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High Adventure is an independent family owned business based in South Lakeland and has been ballooning in Cumbria and the Lake District since 1989. We have flown thousands of people in our balloons, sharing in the magical experience of lighter than air flight. Whatever you are celebrating we aim to make your experience of ballooning in the Lake District on one of our champagne flights the most pleasurable and memorable of a lifetime.
As one of the longest established independent passenger ballooning businesses in the UK, High Adventure, flying exclusively in the Lake District, is proud of its unblemished safety record and high standards of personal service. This is reflected in the number of repeat bookings which we receive from satisfied passengers and the level of new business arising through personal recommendation. |  |
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| Whilst we may not have the perceived national brand image and do not employ the gimmicky marketing techniques of some of the larger sellers and providers of balloon rides we do have almost 20 years experience of commercial ballooning exclusively in the Lake District - longer than any other company. Others have come and gone and although we may not be the cheapest we believe that we have the greatest wealth of experience and financial realism of any Civil Aviation Authority licensed balloon operator about the practicalities and costs of hot air ballooning in the physically and meteorologically challenging, but stunningly beautiful, Lake District. |
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| Our high houred Commercial Pilots have logged many hundreds of flights throughout the UK and Europe but regard the landscape of our English Lakeland as the most rewarding to fly over. Chief Pilot Martin Casson has been ballooning in Cumbria and the Lake District for more than 25 years, never tiring of the subtly changing scenes on each flight. His relaxed but assured approach to safe flying inspires confidence in all as he shares his enthusiasm for ballooning with his passengers. |
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 | All flights are supported by two of our loyal and personable uniformed crew members who, in addition to having an intimate knowledge of the area over which we fly, have considerable experience of the equipment operated and will help and advise if you wish to get fully involved in the preparations for flight and activities after landing. They will be there to meet you at the start of your adventure and are a vital part of the whole operation, not least when the balloon lands, in securing permission from the farmer for its retrieval.
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| Booking Agents R M Travel, an independent Travel Agency in Bowness on Windermere, have been handling our voucher sales and flight bookings since the outset. Their involvement allows us to concentrate on the administration and compliance aspects of the business (becoming ever burdensome with the increasing involvement of Europe) and more importantly the time consuming, unseen and sometimes unrecognised, aspects of pre-flight planning and the flights themselves! Don't be afraid to ring them on 015394 47599 during office hours if you are unsure about anything to do with your booking or have questions about our flights which are not answered on this site. |
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Our champagne hot air balloon trips are concentrated in the South Lakeland area of Cumbria – The Lake District, in Beatrix Potter country, on the southern fringe of the major peaks which are viewed from an otherwise impossible perspective. From your elevated and stable viewpoint in the balloon basket it is easy to appreciate how the many well known Lakeland artists, writers and poets have gained inspiration from this magnificent landscape over the centuries.
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Looking out at the spectacular scenery you can absorb an unforgettable view of the English Lake District and one almost wonders whether William Wordsworth foresaw the future of ballooning with High Adventure when he wrote 'Peter Bell' at Rydal Mount in the Lake District in 1819 :
There is something in a flying horse,
There is something in a huge balloon,
But through the clouds I'll never float ......... |
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| These words imply either a reluctance on his part to sample the unquestionable delights of lighter than air flight or an extreme perception as to the future introduction of Visual Flight Rules, under which we now operate, which indeed restrict balloon flight through cloud! |
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 | Our business is operated under the stringent requirements of a Civil Aviation Authority Air Operators Certificate (CAA AOC BL200) which is renewable annually and subject to strict audit. We also hold membership of the British Association of Balloon Operators (BABO), the British Balloon and Airship Club (BBAC) and Cumbria Tourism (CT). These memberships require our compliance with industry codes of conduct and ensure our direct involvement in issues affecting the standards of service provided.
We are also a member of a growing number of environmentally conscious businesses drawn together in The Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership. This non profit organisation raises funds through ‘Responsible Tourism’ for the preservation and enhancement of the natural beauty of the Lake District – the landscape viewed from the balloon basket and regarded by the late broadcaster Brian Redhead as being 'not ours, but ours to look after'.
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High Adventure carries full insurance cover (£5m), in compliance with industry requirements, with Lloyds of London for in-flight and ground risks. This is arranged through long established and market leading Aviation Insurance Brokers RFIB of London and we can, if necessary, provide you with details. We have a claim free history which we are determined to maintain by continuing our vigilance towards safe flying practice. Similarly our vehicles, in which you may travel, are comprehensively insured.
Outside our principal activity of providing passenger balloon rides in the Lake District we have worked with the BBC, ITV and independent film companies on a number of ballooning projects, having satisfied the stringent criteria associated with the use of outside contractors by these organisations. We also played a part in David Hempleman-Adams' 2003 record breaking trans Atlantic flight, which he flew solo in an open wicker basket hot air balloon, landing as darkness fell in atrocious weather conditions near Blackpool.
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