Up, Up and Away with Bristol Balloons
Up, Up and Away with Bristol Balloons
Watching hot-air balloons floating effortlessly over Ashton Court, the Clifton Suspension Bridge or the colourful houses of Hotwells — burners blazing — is surely one of the great joys of living here in Bristol. Incredible views, deafening silence and the unique sensation of flight are huge draws, and the good news is it’s really easy to book a trip — all you need is a little patience.
It took me four attempts to reach take-off, so I would recommend preparing for one or two set-backs. Hot-air ballooning, unsurprisingly, requires a very specific set of weather conditions.
High wind speed, rain, low cloud cover and low pressure will all see your pilot postponing your flight — sometimes at the very last minute. This is a reality of the game. But as with anything, perseverance and patience win out — and when you finally feel the weight fall away and drift up into the wide, blue yonder, it’s a most magical feeling.
When the green light finally shone for my flight, it was a September day of calm breezes, blue skies and warm sunshine — perfect conditions. We helped inflate the balloon, climbed into the basket, took a seat and drifted high over Ashton Court. Once airborne and floating safely over the city, our pilot whipped out a couple of bottles of Champagne to help us toast the flight in style.
Easterly winds took us gently past Clifton Bridge, above Southville and Bristol Harbour, then out over Brislington to the spot where the Avon River meanders between Conham River Park and the Eastwood Farm Nature reserve — near Beese’s Tea Rooms. From here, we floated out over east Bristol to land safely in a field near Wick, north of Bath.
Bristol Balloons offer a broad range of flight options to suit different preferences, timings and budgets. You’ll find am or pm Champagne flights, weekday flights, dawn flights, exclusive flights for two or three people and family vouchers where parents can take the kids up and enjoy special savings. On top of all that, you can also book your own flight for the highly-coveted Bristol Balloon Fiesta — the largest of its kind in Europe!
Flights depart from a few different spots, too, so you’re not tied to Ashton Court. Pilots fire up the burners at the National Trust’s Tyntesfield Estate and Westonbirt Arboretum. Further afield, flights are available from Bath, the Somerset Levels, Gloucestershire Airport and the spectacular Wye Valley in Wales.
So next time you look up to see one of Bristol’s graceful hot air balloons floating high over the city, why not get in touch with Bristol Balloons and book your own flight. The current season continues until the end of November then starts again in spring, but exclusive flights are available all year round. For more details on the flight options, prices and dates for the rest of the season and beyond, check out Bristol Balloons here.
Born and raised on the banks of the Norfolk Broads, Chris made his way through Yorkshire, Normandy, Champagne, Asia, South America and London, before falling head-over-heels for Bristol’s vibrant street art and food scenes.
Chris writes for fun, for the creative buzz and for a living, and loves waxing lyrical on Bristol’s diverse culinary offerings. You’ll find him spinning through the Mendip Hills by bike, sharpening his squash skills, swimming in local lakes and rivers, or slurping fine zider on Bristol Harbour with his wife.