What better location than the Lake District for a hot air balloon ride. This gentle and peaceful mode of transport, perfectly matches the serenity of this popular tourist destination. Drifting up and over the lakes and fells, scouring the beautiful landscape, enables you to capture the true, relaxed and unaltered feel of the area.
Robert Jones has flown passenger-carrying balloons for 30 years, and holds a Commercial Pilots Licence and Civil Aviation Authority Air Operators Licence.
Launch sites: Flights are available from Storrs Hall and Low Wood Bay as well as various locations around the Lake District by arrangement.
How long is the flight?
The flight will last for approximately 1 hour depending on prevailing weather conditions and suitability of landing sites, but you should allow approximately 3 to 4 hours for the whole experience.
How high do we go?
You will generally fly at approximately 500 – 1500ft, although when conditions allow you may descend to tree top height or ascend to as high at 4000ft. Remember that balloons do not rock or tilt so balloon flying is not usually associate with a fear of heights/vertigo.
What should I wear?
You should wear casual, comfortable clothing with long sleeves and trousers. The temperature in the air is similar to the temperature on the ground and as the balloon moves with the wind it isn’t windy. It is advisable to wear a hat or cap, particularly for tall passengers or those who are a little ‘thin on top’, as the burner gives off a radiant heat. It is important to wear good strong walking shoes or boots, no high heels please!
Who can fly?
Children must be at least 7 years of age and be over 1.2m tall (in order to be able to see over the basket). An adult must accompany children under the age of 16.
Passengers should be of capable of walking a short distance plus climbing in/out of the basket and able to stand for a number of hours.
You will not be permitted to fly if you are pregnant. However if you have received a gift voucher we are happy to extend the validity of the voucher for a further period of 9 months in these circumstances.
How many can fly?
The basket carries a maximum of 5 passengers of average weight.
When can we fly?
Balloon flights take place either early morning or late evening. Balloons need stable winds to operate effectively and the hours just before sunrise and sunset are best for finding calm, gentle winds. The weather is cooler then and the balloon flies better in cooler weather as the hot air gets a better ‘lift’. It isn’t safe to fly during the daytime when different pockets of air are rising and falling.
Before launching your pilot will have assessed the climate and wind conditions and will only fly if conditions are close to perfect – clear skies and light surface winds of less than 10 mph. You will not be able to fly in high winds, rain or when visibility is poor.
How do we get back to the launch site?
Ground crew follow the flight of the balloon and on landing will retrieve the balloon and return you and the crew to your vehicles at the launch site. Alternatively if you have friends and family following the ground crew you may of course depart with them.
Voucher Purchase
Hot air balloon flight vouchers are subject
to these terms and conditions. If you
wish to rely on any variation in these terms you must ensure that we agree the
variation in writing when you purchase the voucher. If you have purchased the voucher as a gift
for someone else you must inform us in writing. These terms and conditions will still apply and ‘you’ in the rest of
these terms and conditions will refer to that person.
1. The vouchers can be bought from us by telephone or online with a
credit or debit card. This voucher will
entitle you to participate in a hot air balloon flight experience, within 12
months of its purchase including:-
§ a pre-flight briefing from the
pilot
§ approximately 1 hour's flying
time, subject to weather conditions and safety and legal compliance
§ glass of ‘bubbly’ after the
flight and an opportunity to discuss the flight with your pilot
§ personalised commemorative
certificate
2. You must take your flight on an agreed date within 12 months of the
date on which you purchase your voucher.
3. This voucher is not redeemable for cash.
BOOKING:-
4. To book your flight please contact your pilot Robert Jones on 01253 736869 quoting the voucher number.
5. Flights can be taken all year round subject to weather conditions.
The pilot will decide the duration and direction of the flight and landing
place, subject to safety and legal requirements.
6. You must telephone Robert
Jones on 01253 736869 within 3 months of the purchase date of your voucher
to make a booking for your flight, which must be for a date within 9 months of
the purchase date.
7. We will try to arrange for you to start your flight at your selected
launch site on a date you choose
8. You must bring your voucher with you when you come for your flight
and give it to the pilot. Failure to do so will result in no flight being
provided, and you will not be entitled to a refund or to re-book.
OUR OBLIGATION TO YOU
9. Hot air balloon flights are completely dependent upon the weather
and are regulated by the Air Navigation Order. It may be necessary to postpone a flight at any time if in our judgement
the conditions are not safe or the flight would not be permitted under the Air
Navigation Order. We will give you as
much warning as operational procedures allow of any
postponement but in order to ensure your safety we reserve the right to
postpone a flight at any time up to the moment of launch.
