Hot Air balloon History

Dorset will forever be linked for the writings of novelist Thomas Hardy – Mayor of Casterbridge, Tess on the d’Urbervilles and Far from your Madding Crowd were all set inside fictional land of ‘Wessex’ which took Dorchester and surrounds as it’s inspiration. A hot air balloon ride more than the area offers the perfect chance to view several in the county’s landmarks from a completely new perspective – or additional specifically from anything up to 5,000 feet.

A great spot to start is Shaftesbury or the ‘Shaston’ of Hardy’s novels. The town is an perfect position to view both the breathtaking River Stour basin plus the beautiful Blackmore Vale – a valley which runs from south Somerset into Dorset. As well as numerous fine historical buildings, Shaftesbury has a single particularly well-known cobbled street. Gold Hill featured inside the well known Hovis bread advert: most folks are going to be familiar while using iconic images of a young boy pushing his loaf-laden bike up the slope on the sound of Dvorak’s “New World” Symphony.

Shaftesbury is really a modest marketplace town having a history that goes back to medieval times and hill-top forts. From the skies you may be in a position to spy ancient Wardour Castle, quaint villages like Motcombe, Cherry Orchard and Sturminster Newton and even Glastonbury Tor on a clear day. Whichever direction the wind requires you, you’ll be in a position to appreciate Dorset’s wonderful patchwork of fields, farm-land and modest forests.

Sherborne is a fine centre to base yourself and an perfect area to explore the wide open skies by hot air balloon. Of specific note in this unspoilt region of Dorset could be the Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin, now frequently regarded as Sherborne Abbey. It has been a Saxon cathedral, a Benedictine abbey and is now a parish church. Sherborne is literally packed towards the rafters with historic buildings including Sherborne School, Sherborne House and also the Almshouses. Sherborne also featured in Hardy’s books but as ‘Sherton Abbas’ and no balloon ride here would be complete with no viewing the majestic Sherborne Castle.

Further south, a warm air balloon trip from Blandford Forum is as refreshing as the ‘Badger’ beers it’s well known for. The small market town within the River Stour is really a fantastic position to fly over. Look out for your corn exchange, marketplace place and six arch bridge, which are highlights with the Georgian architecture present throughout. Just south lies the tiny village of Blandford St Mary, house from the Hall and Woodhouse brewery, where ales like Badger Original, Tanglefoot, and Fursty Ferret are still produced today. Despite the fact that Champagne could be the conventional ballooning tipple, following a balloon ride from Blandford Forum, maybe we ought to make an exception.

If the wind requires you west you may just be in a position to catch a glimpse in the Cerne Giant at Cerne Abbas. The 180ft higher, male figure carved into the side of a steep hill is believed to be an ancient symbol of spirituality. The giant is an critical component of the culture of Dorset and according to folklore is connected with fertility.