Ballooning over Northamptonshire

Hot air ballooning over Northamptonshire is full of variety - rolling hills with honey stone cottages, lakes, rivers, canals and a patchwork of interspersing fields, once covered by dense woodland.

Northamptonshire is a land-locked county and probably one of the furthest counties in the UK from the coast, making it an ideal place for hot-air ballooning away from effects of the sea. Emphasising it's central location is the fact that not one river flows into Northampton but many flow out, including, the Rivers Nene and Avon .

With its central location one of the largest Balloon Festivals in the UK began in Northampton and has run continuously for more than twenty years. Northampton is the home of The Ballooning Business who have been providing balloon flights from Northampton and over the surrounding area as long as the Festival has been running.

Flights from Northampton are likely to show you the grounds of succesfull sports teams such as The Saints (Rugby), The Steelbacks (cricket) and The Cobblers (football) - named after the major industry of Northampton which used to be shoe making. Sights to look out for are also Castle Ashby, The Althorp Estate and Delapre Abbey which is close by the launch site of the Ballooning Business.