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Shaftesbury

Alternative Launch Site

This is an alternative location for our main bookable launch sites. For bookable launch sites, see all locations.

Launch Site Address

Henstridge Airfield, The Marsh
Henstridge
Somerset
BA8 0TN

Get Directions

Shaftesbury Hot Air Balloon Ride

Fun & Interesting Facts

Gold Hill is the fifth steepest street in England. In the iconic Hovis bread advert filmed back in 1973, the young chap pushing his bike up its cobbled incline before free-wheeling back down was 13-year-old Carl Barlow, went on to have a 30-year career as a firefighter.

About

Experience the airborne adventure of a lifetime on a spectacular Dorset hot air balloon ride with Virgin Balloon Flights.

Go up, up and away from our beautiful launch site near Shaftesbury and enjoy stunning views of this glorious and idyllic landscape.

Appreciate first-hand the breath-taking countryside so vividly described in the books of Thomas Hardy, who re-named his fictional version of the town ā€˜Shastonā€™.

If the wind takes you over Shaftesbury itself, see if you can spot the iconic cobbled Gold Hill, which starred in the famous Hovis bread advert.

No other flying experience comes close to the feeling you get on a majestic Dorset hot air balloon ride.

Whichever way the wind takes you over pretty patchwork fields, valleys and hills, a flight in our big red balloon is something you will never forget.

Directions

From The East:
From the A350 at the Ivy Cross Roundabout exit onto the A30 towards Yeovil. Continue through East Stour and West Stour towards Henstridge and after approximately 2.5 miles, turn left (look for a brown ā€œgolf courseā€ sign). Continue along this road for half a mile and the airfield entrance is on the left (east side of road).

From The West:
From Yeovil, join the A30 towards Shaftesbury. Continue through Henstridge on the A30 and after approximately 1.5 miles, turn right (look for a brown ā€œgolf courseā€ sign). Continue along this road for half a mile and the airfield entrance is on the left (east side of road).

Drive into the airfield through the gate on the west side and follow the airfield road east, then east-south-east past some tall trees on your left. Turn left after the trees and park on the left by the fence. You will be met here by the hot air balloon crew at the time specified on your flight line. If the entrance gate is locked, please wait at the gate.

Please note that there are no toilets at the launch site.

Get Directions

Passenger Flight Information Line

Please call 01725 530190 to confirm the status of your flight.

Hints & Tips:

Learn More

Your Pilot Will Be:

Steve Vining

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