There’s something timeless about watching the countryside unfold from above—quiet, surreal, oddly grounding. It’s the kind of experience that doesn’t feel manufactured or rehearsed, which, let’s be honest, is rare these days. At Fly Away Ballooning, that feeling—of calm detachment, of weightless freedom—is what they offer in abundance.
Run by a local family who clearly knows these skies well, this isn’t just another tourist activity. It’s more personal than that. Flights are tailored, routes are seasonal, and the attention to small details is obvious even before the basket leaves the ground.
From Dawn Light to Open Sky
Most launches happen early in the morning or just before sunset—there’s a practical reason for that, of course (the air is more stable), but also a poetic one. The golden hour light, soft and sleepy, transforms the rolling fields of Somerset into a dreamscape. You don’t get this kind of beauty from behind a windscreen or hotel balcony.
Whether you’re tucked into a shared flight or have booked out the basket for a private occasion—an anniversary, a proposal, or just something you’ve always wanted to do—the sensation is the same. That slow, silent ascent. The occasional blast of the burner. Then just… silence. Views stretching out in every direction.
And it's not just Somerset. The company also offers breathtaking hot air balloon rides in Devon, which bring a completely different flavour. Think rugged coastline, wild moorland, and twisting rivers catching the morning sun. Sometimes it feels like the land below hasn’t changed in centuries.
A View of Bath You’ve Never Seen Before
Flying over Bath is something else entirely. The architecture—Georgian terraces, the Royal Crescent—looks delicate and dollhouse-like from above. For those familiar with the city, it’s disorienting in the best way. Everything you thought you knew is re-framed. For newcomers, it's simply unforgettable.
bath balloon flights take off from the city’s edge, where urban meets rural. It’s an ideal place for that contrast to play out—the order of the streets giving way to the messier beauty of surrounding farmland and hills. And you’re floating through it all, unhurried.
It’s Not Just a Ride, It’s a Whole Ritual
This isn’t a hop-on, hop-off kind of deal. The experience starts long before the burner is fired up. You’ll help inflate the balloon (if you want to), which is surprisingly hands-on and oddly satisfying. Watching the envelope rise and take shape in the cool morning air—it feels like something ancient, maybe even ceremonial.
Then there’s the post-flight prosecco toast—yes, really. It’s a small tradition, nothing overdone, just a quiet clink of glasses in a nearby field while the team packs up the balloon. You’ll probably chat to other flyers. Compare notes. Wonder why you’ve never done this before.
A Family Business With a Personal Touch
There’s no corporate script here. No loud branded uniforms or blaring loudspeakers. Just a close-knit team that’s clearly passionate about what they do. They’ve flown over these areas hundreds of times but still speak about them with real affection. That’s probably what makes it feel so special. No two flights are identical, and nothing about it feels rushed.
hot air balloon somerset flights are especially popular with those looking to slow down for a while. Whether it’s locals seeing their world from a fresh perspective or visitors wanting something more meaningful than a museum ticket—this delivers.
Final Thoughts (Though the Experience Lingers Longer)
There are moments in life that leave a mark not because they were grand or complicated, but because they were quiet and unexpected. A hot air balloon ride with Fly Away Ballooning is exactly that kind of moment.
It’s not adrenaline-fuelled. It’s not flashy. It’s just… right. And long after you’re back on solid ground, you’ll still be thinking about the way the trees looked from above, or the sunlight glinting off an early morning river bend.
It’s a perspective you didn’t know you needed. Until you had it.