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By Kirsty, February 5, 2013 2:30 pm

Each year Virgin Balloon Flights takes a team of pilots, crew and guests out to Mondovi in Piemonte, Italy, for a stable and balloon friendly climate to carry out annual check flights and training for pilots.

This year a group of 38 balloon enthusiasts enjoyed a ten day trip to the centre for ballooning in Italy, which included Chief Pilot and CEO Kenneth Karlstrom and 16 of our Virgin hot air balloon pilots from across the country.

A total of nine flights went ahead over the ten day period where required tests and checks were carried out on the Virgin balloon as well as completing group conversions where experienced pilots are certified to fly bigger hot air balloons.

Kenneth said: “The trip was hard work but we achieved everything that needed to be achieved. Another successful event which meant the opportunity for socialising, eating pizza and drinking good wine!”

Here’s a selection of photographs taken by balloon crew member and annual staff photography competition winner Neil Marshall and a video put together by pilot Richard Prowse.

Mondovi January 2013 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The start of the UK ballooning season will commence in March and we’ll be taking to the skies from over 100 locations across England, Scotland and Wales. Be part of it by calling 0844 8448080 or visiting virginballoonflights.co.uk

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By Jade, November 5, 2012 7:01 pm

Calling all happy snappers! Each hot air ballooning season (March-November) here at Virgin Balloon Flights we hold a photo competition for passengers and members of the public who capture our balloons in all their beauty.

This year the winner of the best photo prize will receive a £100 Virgin Experience Days gift card but you’ll have to be quick as the closing date for entries is November 30th.

To see the winning photos from our 2011 Photo Competition please visit here: 2011 Annual Photo Competition Winners.

Here are some of the fantastic entries we’ve received so far.

How do I enter?

To enter, simply share your memorable moments on Facebook by uploading your files to our Wall. Alternatively you could share your images on Twitter (you must include @VirginBalloons so that we can see your tweet) or your preferred online image uploader or via email(marketing@virginballoonflights.co.uk). Good luck!

View terms & conditions here

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By Jade, July 4, 2012 1:05 pm

This season we’ve added some great new launch sites in Scotland, including Newton St Boswells, Kelso, Peebles, Bowhill Country Estate and most recently, Shieldhill Castle.

Shieldhill Castle sits in the romantic upper Clyde Valley, between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Prior to becoming the four star hotel it is today, the 800-year-old fortress was the seat of the Chancellor family who fled there from France during the time of the Norman Conquests. Recorded as one of the oldest families in the area, the Chancellors remained in the castle for over 750 years.

Placed in the rolling hills of the South Lanarkshire countryside, Shieldhill Castle serves as the perfect starting point for your balloon ride. The chance to fly over Biggar offers many spectacular sights below the balloon such as Dawyck Botanic Gardens, home to a copse of trees, some over 40 metres tall. You may glide over the 10 acre Biggar Park Garden where you’ll see long stretches of herbaceous borders, shrubberies, fruit and vegetables and even the Japanese garden among other eye-catching features.

Although placed in a beautiful rural area, the small market town of Biggar is busy as ever. Depending on the time of year you travel, you may catch one of the many events that take place in the town’s show field such as the agricultural show or the vintage car rally. Other likely spots from the sky are Moat Park Heritage Centre and Lamington Chapel, just two of Biggar’s six museums.

Whichever way the wind takes you, you’ll be sure to have an enchanting journey, viewing the charming Scottish landscape from a unique perspective.

To book your flight from Shieldhall Castle or any of our other launch sites, just visit our website or call our office on 0844 844 8080. If you haven’t already got your ticket, you can buy one from as little as £89pp.

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By Jade, June 19, 2012 2:24 pm

One of our new customer service representatives, Shaun, recently took to the skies above Shropshire for the first time aboard one of our lovely balloons. Here’s what he had to say about his Virgin Balloon Flights experience…

“When starting with Virgin Balloon Flights in March 2012 I was excited by the prospect that I may be able to take balloon flight. I am the kind of person who loves to experience new and unique things, and for me the opportunity of taking a balloon flight is a once in a lifetime chance.

