Can I fly over Cerne Abbas?

Legal & Privacy
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Hi everyone, can we fly over the Giant at Cerne Abbas, looks like the area has something to do with Yeovilton base and an SSSI, yellow area. I’m still a newbie :laughing:.

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There are three potential problems if you intend to fly directly above the chalk figure.

It is National Trust land. They do not allow take off and landing from sites they own, overflying at a height that will not cause nuisance is, however legal however the Trust may protest.

Fly high enough over the tourists so as not to draw attention to yourself.

It is an SSSI. The overflying of special sites varies according to the site - if there are nesting birds at certain times of the year then don’t fly at those times, if the site is designated of special interest because of a rare p,ant or butterfly for instance then you won’t be causing any distress if you overfly.

Giant Hill, located in Dorset, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) renowned for its exceptionally biodiverse chalk grassland, rare flora, and 36 species of butterflies, including the threatened Marsh Fritillary and Duke of Burgundy. It is also the site of the180ft (55m) Cerne Abbas Giant, a 10th-century Saxon chalk figure

So the plants and butterflies aren’t going to be disturbed by your overflight.

Yeovilton airbase

Increased risk for drone operations
There is an increased risk of encountering aerial vehicles at this location.

The yellow zone is a warning. Be aware that you might encounter military helicopters in the area (although I suspect they might be told to not buzz the tourists viewing the giant). It is an alert, not a prohibition, you can fly there.

I would also suggest that rather than a vertical view an oblique view of the Giant taken from outside NT and SSSI boundaries will be just as impressive!

The link to reports of previous flights is here

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Although it is National Trust site they have now admitted that they can’t stop people taking off from a public area and flying over there land. macspite you are right in that they don’t allow take off and landing on there ground but as always if you take off from outside there perimeter and fly over then they can’t stop you.

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Drone Scene shows two hazards to be aware of, the possibility of military aircraft from Yeovilton, and an SSSI for Giant Hill. Neither of these prevent you from flying your drone but you need to be informed of & alert to the increased risk. As far as I can ascertain the SSSI is connected to chalk downland flora and butterflies, and the giant, none of which I suspect will be unduly bothered by a drone*.

Giant Hill, and the Big Lad himself, are owned by the National Trust, who do not allow TOAL from their property. You can overfly it to your heart’s content, though, so long as you fly within the CAA’s Drone Code and rules; VLOS and with due regard to the privacy and and lack of disturbance to people on the ground. If you’re more than 100’ AGL they won’t notice you anyway. Personally, if I were flying the site, I’d want to stand off a little to the South, towards the village; 400’/120m AGL should be more than enough for a good view. After all, as I’ve said, he’s a big lad!

*If he is bothered by your drone, be careful he doesn’t knock it out of the sky with that, um… thing!!! I’d be interested to see the Care Refresh claim!

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Or if you TOAL from a public road inside their perimeter!

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Just remember airspace is airspace so unless your near an airport etc. then its all ours to enjoy

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Not quite if your flying over a protected place as defined by Section 5 of the National Security Act 2023.

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I must read up on that :+1:

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Surely you don’t want to fly directly OVER the Giant? You would be better flying some distance away in order to see the whole thing. Different ballgame.

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You could fly dierctly over the giant if you wanted to, as long as you didn’t take off from and aren’t going to land on the NT property around him and are within the CAA’s height & VLOS rules and their Drone Code. But you’ll need to stand off a bit to get him all in the frame, and I doubt you’ll be able to do that from directly overhead. Most likely you’ll need to be off a little to the south, nearer the village or possibly even further away than that. It’s a south-facing hillside and a fairly broad valley!

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Thanks, i did fly over him as i wanted to see the land feature thats on the top, all regs were adhered to.

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