Let The Wind
Decide The Way
Be captivated by the timeless charm of Bakewell and the dramatic vistas of the Peak District from the perfect vantage point – the basket of a hot air balloon! With sweeping hills, patchwork fields, and quintessential villages, this stunning part of Derbyshire is ready to stir your senses and lift your spirit.
Let the wind decide your path as you rise gently above one of England’s most scenic regions. There’ll be moments of quiet wonder, flashes of exhilaration, and the kind of views that stay with you long after you’ve landed.
Choose Your
Bakewell Flight
The experience is the same unforgettable balloon adventure. What changes is when you can fly and how much flexibility your voucher gives you.
Weekday Morning
Let the morning Peak District breeze enliven your day on a balloon flight from the heart of Bakewell. You also get a champagne toast, 3-4 hour experience, a luxury gift wallet and a personalised flight certificate.
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Weekday Morning
Or Evening
Watch the changing colours draw across the Peak District on either a morning or evening flight. This glorious 3-4 hour experience with champagne toast, luxury wallet and personalised flight certificate will bring a smile to any face!
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Any Day Morning or Evening
Your choice of sunrise or sunset, during the week and weekends. This awesome champagne balloon ride comes with a luxury gift wallet, a personalised flight certificate and a 3-4 hour experience enjoying the best of Peak District and Bakewell ballooning.
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Compare All
Three Flights
See the three voucher choices side by side and choose the balance of price and flexibility that works best for you.
Compare Bakewell vouchers Vouchers are valid nationwide at more than 100 launch locations.
A Little Closer
To Bakewell
Bakewell’s the sort of place you might pass through on the way to somewhere else – and then find yourself stopping for longer than you planned. It’s in the middle of the Peak District, tucked between hills and wrapped around a stretch of the River Wye. Quiet, solid, full of character.
If you go up in a balloon from here, the town shifts pretty quickly beneath you. It only takes a minute or two before the buildings start to slip away and the countryside takes over. You start to notice things you wouldn’t see otherwise – how the fields fit together, where the footpaths really go, and just how many trees are hiding between the lanes.
Some flights drift over the quiet outskirts – the wooded edges of Haddon Park, the winding path of the Monsal Trail. Others are carried westward towards the limestone ridges and ridgelines that give the White Peak its name. If the wind’s right, you might even spot Chatsworth House in the next valley, grand and grounded, holding its place in the landscape like a bookmark in a well-read story.
And then there’s Bakewell itself. Known for its pudding, of course – sweet, almondy, slightly uncertain in its origins – but also for its sense of calm. This is a town that doesn’t rush, doesn’t need to. It simply sits where it is, surrounded by scenery that asks for nothing more than to be seen.
Up in the sky, it’s all still and quiet. Just the occasional sound of the burner, the movement of air, and the wide view below. And whether it’s your first time ballooning or your tenth, Bakewell makes it feel like a place worth floating over.
Bakewell Showground
Bakewell
Derbyshire
DE45 1AQ
Follow signs for Bakewell Showground and the Livestock Centre rather than relying solely on the postcode when approaching the launch field.
Ballooning is wind-led and nearby alternative launch sites may occasionally be used when conditions make that the better option.
Before You
Take Off
A few quick answers to the questions that tend to matter most before a Bakewell balloon flight.
Where do Bakewell balloon flights take off from?
The main Bakewell launch point is Bakewell Showground. Ballooning is weather and wind dependent, so a nearby alternative launch site may occasionally be used when conditions make that the better option.
How long does the ballooning experience last?
Allow around three to four hours for the complete experience. That includes arrival and briefing, balloon preparation, around an hour in the air, landing, the post-flight celebration and transport back to the launch area.
Can I choose where the balloon flies?
The wind decides the route. Your pilot controls the balloon’s altitude and chooses a suitable landing site, but the direction of travel depends on the conditions on the day. That unpredictability is part of what makes every flight different.
What happens if the weather is unsuitable?
Balloon flights only operate when conditions are suitable. If your flight is cancelled because of the weather, you can rebook for another date rather than losing the experience.
Can friends or family come to watch?
Yes, spectators are welcome at the launch site. Facilities can vary, though, and spectators should not try to follow the balloon by road. Passengers are transported back after the flight.
Can I use my voucher somewhere other than Bakewell?
Yes. Virgin Balloon Flights vouchers can be used nationwide, with more than 100 launch locations available. That gives you plenty of flexibility if another location or date suits you better.
