In the rolling countryside of Somerset lies Bath. This was already an important site before the Romans arrived and created the famous bathing complex which gives the town its name. Later, Bath Abbey was built and rebuilt throughout the middle ages, before the town became the most fashionable destination for Georgian ladies and gentlemen in search of pleasure. Its modern status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site ensures that it continues to be one of the most visited towns in all the British Isles. What you’re about to read is a guide for visiting Somerset in the most modern way possible, by helicopter.

Helicopters are the perfect vehicles for taking a tour that covers a large area without missing the details. You can travel directly from one point to the next without worrying about terrain or traffic, and hover in place while you take in the sights. Of course, it’s a stylish way to travel too, and gives you the edge over the crowds of tourists going sightseeing on foot. But that’s not to say that a helicopter tour of Bath is only for the fabulously wealthy - this once in a lifetime experience is so reasonably priced that it’s surprising that more people don’t know about it. Now we’ve let you in on the secret of how to get the best seats in the house on a sightseeing tour, just read this guide to find all the information and you’ll be ready for take off!

What can you see during a helicopter tour in Somerset?

Helicopter tours take off from Bath Racecourse on certain days of the year. This oval track is located 4 miles from the city centre, in the beautiful Cotswolds hills.

• The Cotswolds: this range of rolling hills is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Bath Racecourse is inside this upland area, and is the highest flat racecourse in England, so you’ll have a good view of the surroundings before you even take off. But once you’re in the air, the landscape opens up around you to provide a stunning panoramic backdrop to the first part of your tour.

• The River Avon: This river rises to the north of the city and flows east, before turning back on itself and passing through the city, and on towards the Bristol Channel. This serpentine form means that, despite being over 80 miles long in total, the mouth of the river is just 20 miles away from the source. Your helicopter tour will take place in the loop described by the river, and it’s visible from the air both in the Somerset countryside, and in the city.

• Bath: This is what you’ve come to see! The city of Bath is a living monument to two thousand years of human civilisation. The open air Roman Thermae, bathing facilities, with an impressive colonnade, are a stone’s throw from the tower of Bath Abbey, a fine example of the Perpendicular Gothic Style. Another favourite landmark to observe from the air is the Royal Crescent of 18th century stately houses which form a semi circle around a green lawn. And you can’t fly away without getting a good look at the Pulteney Bridge over the River Avon. Another Georgian architectural treasure, this bridge is lined on both sides of the street which crosses it by quaint little shops. The majority of the buildings in the city are made of Bath stone, whose unique creamy gold colour means that you can’t mistake for anywhere else.

Helicopter models to experience

The tour operators in Somerset have three models of helicopter. They’re all modern, comfortable craft but come in different shapes and sizes. The smallest is a Robinson 44, one of the most popular in the world, which seats the pilot and 3 passengers. Slightly larger, the B206 Jet Ranger seats 4 passengers alongside the pilot. Both are well known for offering fantastic visibility from the cabin through large windows.

The largest that you’ll find is a Eurocopter AS350 which has 6 seats, enough for 5 passengers. This model is used around the world by police forces, firefighters and other official organisations but it’s also perfect for leisure purposes because it’s one of the quietest helicopters on the market. You’ll be able to maintain a conversation with the other passengers and the pilot during a tour without having to shout in an AS350.

How long does a flight last?

When it comes to seeing a lot in a short time, there’s nothing like a helicopter ride. How else could you contemplate vast swathes of the landscape and the monuments of central Bath in a single morning? If your trip to the West Country has a busy schedule, if you want to get an overview of the area before exploring it in detail later, or if you know the county well but want to see it from a new point of view, then this activity is for you. Over the course of a tour that lasts as little as 15 minutes, you’ll travel around 25 miles. That means that you’ll travel at over 100 miles per hour at some points of the journey, but use the helicopter’s unique ability to hover at other times so that you don’t miss a thing.

That 15 minutes refers to the airtime. In practice, your experience will last longer, because you’ll have to arrive and sign in at the Racecourse take off location, meet your pilot-cum-tour guide, receive a short briefing on the safety equipment and procedures related to flight and prepare for take off. All in all, you should put aside around 2 hours for the whole process.

If you’ve been up in a plane and think that you know what flying is all about - think again! The experience is unlike any other, and, in as beautiful a part of the world, it’s the experiencie of a lifetime. But don’t take our word for it, find out for yourself by making a booking today.