Hot air ballooning is all about the weather! Being a completely weather dependent activity, specific date bookings can never be guaranteed. So where many of our balloon ride passengers fly on their first attempt, you’ll also find that equally as many will first undergo a few attempts. You will need to have a certain degree of patience when it comes to taking your flight; the more bookings you make the quicker you will get your chance, but worry not, we can safely say that the experience is always worth the wait.

As the UK is positioned on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean it means that traditionally we have low pressure weather systems in the winter and more high pressure systems in the summer. Higher pressure weather normally brings blue skies, light winds and little rain, where as the lower pressure systems tend to bring storms, rain and strong winds. For this reason, hot air ballooning seasons run from April to October and it is thought that the best time to fly is between July and August.

Flights tend to take place at sunrise or sunset as this is when the wind can be a little lighter. For the flight to go ahead, winds must be less than 10 miles an hour during the hour after dawn or before dusk and so careful monitoring is always required! Don’t panic however; we always let our passengers know well in advance. We use forecasts and rely on this information to be able to make the decision to call the flight on, however sometimes this information can be incorrect and so on rare occasions we have to cancel at the launch site.

It is actually very simple to predict if the wind is going to be very light or too strong and often it can be seen some days ahead as high or low pressure weather systems approach. If suitable conditions can be seen ahead, we will text passengers of available spaces and sometimes even put on additional flights.

Visibility is the trickiest to predict and is certainly the main culprit in terms of error in weather forecasts. With various weather conditions such as mist, fog or low cloud being rather subtle and varying from mile to mile, our balloon pilot’s always ensure they access the most up to date information and even rely on local knowledge.

Ballooning in the rain is frankly not an option. When you consider that the top of the balloon reaches nearly 100 degrees Centigrade (the boiling point of water), it will come as no surprise that when the rain falls on the balloon, its cooling effect is sure to have a consequence! If the balloon cools it will descend rapidly and so the pilot has to put in extra heat from the burners to compensate for the heat loss. The whole ordeal is bad for the balloon fabric and makes the balloon much harder to control; what’s more, packing the balloon away while it’s wet is not the greatest idea! So it is basically a case of watching the weather radar closely to see where the showers are forming, where they are tracking and if they are beginning to die away.

As I’m sure you can now gather, there are plenty of weather conditions to be mindful of, so if you’re booking your balloon flight, remember, if it’s cancelled, it’s for your own safety! However your patients will always be rewarded when it comes to hot air ballooning – Adventure Balloons will certainly guarantee you one of the most magical experiences you could ever have.

Most people are unable to commit to the hot air ballooning experience until they’ve had their minds put at ease and until they have the answers to their questions. Taking a trip into the sky by a giant balloon would of course spark a natural curiosity; many people have so many questions and have no idea how to prepare for their adventure. So here are a few of the most frequently asked questions and their answers to give you a better understanding of what to expect.

What am I meant to wear on the day?

It is recommended that you dress for the outdoors, because let’s face it; you’re going to be up in the sky in a basket! Please refrain from wearing skirts, shorts or synthetic fibres such as nylon and also avoid wearing loose jewellery. You will be traipsing across fields, so do wear suitable footwear for the possible muddy ground! It is also advisable that you wear a hat to protect your head from the heat of the burners.

Am I too old to fly/Is my child to young to fly?

You will be happy to hear that there is no upper age limit to these flights. All we ask is that you are fit and able for what is involved. You will need to be able to climb in and out of the basket which stands at approximately 1.1 metres tall. All passengers below the age of 16 will need to be accompanied by an adult, and children younger than 8 or below the height of 1.4 metres will not be able to fly.

Please also note that passengers weighing over 18 stone or 114kg will not be able to fly for safety reasons.

Can we pick the time of the flight?

The simple answer to this question is no. Balloon flights take place either during the early morning or the evening. These times will normally depend on the sunrise or sunset and so the times can vary during the course of the year. Normally however, flights commence at approximately 6am or 6pm.

How much notice do I have to give to book?

Worry not. You can book your flight dates either on our date availability page or by calling our office on 01252 844222 and you will find dates available almost immediately and those practically a year off! You can purchase a gift voucher at any time with flights commencing during March or April and running through until the end of October (or sometimes longer depending on the area).

How do I book?

It couldn’t be simpler; you can either order a gift voucher on our bookings page, where you will be sent your voucher pack instantly by e-mail or by post, or you can telephone us on 01252 844222 to make a booking ‘in person’ so to speak.

Your pack will include a colour gift voucher, brochure and our 20 page map pack which includes launch site details, check in times and plenty more practical information about the flight so that you can focus on getting excited!

Hot air ballooning tends to be one of those adventures we all take a long hard think about before we take the leap to booking. Many of us like to ask around; word of mouth can be very reassuring, others like to read up on everything they can find on the various flights companies there are. There are those that break the mould entirely however and just book at the first given opportunity, completely overwhelmed at the pure excitement of the whole thing! Well here at Adventure Balloons we have created our very own Blog so that you can keep on top of all the latest news, FAQ’s, discounts and special offers, or read up on our more educational posts. Over your chosen course you can discover everything you need to know about us, ballooning and what to expect purely from our blog page, then at a time of your choice you can go ahead a make that booking, by phone or online!

On the website you will find various different useful areas such as ‘News’ which brings you all the latest as soon as we know it, ‘FAQ’ which gives you a complete list of popular questions and answers, ‘About’ which will provide you with everything you need to know about us, ‘Locations’ giving you a complete list of the areas we cover, where our launch sites are situated and what you’re likely to see on our different routes, ‘Bookings’ where you can make your bookings (pretty self explanatory really) and ‘Dates’ where you can find out if your chosen date is available, weather dependent of course! Lastly you will find our ‘Birthdays’ section where you can book that special flight in a Happy Birthday Balloon for your friend, family member or loved one.

