Hot Air Balloon Rides Over Somerset
Somerset is as renowned for its Cheddar cheese and strong ciders as it can be for its coastal towns, sweeping beaches and areas of outstanding natural beauty. A hot air balloon ride more than the area offers the ideal opportunity to view a lot of with the county’s landmarks from a entirely new perspective – or a lot more specifically from something up to 5,000 feet.
If you’re seeking to explore southern Somerset, then a hot air balloon ride on the county city of Taunton – ‘town within the River Tone’ – is really a amazing way to begin. Actually, something else just wouldn’t be cricket: the city sits inside the spectacular Vale of Taunton Deane between the Quantock and Blackdown Hills and its skyline is dominated by several impressive churches such as that of St James, which towers above the grounds of Somerset County Cricket Club’.
Whilst ballooning more than Taunton, it is feasible to find out gorgeous Vivary Park, residence from the annual Taunton Flower Shower, and Taunton Castle, which dates back as far as the Anglo Saxon times of 710. The Bridgewater and Taunton Canal can be a great sight to find out too as colourful barges may be observed wending their way along the waterway. More unusually, military pill-boxes is usually observed for the banks of the canal since it was planned to be a Stop Line to halt invading enemies during WWII.
Ilminster is an additional excellent launch site in south Somerset. This charming marketplace city lies half way in between Yeovil and Taunton, close on the A303, and takes its name in the 15th Century Minster church along with the nearby River Ile. Well identified for its striking architecture, Ilminster’s church is one in the most noticeable of all. Its perpendicular structural design and ornate stained glass make it a lovely building which stands tall above the marketplace square’s medieval patterned streets. Described as Ileminstre, meaning ‘The church around the River Isle’, the town is noted inside Doomsday book of 10ȶ, despite the fact that records of Ilminster date as far back as 725.
North east of Illminster could be the infamous town of Glastonbury. These days the city is finest identified for its renowned festival when the world’s top musicians and stars descend about the nation’s most renowned farm for a 100,000 strong annual music marathon. If that’s not your scene then you’ll most probably adore the serene picture of rural perfection that is Glastonbury for the other 363 days from the year. Just a short distance in the historic Cheddar caves and just a hop skip and a jump from lovely Devon, you can be certain that a flight from Glastonbury will be a feast for the eyes.
Further north, Bristol could be the UK’s house of hot air ballooning since it plays host towards Bristol Balloon Fiesta every year. Now an internationally renowned festival, attracting over half a million visitors, the balloons launch from the Ashton Court Estate – 850 acres of woods and grassland, once the gracious residence from the Smyth family.
A Bristol hot air balloon ride also offers the possibility to view Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s masterpiece – the Clifton Suspension Bridge. The good Victorian engineer never lived to find out his creation finished but these days it attracts a large number of sight-seers since it has become the symbol of the city. You might also be able to catch a glimpse with the S.S. Wonderful Britain – Brunel’s other excellent contribution on the maritime world. After a life as a luxury liner, troop ship, cargo vessel and floating warehouse, she was towed back to Bristol on the Falkland Islands in 1937 and restored to her former glory.
Just a stone’s throw away is Bath, ‘the finest place on earth, for you may enjoy its society and its walks with no effort or fatigue’ according to 18th century traveler James Boswell.
With its well-preserved Roman remains and well-known baths, compact centre, historic buildings, pretty shops and set in spectacular countryside, Bath really is often a ballooning paradise. It can be brimming with heritage and beauty and with out a skyscraper in sight! Within minutes you may discover yourself looking down on the atmospheric village of Lacock, virtually untouched since the 18th century. It will come as no surprise, when viewed through the basket, that this village typically features in television and cinema for example the BBC’s Cranford, Pride and Prejudice and Harry Potter along with the Philosopher’s Stone.
A flight in any direction from this good city will lead you around some adorable villages and ancient landmarks which includes the mysterious and evocative circle of enormous rocks that is certainly Stonehenge.