Ballooning over Berkshire

Balloon Rides Berkshire

Berkshire is an interesting county to fly over in a hot air balloon, combining as it does the River Thames, urban and rural landscapes and many historic houses and sites. Berkshire is known as 'Royal Berkshire' due to its association with the Royal family and Windsor Castle. As the Eastern end of Berkshire is covered by Heathrow Airport’s airspace, hot air balloon flights can only operate to the west from locations around Reading, Newbury and Hungerford.

Flying from the University town of Reading you may see large country houses standing close to the River Thames as it passes by. Mapledurham, Hardwick House and Basildon Park are just a few. Reading is full of modern landmarks such as it’s new Oracle Shopping Centre, the Madjeski Football Stadium and the big wind turbine by the M4 Motorway at Green Park. You can take a balloon flight over Reading with Adventure Balloons www.adventureballoons.co.uk and take off from Prospect Park or other nearby parks. Of course Berkshire has a more recent connection to royalty with Prince William's bride to be Kate Middleton coming from the village of Bucklebury close to Adventure Balloons' take off site at Padworth.

Moving westwards to the other end of Berkshire you can take a hot air balloon ride with Floating Sensations www.balloonflights.co.uk from launch sites around Newbury and close to Littlecote House in Hungerford. A hot air balloon ride over this part of Berkshire may take you over Ashdown House at Lambourn or southwards near Highclere Castle which is home to the Earl of Carnarvon