Friends and family are very welcome to come and watch your take-off. If they want to wait for your return, our farm shop is open Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 6pm and there are some great footpaths through the farm and beyond

The actual flight is approximately one hour depending on weather conditions and suitable landing sites

Please allow up to four hours for the whole experience which includes tea, coffee & pastries on arrival, your pilot’s safety briefing, preparing the balloon (optional participation), the flight, packing away (optional participation), transportation back to The Wild Pig and a glass of celebratory Champagne

Sunrise flights take-off approximately one hour after sunrise. Sunset flights take-off approximately three hours before sunset

At least one hour before take-off. The exact time will be advised when you phone to confirm the status of your flight

Hot air balloons travel where the wind takes them. Our super-experienced pilot will control the altitude by heating the air inside the balloon, but the balloon cannot be steered in any particular direction. This is the same for distance – it depends on wind speed

Wherever the wind takes us! Our pilot will choose a safe landing site about 15 minutes before landing, and our ground crew will arrive shortly after to drive you back to The Wild Pig

It’s exciting! You will be in the seated landing position within the leather padded basket prior to landing to ensure your safety. We usually feel a moderate impact as the basket lands. Occasionally the basket can tip and slide on the ground before stopping, but don’t worry, this is completely fine and our balloon & basket are designed for your comfort and safety.

Please wear warm, comfortable layers as the temperature can get cool at 2,000 ft. Comfortable flat shoes (no flip flops, open toe sandals or high heels). And bring a hat or cap to protect your head from the burners. We might need to walk through a muddy field after landing so please dress appropriately.

We have one of the largest balloons and baskets in the UK that is designed to carry up to 22 people, however, we choose to limit capacity to 10-16 passengers for your enjoyment. The basket is split into 4 compartments which allows everyone to have plenty of space

You can reschedule your flight booking once with minimum seven days notice. Sorry but if you try to reschedule with less than seven days notice your payment and booking will be subject to forfeiture unless there are justificatory pertinent circumstances. Payments for bookings and gift vouchers are non-refundable. It is important to note that hot air ballooning is completely reliant on perfect weather conditions so cancellations due to unsafe flying conditions are not unusual. If we cancel your flight due to

Our flight information telephone number is 07778 069144. You need to telephone this number to confirm the status of your flight. For sunrise (morning) flights you need to phone at 10.30pm the night before your flight. For sunset (afternoon/evening) flights, you need to phone at 1pm on the day of your flight. When you phone please listen to the entire message. If the weather forecast is suitable and there are no unforeseen circumstances, the message will confirm your flight, arrival time and take off time. I

Everyone’s well-being is crucial, so we need to have some safety restrictions…. Passengers must be able to stand unassisted for at least an hour, be able to bend your knees to take the seated landing position, follow all instructions given by the pilot and react quickly in the unlikely event of an emergency. Minimum age requirement is ten years and children under sixteen must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Minimum height requirement is 4’8? (146cm). The maximum height is 6’8” (203cm). The maximum we

While we would love for everybody to have a successful flight on their first attempt (and many lucky people do!) it is not unusual to have your flight rebooked several times before achieving a successful flight due to the weather dependant nature of ballooning in the UK. But don’t worry, you can keep rebooking until we get you onto a successful flight!

Hot air balloons need hot air to ascend. But if rain cools the air in the balloon, the burner has to work harder to keep it hot. This not only uses more fuel but also makes the balloon's elevation harder to control, which is not safe. In terms of wind, hot air balloons are like giant sails in the sky. They catch even moderate winds easily and can be blown off course. But they also need some wind to move forward. Too much wind is unsafe and too little wind means no travel.

The weather on the ground doesn't always match the conditions in the air. Even a sunny day can mean strong winds up there. Our pilots keep a close eye on aerial weather as well as ground weather for your safety and enjoyment.

Our pilot's choice to fly is independent of other balloonists' decisions. They prioritize your safety and consider various weather factors. Other balloons may have had advantages on that day, such as better conditions in their launch areas, private status with different regulations, or smaller size, which can impact their ability to fly and safely land in certain conditions.