Virgin Balloon Flights (Nantwich) - Hot Air Balloon Rides

Rising above Cheshire at dawn in a wicker basket is the sort of thing you remember for years. Virgin Balloon Flights operates from near Nantwich, and it's properly brilliant if you've got the nerve for it. You'll float up quietly over the Cheshire countryside for around an hour, watching the landscape unfold below while your pilot handles the burner above your head - a sensation that's oddly peaceful despite being several hundred metres up.

It's best suited to adults and confident teenagers rather than small children, though some operators do take families. The experience usually includes a champagne breakfast afterwards, which feels appropriately fancy. Early morning is when you go - the wind is calmest then, which is why balloon flights always kick off at sunrise. Booking ahead is essential, and you'll want to check current prices and availability directly with them.

If you're staying at one of the nearby touring parks - Sunny Side or The Willows are both within walking distance of town - this makes a cracking half-day activity without feeling rushed. Little Ranch Glamping, three miles out, is also close enough for an easy drive. Nantwich itself is worth a potter around afterwards: proper market town with some good pubs and a decent high street. The balloon ride isn't cheap, but it's the sort of splurge that pays for itself in stories.