The wildest runway in the UK gives you no second chances when landing an aircraft

Nayland Airfield is home to the wildest runway in the UK, where pilots have just one chance to get it right.

There are some mind-boggling airports and runways out there, including this one in Japan that’s built on a slowly sinking man-made island, and the one in St. Maarten that’s slap-bang next to a beach, which makes for some interesting landings. 

And tucked away in the Suffolk countryside, you’ll find Nayland Airfield, which has a whopping 15 percent gradient.  

Although it’s not as well-known as some of those other spots, the airstrip is one of the most outrageous out there.

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The UK’s wildest runway is not only steep, but very short

Incredibly, Nayland Airstrip is even steeper than the infamous Lukla Airport in Nepal, which has been branded ‘the world’s most dangerous airport’. 

And much like Lukla, Nayland doesn’t give second chances when it comes to nailing the landing. 

YouTuber Short Field recently took a trip out to Nayland in his 2011 PiperSport to take a closer look at the remarkable airstrip. 

“It’s definitely a challenging strip,” he commented as he prepared to fly in. 

Which is somewhat of an understatment when you consider that alongside that steep gradient, the airstrip is also pretty short and it has just one way in and out, meaning there’s no room for redos. 

The approach to the runway is also lower than the hill, which can generate a lot of turbulence, making for a bumpy landing. 

Oh, and all of that is before you consider the fact that Nayland is located on farmland, so there’s a chance that pilots might have to dodge some sheep.

During the pilot’s attempt he spotted ‘loads’ of sheep, but thankfully, they were kept at bay by Tim Darters, who owns the airfield.

Despite the runway’s steepness, shortness, and smattering of sheep, the YouTuber managed a perfectly executed landing at Nayland. 

But the landing is only half of the story, because take-off at the airstrip can be just as tricky. 

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Flying out of the airport can be just as tricky as landing

As there are no markings at the start of the runway, the slope can be hard to see for pilots, with the content creator noting it’s a ‘bit of an optical illusion’. 

“You have to just aim for a set of trees on the distant horizon,” he explained. 

“If you don’t, you can easily end up drifting off the side of the runway.”

Not ideal. 

Thankfully, the pilot was able to navigate the take-off just as well as the landing, proving that any airstrip is workable if the pilot’s talented enough.

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