10. To check that your flight has not been delayed or cancelled, you
must telephone Robert Jones on 01253
736869 after 8:00pm on the evening before the booked date for an a.m.
flight or during the morning of the booked date for a p.m. flight. You may be advised of
different times to telephone.
11. It is intended that the balloon will be in the air for approximately
1 hours but the pilot has ultimate responsibility for deciding the duration and
conduct of any flight and the appropriate time and place of any landing. We cannot guarantee that a flight will follow
any particular direction.
12. If we have to postpone your flight on eight or more occasions and
your voucher is then valid for a period of less than two months we will extend
the validity period of your voucher to include the next three months.
13. We will make you a refund less our reasonable administration costs
in the following circumstances:
§ If it certified by a doctor
that there is no possibility that you will be or were medically fit to fly
(other than by reason of pregnancy) during the validity period of your voucher.
§ If we have agreed that in
writing at the time of the voucher purchase that the flight must be taken on a
specified date or within a specified period of time or not more than one month
and we are unable to fly at that time.
14. If you are unable to fly during the validity of your voucher because
you are pregnant we will extend the validity period by nine months.
15. Refunds in any other circumstances are at our discretion.
16. We carry insurance cover against the risk of any injury or damage to
passengers and their belongings during the course of our flights in accordance
with international agreements covering air transport. The level of cover varies from time to time as
a result of currency fluctuations. Further
details are available on request. We
will not be liable for any loss or damage to equipment and effects brought with
you on the flight nor for death or personal injury above the level of your
insurance cover.
17. We do not accept liability for any costs or expenses you incur if we
have to postpone any flight where the reason for the postponement is beyond our
control.
YOUR OBLIGATION TO US
18. Your voucher is valid for a period of 12 months from the date upon
which it was bought. If your flight is
not taken within that time you will lose the right to participate in a flight,
unless you have booked flights on eight occasions which have had to be
postponed or the validity period of the voucher has been extended for some
other reason under these terms and conditions.
19. You must contact us within 3 months of the purchase date shown on
the voucher, quoting the voucher number to make a booking for your flight,
which must be for a date within 9 months of the purchase date. If you do not do so the voucher will be
invalid and you will lose the right to a flight. We will not make any refund in these
circumstances.
20. You must telephone to check that the flight has not been affected by
adverse weather conditions in accordance with our instructions.
21. You may postpone your flight up to 36 hours before the meeting time
for the flight which you have booked.
22. You must satisfy yourself that you are fit to participate in your
flight and that you are not suffering from any illness or other medical
condition or disability which might prevent you from participating or might be
affected by your participation. You must take appropriate medical advice for
this purpose.
23. You must not be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs
whilst participating in your flight. If in our, or the pilot's, reasonable
opinion you are under the influence, you will not be allowed to take part in
or, as the case may be, continue your flight. No refund will be payable in these circumstances nor will you be able to re-book your
flight.
24. When you take part in your flight you must be at least 7 years old
and, if you are not 16 years old, you will only be allowed to participate at
your pilot's discretion and if you are accompanied by a responsible adult. You
must also be at least 1.2 tall to be able to see over the balloon basket. If
your pilot does not allow you to take part in these circumstances, we will
refund the purchase price of your voucher within 30 days of the date of refusal
but will have no further liability to you arising from your not having your
flight.
25. You must comply with all requests from and instructions given by the
pilot when participating in your flight, especially any given in relation to
the health and safety of yourself and others. You must also wear appropriate
clothing as outlined in your booking confirmation letter. Your pilot may not
allow you to participate in your flight or may stop you from participating if
you do not comply with his instructions or requests or fail to wear appropriate
clothing or if he reasonably considers that your participation may harm you or
anyone else. Your pilot may also discontinue the flight at any time if in the
pilot's opinion to continue would or might be dangerous or contrary to any
health or safety legislation or rules. You will have no right to any refund or
to re-book in any of these circumstances.
26. If the flight has to be cut short because your pilot refuses to
allow you to continue with your flight under paragraph 25, you must immediately
vacate the balloon on landing. We will have no liability to you in relation to
that refusal and you will be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense or
liability we incur arising from the curtailment of the flight. That will
include any liability we incur to any other passengers on the flight arising
from the curtailment, including the cost and loss of providing them with
another hot air balloon flight free of charge.