So if your considering to take to the skies in the most exciting way imaginable, get in touch with us here at Adventure Balloons, not only are we the largest UK balloon flights company, but as a CAA certified balloon flights operator, we can guarantee you optimum safety and the friendliest service!

A hot air balloon flight is a magical experience that, according to research, is one of the top ten things people want to experience during their lifetime.  A balloon ride is a peaceful, tranquil experience that allows us to view places that we love from a whole new perspective but there are bound to be some questions you would like answers to before embarking on that thrill of a lifetime.  Here are some frequently asked questions, answered by Adventure Balloons, that will help put your mind at rest:

What should I wear?  Anyone who is taking a flight in a hot air balloon should wear sensible clothes that one might wear if they were taking a walk in the countryside.  It will be a bit breezy up in the air, so girls, avoid skirts!  Try to avoid wearing synthetic clothes such as nylon, due to the heat of the burner.  You may wish to wear a hat to protect your head from the heat but again, make sure it is not made from synthetic materials.  As you are most likely to be landing in a field and due to typical British weather it is probably going to be muddy, please wear flat, sensible shoes such as Wellies or walking boots.

Is there an age limit?  Children under eight years old are too young to fly but anyone over that age can participate in a balloon flight.  There are height and weight restrictions however.  Due to health and saftey reasons, anyone shorter than 4 feet 6 inches or heavier than 18 stone cannot fly in a hot air balloon.

What is good ballooning weather and what will happen if my flight is cancelled?  For a balloon flight to go ahead, light winds, good visibility and no rain is required.  Your map pack will give you details of when to ring the flight operator to confirm that your flight will go ahead as scheduled.  Should your flight be cancelled, it will simply be re-scheduled for the next available date.  Again, you will need to confirm your re-scheduled flight with your operator when required to do so.

How do I book my flight and how far in advance do I need to make my booking?  It is incredibly simple to book your very own hot air balloon flight.  Visit our bookings page to select your required flight voucher.  When purchasing you flight voucher, you can request your voucher pack to be emailed to you or sent to you in the post.  Alternatively, you can contact Adventure Balloons on 01252 844222.  You can check for flight availabilites on Adventure Balloons’ new Date Availabilites Page or by contacting them on 01252 844222. 

Can I purchase Gift Vouchers and how long is the validity period?  Yes, you can purchase Gift Vouchers.  These make an excellent present for any loved one.  You can purchase them on the Bookings page or by contacting Adventure Balloons on 01252 844222.  Gift Vouchers are valid for 12 calendar months.

I have a disbility.  Can I still fly?  Adventure Balloons strive to make hot air balloon flights available for anyone.  Many people with disabilites are more than welcome to experience a hot air balloon flight, however you must inform us of any diability so that we can ensure a duty of care towards our passengers.  Sadly, for safety reasons people who are confined to a wheelchair cannot fly.  If you have any questions  in regards to whether you can participate in a hot air balloon flight, please speak to your GP and contact us on the above number.

Hopefully, this has answered any questions you may have in regards to hot air balloon flights.  If you still have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01252 844222 or by using our contact form. 

The way a hot air balloon flies is based on a very simple principal; warm air rises and cold air falls, so in order to get the balloon off the ground, heated air is pushed into the balloon until it is lighter than the cold air surrounding it creating lift.

A hot air balloon is made up of three essential parts; the balloon envelope, balloon burners and the balloon basket. Because a large amount of hot air is needed to provide enough lift so the balloon can rise and carry passengers, the balloons envelope is often very big and can hold up to 65,000 cubic feet of hot air.

The balloon envelope is made out of long nylon sections called gores, which are extremely strong and able to withstand the pressure of the heated air. The balloon envelope is often brightly coloured and displays the balloon company’s logo or advertising branding.

The burners act like the engine of the balloon, delivering hot air to the envelope when needed. To keep the hot air balloon in the sky, the balloon burners must constantly be heated to provide lift, but if the pilot wishes to land they will switch off the burners and open the parachute valve to cool the air, in turn descending the balloon.

The balloon basket is used for carrying the pilot, passengers and fuel for the balloons journey. The basket is usually made from Kooboo and Palambang, which is woven to make it extremely strong. These woven canes also absorb much of the impact when the balloon comes in to land.

Here at Adventure Balloons we get asked a lot of questions, so we thought we would answer a few of them.

What do I wear? – This is the most common question. You should wear sensible outdoor clothing and wear no loose jewellery, with either hiking boots or wellingtons as the fields may be damp. Also a hat would be handy to protect you from the heat of the burners.

Is there an age limit? – No, but riding in a Hot Air Balloon is a type of outdoor sport, so requires some degree of fitness. You must be able to climb in and out of the basket and will be required to stand for about an hour. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult and it is recommended that their height be over 4’6” to be able to see over the side of the basket.

What time of day do we meet? – Adventure Balloons fly in the early mornings or evenings and times vary due to the sunrise and sunset. Normally throughout May, meeting times are 6am for morning rides and 6pm for evening rides.

What is good ballooning weather? – For a successful balloon ride the weather must have light winds, no rain and good visibility. If a balloon flight is cancelled due to bad weather, it will be rescheduled to suit your timetable.

How do I book my balloon flight? – If you own a credit or debit card you can order your flight online, but we also take bookings by fax and telephone. If you would prefer to pay for it by cheque, you can print out a booking form and send it to us. Gift vouches can be purchased at anytime through the Adventure Balloons website.