About
Woodlands Castle is our back-up launch site for Taunton, where your flight may be moved to depending on conditions that day.
The town sits in the spectacular Vale of Taunton Deane, between the Quantock and Blackdown Hills, with a skyline dominated by several impressive churches including that of St James, which towers over the Somerset County Cricket Club’s ground.
You may drift over beautiful Vivary Park, home of the annual Taunton Flower Show, and Taunton Castle, which dates back as far as the Anglo Saxon times of 710.
The Bridgewater and Taunton Canal is a fantastic sight to see, as colourful barges wend their way along the waterway. More unusually, military pill-boxes can be seen on the banks of the canal, as during World War Two there were plans for it to be a 'Stop Line' to halt invading enemies.
Whichever way the wind takes you, you’ll find some of the most quintessentially English countryside passing below the basket on one of our unforgettable hot air balloon rides from Taunton in Somerset.
With the right wind, the balloon could travel far enough to offer sights such as Wellington to the west and the 175ft column built to honour the Iron Duke, Arthur Wellesley - the Duke of Wellington himself.
To the east, the historic market town of Yeovil, Yeovil Country Park, and the unusual Barwick park follies beckon.
Our launch site at Woodlands Castle is just off the M5. New toilet facilities are currently under construction at the location but in the meantime, there is a Toby Carvery pub close by if needed for PM flights.