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By Alex, June 28, 2012 12:05 pm

The UK is a beautiful country. We have some of the most iconic cities- there is no denying London’s status as one of the world’s most spectacular places to live or visit, but our countryside is also stunning. There is something for everyone from ancient woodlands to soaring mountain peaks, waterfalls to meadows to white sandy beaches. Of course, we might not always have the best weather on the globe, but that’s what makes the British countryside so beautifully lush and green.

The very best thing about the British countryside is that often it’s not far away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. The Peak District is just on the fringes of Derby and Manchester. It’s just a short drive from industrial Manchester to the craggy peaks of North Wales. Even those who live in central London can escape to the New Forest for a Saturday picnic if they know where to go.

Hidden treasures

There are hidden rural treasures and even patches of real wilderness dotted all over the country. The trick is getting out and finding these hidden gems. You could buy a map and investigate the landscape around your city bit by bit, but there is a much better way- balloon flights are the best, simplest, and without doubt the most spectacular answer.

In a hot air balloon the landscape unfolds underneath you. Instead of seeing all the pieces separately, the viewers in a balloon can see it as it really is, tracing the course of streams and seeing the woods and fields from above. Go high enough and you could even see the nearest city nestled into a green blanket of grass and trees. You might really be able to see your house from up there.

No matter where you are in the UK, we’ll almost certainly be able to arrange a balloon ride near you. There is rarely any need to travel for hundreds of miles. Whilst there are some truly outstanding areas of natural beauty within our national boundaries we also believe that there are few places where a balloon won’t show you something really special. Every piece of the UK has hidden treasures to show off.

Finding your personal patch of green

Hot air balloon rides in Bristol will let locals get a new perspective on the rolling hills of Somerset, on the broad expanse of the Severn, and even on the Welsh landscape over on the other side of the Channel. By the same token a balloon ride near any town can reveal new views, new landscapes, and a new kind of beauty. There is always something interesting to lookout for.

It doesn’t matter if you’re just visiting an area, whether you’ve moved in from somewhere else, or if the balloon lifts off from just outside the town you were born in. It’s impossible to say what new sites flying experiences might show and what new revelations they might bring. The only way to find out is to get up there in the balloon and see the landscape from a whole new angle.

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By Alex, June 15, 2012 11:00 am

Hot air ballooning has always been an attractive pastime for thrill seekers. Little can beat the rush of drifting freely on the wind in a balloon. But, as well as being a great thrill, riding in hot air balloons can provide an entirely new way to experience our beautiful country. Seeing some of Britain’s most iconic and beautiful landmarks from the skies can be an unforgettable experience. Virgin Balloon Flights take off from over 100 sites around the UK, so there will be a chance to get involved with this wonderful pastime somewhere near you.

Hot air ballooning is an extremely traditional way to travel. They cannot be steered or directed; they merely drift in the direction of the breeze. What you see on your flight will be a surprise to everyone on board. When taking off from one of Virgin Balloon Flight’s sites, here are some of the sights you could experience:

Scotland
Virgin Balloon Flights have a number of take-off sites in Scotland, all of which will give you a chance to experience the unmatchable Scottish landscape. You could choose to take off from beautiful Glamis Castle near Dundee, home of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne. The castle is a category A listed building, and is known for its beautiful gardens. From above, you could see this stunning estate in all its glory.

In Scotland, you could also take off from Castle Fraser near Aberdeen, the most elaborate Z-plan castle in Scotland. From the air, you could experience beautiful views of the castle’s grounds, which consists of over 300 acres of landscaped gardens, woodland and farmland.

England
Wherever you live in England, there is a Virgin Balloon Flights take-off site near you. If you live in the south, you could opt for balloon flights from Essex. You could take-off from the beautiful Prested Hall. A popular wedding venue, Prested Hall is a grade II listed building set in its own 80-acre park and woodland estate. It’s also a popular nature-watching location. On your balloon flight, you could experience the area’s wildlife in an entirely unique way.

If you live in the north, why not take off from Temple Newsam near Leeds? One of England’s greatest historic estates, the Temple Newsam estate boasts over 1500 acres of grounds, landscaped by the renowned Capability Brown in the 18th Century. If you take your flight in the warmer months, you could experience the beautiful colours from the garden’s collection of Rhododendrons and Azaleas.

Wales
Wales has some of the world’s most majestic countryside, and what better way to experience it than from the skies? Taking off from Raglan Castle in South Wales, you could take in its beautiful medieval architecture, along with the surrounding parkland, water gardens and terraces. Depending on the direction of the wind, you could drift over the nearby market town of Monmouth of see the 13th Century bridge over the River Monmow.

Wherever you choose to take your hot air balloon flight from, you will be sure to have an unforgettable experience and take in some unbelievable views.

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By Eve, October 27, 2011 1:05 pm

Internet entrepreneur Jeanie and colleague Jackie were whisked high above the skies of Kent on their Wadhurst flight last month with pilot Damon Bridger.

Famous for her bright pink hairdo and savvy shopper website Mad About Bargains, Jeanie was originally scheduled to launch from the spectacular Bristol International Balloon Fiesta along with Jackie back in June after winning a competition hosted by Virgin Balloon Flights.  With gusty winds proving challenging for all pilots that day their original flight had to wait, not long though and within a matter of weeks they were experiencing what it is like to see beautiful Britain from above in a Virgin hot air balloon. We asked Jeanie what she made of her balloon ride and if geography and company were no object, where and with whom she would most like to fly:-

“It has been on my bucket list for some time and I enjoyed every minute.

I would love to do a balloon flight over somewhere really spectacular like the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls (if possible) and I think the most interesting person to do the flight with would of course be Sir Richard Branson (and I am not just saying that). I have run various businesses since I was very young and I think he is a fascinating person.

Thank you again for the fantastic prize. It is something we will both always remember.”

– Jeanie, Founder, Mad About Bargains

After landing and enjoying the traditional Champagne toast that accompanies all of our flights, Jackie said:

“We had the most amazing experience and would like to thank you and everyone at Virgin Balloons again! We loved the Champagne, the whole experience was really lovely, they made everyone feel special.” – Jackie, Mad About Bargains

To see for yourself what a ballooning experience is all about visit our brand new Experience page to see videos, experience a 360° virtual tour from the air, view our gallery, read our pilot profiles and to read some of our passenger testimonials.

To enjoy a hot air balloon ride from just £89 from Kent or any other county within the UK visit our locations page to see which launch sites are available near you.