BHPA paragliding, paramotor & parakite school · Somerset, Dorset, Devon & Cornwall
Learn to fly with Sky Riders
Courses for every stage, from your first day handling a wing to flying solo. Small groups, patient BHPA instructors and private flying sites across Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.
Courses
Where would you like to start?
Every course follows the BHPA training system, so each one builds on the last. Not sure which is right for you? Start with a taster day or ask us.
Taster Day
Day one of your training, with no commitment. Meet the team, handle a wing and maybe leave the ground. If you carry on, it counts as your first day and the £250 comes off your course fee.
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Elementary Pilot (EP)
Your first paragliding course. Learn to launch, fly and land a simple flight plan under instruction. Booked separately, before Paragliding Club Pilot.
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Paragliding Club Pilot (Hill)
Learn to soar, top land and fly alongside other pilots on the Jurassic Coast, so you can fly without an instructor at club sites.
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Parakite Club Pilot
New for 2026 and built with the BHPA. Go straight to parakiting on the coast without the usual hill training first, or convert from paragliding.
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Paramotor Club Pilot
From complete beginner to flying solo under power in Somerset, with no separate EP course needed. Launches, landings, engine-out practice and airspace.
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Pilot Rating & Advanced
Pilot rating for cross-country flying, SIV over water, tandem pilot training and reserve parachute packing with Wingtrim.
View course →How it works
From beginner to qualified pilot
The BHPA rating scheme takes you step by step from your first lesson to flying on your own. Read the full guide.
Taster day
Day one of any course. Try it with no commitment, and the £250 comes off your course fee if you carry on.
Elementary Pilot
Paragliding only. Learn to launch, fly and land under instruction. Paramotor and parakite students go straight to Club Pilot.
Club Pilot
Fly without an instructor at club and private sites, with £5m BHPA insurance.
Pilot rating
Leave the hill and fly cross-country. Also opens up more sites and competitions.
Why choose Sky Riders?
We're a BHPA-approved school run by pilots who love teaching. Our instructors are highly qualified and put safety first, and we keep groups small (never more than four students per instructor) so you get proper, personal coaching and build real confidence.
You'll train at private sites across Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall: coastal hills on the Jurassic Coast for paragliding, fields on the Somerset Levels for paramotoring and the Cornish coast for parakiting.
The support doesn't stop when you qualify. Our sister company Wingtrim services and repairs your kit at our workshop on the Royal Bath & West Showground, you can try demo gliders and harnesses, and you'll join a friendly community of pilots who fly together.
Learn to fly!
BHPA paragliding & paramotor school training across Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.
E-Learning
Suited to all levels, from complete beginner to advanced pilots.
Adventures
Looking to get away? Join the next Sky Riders adventure trip.
Glider servicing
Professional Wingtrim services for all your servicing & repack needs.
Reviews
What our pilots say
Fly somewhere new with us
Guided paragliding and paramotor trips to Morocco, Spain, the Alps and beyond, plus trips planned around you. See our adventures.
Contact
Ask us anything or book a course
Tell us what you'd like to do and we'll get back to you. Prefer to talk? Call or WhatsApp Tom on 07599 844 678.
- Phone
- 07599 844 678
- Message us on WhatsApp
- fly@sky-riders.co.uk
- Training
- Sites across Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall
- Workshop
- Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6QN