A bird’s eye view
There is nothing quite like floating above the earth and having literally a birds eye view of the landscape below. An experience with the Ballooning Network is like absolutely no other, we can assure of you that and our experienced team of pilots and ground crew will make this an experience that you will savour forever. It is all very well looking out of a charter jet window when in the air but from the atmospheric viewpoint, that experience falls a bit flat in comparison with balloon flights. The wind in your face and the amazing landscape below, it’s the ultimate way to view your city, locality or a place of outstanding beauty. I cannot enthuse enough about what an experience it actually is, it must be experienced. Ballooning Network have a number of venues in which you can experience the ultimate flight experience including but not limited to: Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Gloucester, Wales, Somerset and Wiltshire, Westonbirt and the Usk and Wye valleys. There are also special corporate opportunities available and we are more than happy to discuss any specific ideas you may have, a popular option for many companies is to have their name emblazoned on the balloon for all the populace of Bristol and Bath to see, I’m sure you’ll agree that’s massive client base! Our Director, Mr Phillip Clark has in excess of 30 years commercial ballooning experience and has in this time, in conjunction with various co pilots and ground staff broken many boundaries in a sport where there are still milestones to be reached. Phillip and his teams have broken altitude records, circumvented the globe and attempted transatlantic records to name a few, so you can be sure he will have the necessary knowledge base to turn your specific dream into reality. We have a range of packages available to suit every time scale and every budget. All prices include Champagne or Orange juice, a Boarding Pass, a personalised flight certificate, a comprehensive flight guide and Ballooning Network map, VAT and Insurance and post flight transportation back to the launch site. Packages are available from £99 per person and we believe, that pound for pound this is the best experience money can buy, you will not be disappointed. Predictably, due to the good old British climate, some months are better for balloon flights than others. Very little ballooning happens in January, February and early March due to the wet ground conditions at this time of year, a wise decision in regard to gift giving would be to purchase a voucher for use later in the year, spring or summer perhaps. It is one of life’s great experiences and the opportunity deserves to be maximised to its full potential and here at the Ballooning Network we are dedicated to providing you, your family or colleagues a truly memorable experience, which you will want to repeat in the near future! |
Up, up and away
We understand that people may feel a little apprehensive about floating 100’s of feet above the ground in a balloon but we have a specialist team dedicated to putting your mind at ease. All our pilots and ground staff have many years combined experience between them and statistically hot air balloon flights are a lot safer than crossing the road. It is like anything that you do for the first time such as learning to swim or riding a bicycle, once you have done it you wonder how you were even the slightest bit apprehensive in the first place. Another factor to be mentioned is that you do not get many obstacles to avoid up in the air if you compare it with the traffic on your local high street! Trying to explain the panoramic landscapes below with the written word barely does the ballooning experience justice and even our most experienced pilots never tire of some of the views although they have seen them many, many times before. Launching from our Bristol site in Ashton Court you can see the shimmering coastline of South Wales, the distant spires of Bath and even the maritime legend that is the SS Great Britain, this is one particular route that our Chief Pilot and Director Philip Clark never tires of, he quotes, ‘I’ve been flying from Ashton Court for 30 years but every flight has something different, something magical, you never get tired of it.’ Although Philip is something of an enthusiast for all things Bristol, something he mentioned in his quote applies to all balloon flights from the Ballooning Network, ‘something magical’. As previously mentioned the sheer exhilaration and experience from ballooning is not something that is easy to transfer to the written word but at such competitive prices the experience is open to all. Another extremely popular ballooning location is the Usk and Wye Valleys, capturing the best that the Welsh border countryside has to offer, situated around the borders of South Wales, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, the views of the Forest of Dean and the surrounding villages and Hamlets are said to be amongst the best examples of ancient woodland anywhere in Britain and many first time ballooners have come back to repeat the experience. Before you book your balloon flights it pays to do little research first, due to our extensive choice of launch sites you must decide which area you like the best, it really is all about location. An obvious choice would perhaps be to pick a launch site near or not far from your locality where you can easily identify local landmarks as well as personally known places and areas or if you’re on holiday from a bit further away you make like to experience the staggering views of the world famous Brecon Beacons or the rolling Welsh countryside, it is up to you. |
Hot air
Although our business concentrates on ballooning in various locations, our main area of focus regardless of location is safety. All our staff have had to undergo extensive theoretical and practical training sessions before they begin to work with customers. Although accidents are rare, it is essential that the safety and training aspects are up to date and drilled on a regular basis. Our pilots are amongst the most experienced in the business and have to undergo a similar amount of flight hours to that of an airline pilot before they receive their licence. We work in close conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive and are stringent in implementing any new safety practices or guidelines. There are many firms out there, especially on the internet who claim to be specialists with regard to balloon flights but perhaps are not. Ballooning is obviously a highly specialised pursuit so you should ensure that the people you are entrusting are sufficiently qualified and experienced. Reputable firms such as the Ballooning Network will only be too happy to provide you with evidence regarding our high standards of safety legislation as well as testimonials from previously very satisfied customers, any firm who is unwilling or unable to share such information with you should be treated with caution. Here at the Ballooning Network we not only pride ourselves on our experienced team and selection of locations but also on our customer service. If you have any queries regarding any of our packages or service in general, please do not hesitate to contact us. We welcome customer feedback both positive and negative and act upon any comments made in order to improve our business. We aim to give customers the complete ballooning experience so they will enthuse about us to their friends and colleagues who will hopefully use our services as well. We as a company believe that there is no better marketing strategy than word of mouth recommendations, as this comes ‘straight from the horses mouth.’ A large proportion of our current clients are repeat customers, in our view this means we must be doing something right. To conclude if you are looking for the ultimate experience at an affordable price there is only one option, The Ballooning Network. Floating high above the ground looking down on some of the most picturesque countryside in the world, what could be better? If this won’t impress your loved ones or corporate clients then nothing will, there are other corporate events and away days available but nothing to match this. Paint balling, orienteering and the like do not appeal to everyone, whereas ballooning is an experience the rest are just mere activities. Please bookmark this page and add it your favourites, the Ballooning Network is chilling your champagne. The Ballooning Network, Balloon flights from paradise, available on earth. |
