Therfield Heath

Therfield Heath is a magnificent sweep of open chalk downland on the edge of Royston, rising above the town with wide views north across the Cambridgeshire plain and dotted with prehistoric burial mounds. As registered common land it offers a strong access position: the public can walk freely and take off and land here in a way that is generally lawful, which is rare and valuable in this county. The springy chalk turf, the barrows and the big skies make lovely, uncluttered compositions, and the elevation gives you real horizon in an otherwise flat region. There are caveats. The heath is a Site of Special Scientific Interest grazed for rare chalk-grassland flora and butterflies, it is a long-established gliding and model-flying site, and part of it is a golf course - so you must give way to full-size gliders and model aircraft, keep clear of the fairways and grazing stock, and avoid the ground-nesting season on the open turf. Airspace is clean, with no flight restriction zone nearby. Early morning or a calm autumn day is ideal, before the golfers and dog walkers arrive and while the low sun models the ancient earthworks. Park at the heath car park off the A505, check for gliding activity first, keep your flights low and brief, and tread lightly on protected ground.