Ballooning does require a degree of agility and all passengers must be able bodied and medically fit. You can not fly if you are pregnant or have recently had surgery. If you are in any doubt please check with your GP.  Getting into the basket is similar to climbing over a field gate and all pasengers must be able to do this unaided.  You will be required to stand for around 1 hour. Children must be over 4ft 6ins tall to fly.

Ballooning is predominatley a summer activity and our season starts in April and usually ends in October.  Flights are scheduled every day early morning (just after sunrise) and early evening (two hours before sunset) as this is when the air is stable. The problem with flying in the winter is the wet & waterloged fields. This makes retreiving the balloon impossible without damaging the land, also the balloon cannot be packed away wet.

We can only fly if the weather conditions are suitable. We can't fly in rain, fog or poor visiblity and the surface wind must not exceed 8mph.  We also have to take into consideration the wind speed and direction at altitude which we access for specialist aviation forecasts.

If we cancel your flight you will be able to choose a new date subject to availability and validity of the voucher.  We can usually offer a new date within 14 days if you are flexible.

Most of the flights leave from Allensford Park DH8 9BA. This is a great location near the Derwent Reservoir - easy to find with plenty of car parking space.

We also fly from The Black Horse Pub near Beamish when the wind direction is not suitable for Allensford. We cannot say where you will fly to as this depends on the wind speed and direction on the day.

We aim to fly for 1 hour however wind direction and weather conditions along with suitable landing sites all play a part in determining how long you will be in the air.    The pilot has sole discretion on the duration of the flight.

Hot Air Ballooning is very highly regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority and has an excellent safety record - it is by far the safest form of aerial sport. We are certified by the CAA for 'public transport' in balloons and hold an Air Operators Certificate.   Our pilots are fully qualified commercial pilots with a huge amount of flying experience. You can be assured you are in safe hands.

We suggest to dress for a walk in the countryside.  Long trousers a lightweight jumper and walking boots or trainers are ideal.  Please dont wear wear shorts or flip flops even on hot summer days and high heeled shoes are definately a no no. You will not be any colder in the balloon as the burners create a lot of heat. It is advisable to bring a cap to protect your head & hair on hot summer days.