Virgin Balloon Flights (Whitchurch) - Hot Air Balloon Rides

The alarm goes off at half four in the morning. That's when you know you're serious about a hot air balloon ride from Whitchurch. Virgin Balloon Flights launches from here, and if you want decent weather and that magical golden-hour light, you're up before the dawn chorus.

You'll float above Cheshire for around an hour, drifting wherever the wind takes you. The basket rocks gently beneath your feet, and suddenly the patchwork fields below - the reason you drove here instead of staying in bed - make proper sense. On a clear day you can see right across into Wales. On a mediocre one, you're still 2,000 feet up watching the mist burn off.

This is for people who actually want to do something memorable on holiday, not just tick a box. Families with teenagers will get it. Couples celebrating something will get it. That mate who's got everything? This sorts them out. Young kids might find the height unsettling, and if you're nervous about heights in the first place, you'll spend the whole flight gripping the basket.

It's not cheap - balloon flights rarely are - and you'll want to book well ahead. Expect to be back on the ground by mid-morning, ready for breakfast and a proper cup of tea.

If you're staying at Bradley Hall Rural Escapes or Marbury Camp & Lodge nearby, you're perfectly placed. Get the flight in early, then spend the rest of the day exploring the park or venturing into the Cheshire countryside on foot.