Lake District hot air balloon flights
What better location than the Lake District for a hot air balloon ride. This gentle and peaceful mode of transport, perfectly matches the serenity of this popular tourist destination. Drifting up and over the lakes and fells, scouring the beautiful landscape, enables you to capture the true, relaxed and unaltered feel of the area.
Pilot info:-
Robert Jones has flown passenger-carrying
balloons for 30 years, and holds a Commercial
Pilots Licence and Civil Aviation Authority Air Operators Licence.
Launch sites: Flights are available from
Storrs Hall and Low Wood as well as various locations around the Lake District by arrangement.
Balloon Vouchers purchase (£199 per person)
FAQs
How long is the flight?
The flight will last for approximately 1
hour depending on prevailing weather conditions and suitability of landing
sites, but you should allow approximately 3 to 4 hours for the whole
experience.
How high do we go?
You will generally fly at approximately 500
– 1500ft, although when conditions allow you may descend to tree top height or
ascend to as high at 4000ft. Remember
that balloons do not rock or tilt so balloon flying is not usually associate with a fear of heights/vertigo.
What should I wear?
You should wear casual, comfortable
clothing with long sleeves and trousers. The temperature in the air is similar to the temperature on the ground
and as the balloon moves with the wind it isn’t windy. It is advisable to wear a hat or cap,
particularly for tall passengers or those who are a little ‘thin on top’, as
the burner gives off a radiant heat. It
is important to wear good strong walking shoes or boots, no high heels please!
Who can fly?
Children must be at least 7 years of age
and be over 1.2m tall (in order to be able to see over the basket). An adult must accompany children under the
age of 16.
Passengers
should be of capable of walking a short distance plus climbing in/out of the
basket and able to stand for a number of hours.
You will not be permitted to fly if you are
pregnant. However if you have received a
gift voucher we are happy to extend the validity of the voucher for a further
period of 9 months in these circumstances.
How many can fly?
The basket carries a maximum of 5
passengers of average weight.
When can we fly?
Balloon flights take place either early
morning or late evening. Balloons need stable winds to operate effectively and
the hours just before sunrise and sunset are best for finding calm, gentle
winds. The weather is cooler then and
the balloon flies better in cooler weather as the hot air gets a better ‘lift’. It isn’t safe to fly during the daytime when
different pockets of air are rising and falling.
Before launching your pilot will have
assessed the climate and wind conditions and will only fly if conditions are
close to perfect – clear skies and light surface winds of less than 10
mph. You will not be able to fly in high
winds, rain or when visibility is poor.
How do we get back to the launch site?
Ground crew follow the flight of the
balloon and on landing will retrieve the balloon and return you and the crew to
your vehicles at the launch site. Alternatively
if you have friends and family following the ground crew you may of course
depart with them.
Terms and Conditions