I booked onto a Telford flight with Pilot Lindsay Muir and as I have a fear of heights, I did a little research on the pilot and found I was in more than capable hands as Lindsay is one of the UK leading female balloon pilots. The night before my flight I couldn’t wait for 11pm to come round so I could call the flight line. The message from the pilot had said the flight WAS going ahead! Even though I knew EXACTLY where it was I still used my Sat Nav to get me there… there was no way I was going to miss this flight!!!

I was impressed with the launch site as we were on the actual golf course surrounded by beautiful large oak trees. I genuinely could not have imagined how big the balloon was going to be! I took photo after photo trying to demonstrate how big the balloon was, the tall, solid oak trees looked tiny in comparison!

During take-off, Lindsay was very good and precise with her instruction. She made us feel at ease and we felt very secure in her capable hands.  As we launched, I was snapping away with my camera as we floated into the air. We were seeing some wonderful sights, everyone was smiling and happy.

We flew over some fantastic sights; I live in Telford and was genuinely ignorant to its beauty. We flew over the River Severn and caught some wonderful views of the Telford Ironbridge. After we had been flying for around 20 minutes, I had lost track of where we were but Lindsay was on hand with her map to tell us what to look out for; the whole flight lasted around 1 hour 20 minutes.

Once we landed, we were rewarded with a refreshing goblet of champagne. I had previously thought I would turn the champagne down at the end of my experience but as everyone else had some it would have been rude not to! Everyone regaled to one another about how the balloon flight had exceeded their expectations.

Ballooning is something I would do again and again! I think for my next booking I would try the Shrewsbury launch site, though to be honest I would fly from any launch site as I know all of our 100+  locations are brilliant.

Thank you very much Virgin Balloon Flights!”

By Shaun Howells

You too can experience hot air ballooning from Telford or any of our other launch sites with Virgin Balloon Flights from as little as £89pp, simply call our office on 0844 844 8080 or visit our website virginballoonflights.co.uk

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By Eve, March 1, 2012 12:36 pm

Today is the day that all pilots, crew and staff at Virgin Balloon Flights have been waiting for since the end of the 2011 flying season – it’s the first day of the 2012 hot air balloon ride flying season – hooray!

Up and down the UK our pilots and crew have been busy primping and preening their balloons and baskets over the last few months in preparation for what we hope will be a record year of balloon rides for Virgin Balloon Flights.

This season we have some lovely new pilots, balloons and exciting new launch sites to add to our already impressive collection. Take a look at our spectacular Dogmersfield launch site in Hampshire for example which launches from the stunningly beautiful Four Seasons Hotel. If there’s an aviation enthusiast in your family then a balloon ride from Old Buckenham Airfield in Norfolk is the perfect launch site to choose.

With Mother’s Day hot on our heels and the Diamond Jubilee to celebrate this year we’re hoping to see lots of new faces in our baskets.

So instead of looking up at our big red balloons flying gracefully through the skies and dreaming of what a fabulous view its passengers must have – come and join us up here for a very special journey you’ll remember forever.

See you soon!

Balloon Ride Prices | Balloon Ride Video | The Ballooning Experience | Balloon Launch Locations

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By Kirsty, February 29, 2012 12:41 pm

There’s nothing better than letting Mum know just how much you care and Mother’s Day is the perfect way to celebrate maternal bonds and honour motherhood. For hundreds of years throughout the world, festivals and revelries have taken place to celebrate the influence of mothers in society and give people an excuse to simply spoil their Mum.

Virgin Balloon Flights have a range of gifts for Mother’s Day from less than a fiver and we’re currently offering a whopping 30% off our hot air balloon rides!

