The wind caresses your faces. The low sun lights up the sky and casts long shadows on the landscape below. And, of course, at last, there’s no one around to disturb you and your partner, floating above the rest of the world in the basket of a hot air balloon. What you see from this exclusive viewpoint is the cherry on the cake. To make sure you get it right, we’ve put together our list of the best couples' hot air balloon flights in the UK and Ireland.
Before we start, we should point out that ballooning for two doesn’t have to be a romantic experience. Why not take your child or grandchild to see a historic landmark, have a go at aerial photography with a good friend or treat someone to a moment of peace after a period of stress?
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
This is the big one, the most important weekend in any balloon fan’s calendar, the largest festival of its kind in the whole of Europe. If you’re looking for an experience that screams “lighter-than-air aviation!” then look no further. It’s possible to bag your space - and one for your partner - in one of the hundreds of balloons that take off twice a day from Ashton Court Estate during the second weekend of August, but take our advice and book early! You’ll enjoy the sights of the city, the Bristol Channel and South Wales to the north, but most importantly, the other balloons flying alongside you.
Historic Bath
Not far away, you have the chance for a more civilised hot air balloon ride and one that you can enjoy all year round. The location is the fashionable spa town of Bath, Somerset. The healing qualities of the spring waters here drew first the Romans, then the cream of Georgian society to Bath and the buildings and monuments that they erected are still standing today. Bath is a fantastic destination for a romantic weekend away, but it can get a bit crowded. That’s why we recommend leaving the city centre and heading for the racecourse, only to return on a sightseeing balloon tour to get a unique perspective on the city.
Stonehenge
A flight over Stonehenge will take you even further back in time, to the year 3000 BCE. The scale of this monument, given the way that ancient inhabitants of Wilshire lived, is staggering. Looking down on the works of our ancestors is enough to fill you with awe and respect for the human drive for perfection. It’s also possible that you’ll see something more than the stones, perhaps something that no one has seen for hundreds of generations, because the area around Stonehenge is an active area of archeological study. As the main site was built in relation to the movements of the celestial bodies, maybe an aerial point of view will reveal something - that would be a flight to remember for both passengers!
White Horses in Berkshire
The Vale of the White Horse is famous for another ancient masterpiece. This time the signs of the past are etched into the landscape rather than sticking out of it, making the White horse of Uffington even more spectacular when viewed from the air. The village of Uffington is located in modern-day Oxfordshire, but was part of the county of Berkshire in the past. Hot air balloons still leave from across the border in Berkshire and travel wast across the Vale of the White Horse District. This is the heartland of old England, where couples will find the tranquillity they’ve been looking for.
Monmouthshire
One of the most peaceful places for a little escape with your sweetheart is the Vale of Usk in Monmouthshire, just on the Welsh side of the Wye Valley. There are almost no busy roads in the area around the launch site in Llanarth and the gently rolling landscape is as calming as small ripples on a lake. In spite of that, there are plenty of sights to keep you and your flight partner interested. Raglan Castle is a relic of mediaeval conflicts between England and Wales, the River Wye and Severn Estuary are natural boundaries between the two countries, and the Brecon Beacons to the west provide a sense of distant drama to the scenery.
Trim Castle
Across the Irish Sea, the island of Ireland boasts some beautiful landscapes and landmarks to overfly in the basket of a hot air balloon. At less than an hour’s drive from Dublin, Trim Castle in County Meath is well within the reach of any residents of the Irish capital or couples enjoying a city break. A balloon ride over this twelfth century castle is especially suited to lovers of cinema, because it featured prominently in the film Braveheart. It was chosen to represent the residence of English King John as it has remained largely unchanged since the year 1300, unlike most castles of the same era in England itself.
Aside from the stunning locations you can visit and vistas you can take in, there are a host of other reasons to choose ballooning as a couples’ activity. One of them is the fact that the best wind conditions for flying are just after sunrise and just before sunset, so majestic skies are a common feature of the experience. Then there’s the tradition of raising a champagne toast during or after the flight. Finally, there’s the exclusivity that floating high above the ground gives you. Quality time without interruptions.
