Royal Air Force Station.  Leeming

                               Location: RAF Leeming is situated just off the A1, 50 miles north of York and 25 miles south of Darlington.

 Leeming is a strange place to get to. If you are travelling from the south up the A 1, when you see the sign RAF Leeming, ignore it unless you are actually going to the base. Take the next exit to Londonderry, follow the road over the A 1 and keep on that road, you will skirt down the side of the airfield. After around 1 mile you will see the viewing area on your right, about 100 yrds before the Pub and Post Office

Point 1 is the official Viewing area, a concrete car park with 7 ft fences which make photography difficult. If you have a small pair of steps then you are fine, although a tornado will require a lens of around 400mm including the 1.6 crop factor fill the frame. The light from late morning onwards will not cause you much of a problem from here. Aircraft returning from the north will overfly the viewing area and break into the circuit above you and turn away and over the base and hangers.

                                                         An F3 breaking in the circuit, taken from Point 7

Points 2 and 3 are accessed by walking on the footpath that follows the main road towards the londonderry trucktop. In the last 12 months the base has put up a fence all around the perimeter and this has affected problems to see on to the runway for decent images. 

                                                                               Landing at point 5

     Note:As of January 2008, there is a new metal fence around the perimeter of the airfield. This obstructs the runway at the truck stop end.

Point 4 is accessed by driving down the lane next to the lorry park. Please do not park on the double yellow lines or block the gate, park off road and walk down the short lane or park in the entrance of the old barn. If you stand on the barns floor, this is elevated and will give you an extra 5 foot of height. In the past year they have erected a large gate to replace the old wooden one, this has spoiled the fun completely as this was a fantastic location. Despite being f foot lower than the taxiway this location was fantastic for close ups as aircraft would taxi past you at around 50 ft from you.

                                                                     A 100 sqn hawk in the circuit at point 12 on the bridge

Point 5 is located towards the end of the road just past the last barn  near the old A1 junction. From here you can get decent landing shots with a 300-400mm lens, can be problematic during the summer has there folliage issues, not so in the winter months.

                                                                                       The approach at the gate at point 6

Point 6 is on the Gatenby bridge. From the base, head back on to the A 1 then take the first exit after the truck stop turn off and go left towards the main gate. Park up of the road after reaching the summit of the hill. Please do not block the slip road down to the farm. I park up on the verge about 150 yrds down the road and walk back to the bridge. From this location you can get full frame side on shots of a tornado with a 400mm lens and they are usually in full burner as they pass you. For landing shots a 300mm lens is more than enough. For point 7, you are best walking on foot has to avoid drawing atention to yourself. You will be visiable from the main gate, so get your shots and leave asap.

                                                                                   Near the scrap yard looking south

Point 9 is the most popular location at this base, referred to as the scrap yard . Take the Northallerton road and after you pass the national speed limit signs 300 yrds on your right is a building and a right turn, take this then 5 yrds down the lane take a right turn and follow the lane until you reach the runway lights. Park up here, well off the road has this is a very busy lane especially by small lorries. In the past you have been able to walk down the small lane to the water works, from there you can get some cracking shots of aircraft on approach or burner shots if they are going the other way, they are still pretty low as they pass you. Walk down and ask the people at the water works, they have been helpful in the past. Do not drive down the lane though. You may be facing into the sun in the late afternoon though. For an alternative view walk down the scrap yard lane and from the entrance to the scrap yard is an excellent position for shooting aircraft in either direction, and the sun is not an issue . Point 8 is reached by walking from point 9 on to the Northallerton road and standing at the fence opposite the entrance. From here great topside shots can be had of aircraft on short finals. 

                                                                   From the scrap yard entrance, Tornado F3 taking off 

                                                                          F3 banking, from point 12

Point 12 is my favourite location. From here you get excellent topsides of aircraft breaking into the circuit almost above you. From the scrap yard head back to the Northallerton road and take the right hand turn at the farm shop and follow the lane to the bridge and park up out of the way. From here you can often get a glimpse of aircraft coming in and out of the HAS shelters.