Virgin Balloon Flights (Ludlow) - Hot Air Balloon Rides

Taking off from fields near Ludlow in a hot air balloon is one of those experiences that sounds daft until you're actually floating 1,000 feet above the Herefordshire countryside. Virgin Balloon Flights runs the operation here, and you get roughly an hour aloft - about 15 to 20 minutes of actual flight time, though the whole affair from arrival to landing takes closer to three hours with prep and safety briefing included.

The views are genuinely excellent. On a clear day you can see right across the Welsh borders, with the Malvern Hills rising up in the distance and Ludlow itself tiny below. It's slow, peaceful, and surreal in equal measure. The balloon drifts rather than soars, so it's not the adrenaline rush some expect - but that's rather the point. You'll spot fields, farmhouses, the odd river bend. If you're lucky with the wind direction, you might see Ludlow Castle from above.

Best suited to adults and older teenagers who can handle being in a confined basket for an hour. Young kids find it either magical or tedious depending on temperament. It's not cheap, and you'll need to book well ahead, especially for summer flights.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Home Farm is closest at just over two miles - this makes a cracking half-day activity. Pair it with exploring Ludlow town itself, which has proper medieval streets and decent restaurants. Early morning flights catch the best light and calmest air, so plan accordingly.