy expanse of Borth Beach, and on a clear day you can glimpse the Irish coast across the sea.

• Cambrian Mountains: This range covers much of inland Ceredigion, and its sparse population and inaccessibility have earned the nickname of the The Green Desert of Wales. The green slopes of some of these mountains, including the highest, Plynlimon, are perfect for catching the winds and starting to fly. With no noise of traffic from below, a flight above the Cambrian Mountains will give you a sense of tranquillity that’s hard to find in everyday life.

• Lampeter: in the southeast of the region, this town sits on the confluence of two rivers in charming rural surroundings. Not far away, you’ll find two excellent sites for starting a paragliding flight. Hills at Pentrefelin and Llanddewi Brefi receive good winds on most days which can take you on an aerial adventure over the heart of Wales.

• Cardigan: The Afon Teivi river meets the sea at Cardigan and marks the county line. Just over the border, in Pembrokeshire, you can take to the air on the dramatic headland above Poppit Sands beach. From here, Cardigan Bay stretches away to the north, and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is visible in the other direction.

What kind of experience can you have?

- The most common flight for a first time paraglider is a tandem flight. Flying in tandem means being taken up by an experienced pilot who carries you as a passenger, and allows you to feel the magic of this kind of flight without the responsibility of being in control. Paragliding is pretty simple once you get the hang of it, but trying to even get into the air on your own would be very challenging if you don’t have any experience. The other advantage of a tandem flight is that you can focus on the sensation of flying without a motor and enjoying the spectacular views. It lasts around 20 minutes from hilltop take off to landing, but you should put aside 2 to 3 hours or your day for the full experience.

- A tandem flight might well be enough to get you hooked on this sport, and if so you’ll want to learn how to pilot yourself. This is a great place to learn because of its reliable winds which enable flights on many days of the year, and distinct flying areas to provide variety. Why not take a 1 day taster course to see if this is for you? In order to get a certificate you’ll need to complete at least 3-4 days of flying, and about 7 if you want to become a fully fledged pilot.

How can you enhance your activity?

This is likely to be the flight of your lifetime, so if 20 minutes seems short to you, we have just the thing to make sure that the memories last a lifetime. You can choose a picture flight, in which your pilot will take numerous photos of the trip, including of you, the craft, and the beautiful landscape of mid Wales laid out beneath you.

Or you can become the star of your very own movie by going for a video flight, where the full experience will be captured on video, then professionally edited and put to music. The finished product is a souvenir like no other that you can watch again and again, or show your friends and family to prove that you were brave enough to complete this experience!

Requirements to do this activity

This wonderful experience is offered to anyone over the age of 14, and that’s whether you´re flying as a passenger or learning to do it yourself. That’s right - here you can learn to fly before learning to drive! There is no upper age limit, but you must be in good enough shape to be able to run downhill for up to 10 metres at take off, and use your legs to break the descent when landing. People of all ages and backgrounds fall in love with this sport, and in the clear Welsh skies, where red kites fly, we think that you’ll become another one of them.

Make a booking today and prepare for the flight of your life!