Launch site · Somerset
Hot air balloon rides over Cheddar Gorge
See England’s largest gorge from above, with the Levels stretching away to Glastonbury Tor.
Cheddar Gorge is spectacular from the road – and even more so from a balloon. From the air you see the whole gorge cutting into the Mendip Hills, the village at its mouth and Cheddar Reservoir shining on the moor below.
We have two launch sites in Cheddar. Depending on the wind, flights may follow the line of the Mendips, cross over the top of the gorge or head out across the Somerset Levels, with Glastonbury Tor, Brent Knoll and the Bristol Channel all in view.
What you’ll see from Cheddar
- Cheddar Gorge – The limestone cliffs and the road winding through them
- Cheddar Reservoir – The round reservoir just outside the village
- The Mendip Hills – Black Down and the plateau above the gorge
- The Somerset Levels – Out towards Wedmore and Glastonbury Tor
- Brent Knoll & the coast – And the Bristol Channel beyond
Balloons fly with the wind, so no two flights follow the same path – your pilot will point out the landmarks as you go.
Where we meet
Our Cheddar launch sites
We fly around sunrise and in the evening a few hours before sunset, when the air is calm. We’ll text you the exact meeting time and confirm the weather the day before. Allow three to four hours for the whole experience.
Questions
Flying from Cheddar
Will we fly over Cheddar Gorge?
The gorge is visible on almost every flight from Cheddar. Whether we pass right over it depends on the wind direction on the day.
Where do we meet in Cheddar?
At Cheddar Rugby Club on Sharpham Road (///cards.judge.microfilm) or Broadway Acres opposite Cheddar Woods (///diver.sped.spill). We text the meeting point the day before.
More answers on our FAQs page. Making a day of it? See where to eat and stay near our launch sites.
Reviews
What our customers say
“We had an absolutely fantastic afternoon. The balloon flight exceeded our expectations and we would definitely recommend First flight. Nick and his team were great, informative and very friendly.”
“An Amazing Experience - NOT TO BE MISSED - and I'm not keen on heights! Great prior communication. Clarity of set up, flight and landing instructions were hugely reassuring. Nick & the team are clearly hugely experienced and we were all put at ease with their friendly engaging style.”
“A perfect balloon experience A beautiful experience flying over the city of Bath. There was nothing that could make it better.A professional and informative pilot who turned the basket during the flight to ensure everyone had the same opportunity to see the iconic sights of Bath. Simply a perfect experience which I would do again in a heart beat. Excellent communication before the flight”
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