I was born in Ventnor, moved to Canada with the parents many moons ago (still a UK citizen and hold a UK passport, though am a permanent resident in Canada). I come home annually to relax and enjoy, what I consider to be, real life on the island… and my god I miss it as soon as the ferry leaves Cowes.
Just bought a HolyStone 720e, it’s overweight at 459g, and am heading back to Ventnor for a few weeks late September. I got my flight and owners licenses from CAA and have registered my drone in the UK.
PROBLEM:
From what I understand, I should be good to go, but it seems that National Trust owns literally everything. Despite the drone zone flight zone info, I don’t think I can actually fly anywhere without causing issues or pushing the limits. Even to get a few mins of the Downs, Ventnor beach, Park, Shanklin, Sandown etc.
I’d love to add to my holiday snaps (ahh, photographs he asked him knowingly, snap, snap, grin grin, wink, wink, say no more!) but I don’t want to have any problems or get a UK record, especially one that may even inhibit me returning for good one day (my retirement dream). Should I leave my drone in Canada or are there actually some places I could fly while on Wight walks? I GoPro my trips but thought some great cinematics would take it to another level.
Thanks for the reply, I have seen it and have the link on my phone, as well as Drone Assist and others. I couldn’t justify purchasing a membership to get the added overlays and info as I only manage to come back once a year.
Despite the info they show, it still seems that the IOW has very tight restrictions where i don’t really see any places I can fly there, without it either being national trust or private land. Are they really strict on it, is a few minutes of scenic footage an issue? I don’t want to be THAT GUY, the bloody foreigner, or mistaken as an ‘American who thinks he can do what he wants’.
I’d like to even get some cinematic shots from somewhere within sight or St.Catherines or The Needles, understanding you can’t actually take off or land from those sites themselves.
Yes NT is or can be a pain in the backside, you can fly over but you can’t TOAL from the NT land or within, if you can find a spot to TOAL outside & stick to the drone code, then I see no harm, just be mindful or carful rather as
So not as much freedom as the sub 250 !
Your drone is heavier like my own, where restrictions are tighter, if you find a good TOAL point for your subject I see no reason why you can’t
Drone scene & stick to the drone code will be your best friend.
I really appreciate the feedback, that was my first impression but the more I read the more I doubted myself. I then see countless videos with great cliff shots, fields and farms, beaches, needles, etc.
I know that the IOW isn’t crawling with cops the way Canada and the USA are (I actually did see one in Ventnor last year and had a nice chat outside Tesco Express) but still, I just want a quiet rest and a walk about without the drama. Perhaps I’m being paranoid, while just using common sense and drone code is the simple answer. Thanks again for the reply, I was hoping that would be the answer.
Most of the beaches and foreshore around Cowes, Ventnor and Yarmouth are Crown land, so you’re allowed to fly from there (beach betweeen high and low tide marks).