So whether you choose luxury Virgin Balloon Flights Champagne truffles at £3.49, a sparkling wine and chocolates hamper reduced from £29.99 to £24.99 or a balloon ride itself from as little as £89 per person, we’ll make sure Mum gets an experience of a lifetime.

Make the gift that little bit extra special this Mother’s Day and present Mum’s luxury hot air balloon ride vouchers in a Balloon in a Box for just £14.99… what more could she want?!

With flights from over 100 launch sites in England, Scotland and Wales, Mum’s adventure is never too far from home.

Call us now on 0844 8448080 or visit virginballoonflights.co.uk

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By Eve, December 6, 2011 11:30 am

We’ve had so many amazing, beautiful and inspirational images shared with us this year that the competition is really tough – so we need your help in deciding who the winners should be!

Below is a small selection of gorgeous images.

There are four categories, the winning entry in each category wins a runner-up prize and the overall winner wins a fantastic Virgin Experience Days Gift Card for £100!

Some of the fantastic entries…

1-6 So Nice Up There

1-1 Perfect Reflection

2-2 Inside the Balloon

If you are flying with us next year then don’t forget to share your photos with us.

 

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By Kirsty, July 6, 2011 6:10 pm

This week we went off to see Berrington Hall, one of our lovely Virgin Balloon Flights launch sites, near Leominster in Herefordshire; what a place to fly from!

This stunning neo-classical building designed between 1778 – 81 hosts much more than a pretty Georgian exterior. Steeped in history visitors can delve deep into the past life of Lord Crawley, his butlers and servants that have worked at Berrington Hall in years gone by. In the care of The National Trust since 1957,  this immaculate venue really is the picture perfect spot to start your airborne adventure.

Before, or after, embarking on your Virgin Balloon Flights hot air balloon ride from the grounds of Berrington Hall, you can take a walk around one of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s masterpiece gardens, grab a bite to eat or relax with cake  and coffee in the tea-room, or get some retail therapy in The National Trust gift shop.

With FREE admission to the house for Virgin Balloon Flights passengers on the day of their flight, what more could you want to make a super day out?

Once you have climbed aboard our 16 man balloon basket with Pilot Des Bimson, the wind will take you on a journey you’ll never forget. Aerial views of the elegant property and sweeping sights of the Brecon Beacons will greet you once your balloon is in-flight.

Wind willing, you’ll see the roof tops of Leominster, a historic market town, with  examples of fine architecture throughout the ages. Further south sits Hereford, the famous home of the SAS, which straddles the winding River Wye and has a magnificent 12th century cathedral at its heart.

What are you waiting for? To book simply visit www.virginballoonflights.co.uk or call 01952 212750 to fly from any of our 100+ launch sites in England, Scotland &  Wales or from Berrington Hall.

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By Kirsty, April 28, 2011 5:01 pm

Kathlyn Cracknell of Halstead Essex took to the skies with pilot Chris Wood last week and became the oldest passenger to ever fly in his balloon.

“I can’t ever remember flying anyone of that age. Kathlyn thoroughly enjoyed the flight and it was great to have her on-board” said Chris.

Kathlyn and her friend Brenda, who she has lived with for the past seven years brought the balloon flight vouchers to celebrate Kathlyn’s birthday last year and got in the air at the beginning of 2011’s flight season.

When asking Brenda what Kathlyn enjoyed about the flight, she said “All of it! She was happy to gaze down on her beloved England and feel the serenity of it all. She was delighted by the sights she saw: the patchwork of fields, the roads, cars, people and animals. She saw a train, a light aircraft landing, and was particularly pleased to see a herd of deer. Kathy’s sense of humour came to the fore when she claimed to have seen her bloomers hanging on the line as we passed over Halstead.”

‘Honoured’ to be Chris’ oldest passenger Kathlyn swears her longevity is down to ‘pure thoughts’ and is  making plans to fly with us again when she reaches one hundred.

Welcome to our hall of fame Kathlyn!