| Dorset will forever be linked to the writings of | | | | Abbey. It has been a Saxon cathedral, a |
| novelist Thomas Hardy - Mayor of Casterbridge, | | | | Benedictine abbey and is now a parish church. |
| Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Far from the | | | | Sherborne is literally packed to the rafters with |
| Madding Crowd were all set in the fictional land of | | | | historic buildings including Sherborne School, |
| 'Wessex' which took Dorchester and surrounds as | | | | Sherborne House and the Almshouses. |
| it's inspiration. A hot air balloon tour over the area | | | | Sherborne also featured in Hardy's books but as |
| provides the perfect opportunity to view many | | | | 'Sherton Abbas' and no Dorset balloon tour here |
| of the county's landmarks from a completely new | | | | would be complete without viewing the majestic |
| perspective - or more specifically from anything | | | | Sherborne Castle. |
| up to 5,000 feet. | | | | Further south, a hot air balloon ride from |
| A good place to start is Shaftesbury or the | | | | Blandford Forum is as refreshing as the |
| 'Shaston' of Hardy's novels. The town is an ideal | | | | ‘Badger' beers it's famous for. The small |
| place to view both the breathtaking River Stour | | | | market town on the River Stour is a fantastic |
| basin and the beautiful Blackmore Vale - a valley | | | | place to fly over. Look out for the corn |
| which runs from south Somerset into Dorset. As | | | | exchange, market place and six arch bridge, which |
| well as many fine historical buildings, Shaftesbury | | | | are highlights of the Georgian architecture present |
| has one particularly famous cobbled street. Gold | | | | throughout. Just south lies the small village of |
| Hill featured in the famous Hovis bread advert: | | | | Blandford St Mary, home of the Hall and |
| most people will be familiar with the iconic images | | | | Woodhouse brewery, where ales like Badger |
| of a young boy pushing his loaf-laden bike up the | | | | Original, Tanglefoot, and Fursty Ferret are still |
| slope to the sound of Dvorak's "New World" | | | | made today. Although Champagne is the |
| Symphony. | | | | traditional ballooning tipple, after a balloon ride |
| Shaftesbury is a small market town with a history | | | | from Blandford Forum, maybe we should make |
| that goes back to medieval times and hill-top | | | | an exception. |
| forts. From the skies you may be able to spy | | | | If the wind takes you west you may just be able |
| ancient Wardour Castle, quaint villages like | | | | to catch a glimpse of the Cerne Giant at Cerne |
| Motcombe, Cherry Orchard and Sturminster | | | | Abbas. The 180ft high, male figure carved into the |
| Newton and even Glastonbury Tor on a clear | | | | side of a steep hill is believed to be an ancient |
| day. Whichever direction the wind takes you, | | | | symbol of spirituality. The giant is an important |
| you'll be able to appreciate Dorset's fantastic | | | | part of the culture of Dorset and according to |
| patchwork of fields, farm-land and small forests. | | | | folklore is associated with fertility. |
| Sherborne is a fine centre to base yourself and | | | | For more information on Dorset hot air balloon |
| an ideal spot to explore the wide open skies by | | | | flights visit Virgin Balloon Flights - the leading hot |
| hot air balloon. Of particular note in this unspoilt | | | | air balloon rides company in the world with the |
| area of Dorset is the Abbey Church of St Mary | | | | largest passenger carrying balloons in the UK. |
| the Virgin, now commonly known as Sherborne | | | | |