| Essex often gets a raw deal but anyone who has | | | | suspended over Wivenhoe for a moment or two |
| the opportunity to view the county from the | | | | as you cast a glance down at the town set on |
| skies will literally see things quite differently. A hot | | | | the wooded slopes of the River Colne. Blessed |
| air balloon ride over the area provides the perfect | | | | with many attractive old inns and a very pretty |
| opportunity to view many historic landmarks and | | | | quayside, you might be enticed into a visit |
| sites of interest from a completely new | | | | post-flight for a bite to eat or a glass of the local |
| perspective - or more specifically from anything | | | | ale. Dependent on the direction the wind takes |
| up to 5,000 feet. | | | | you, you may also see Kelvedon. The village |
| Essex's county town Chelmsford was declared a | | | | nestles in a wide bend in River Blackwater and is |
| market town by King John in 1119 and any balloon | | | | the latest in a long history of settlements to |
| flight leaving from the town will give passengers | | | | occupy the site, dating back to pre-Roman times. |
| spectacular views over the county cricket ground, | | | | A balloon flight that takes you further south may |
| the beautiful river Can and even the 15th century | | | | offer you the opportunity to view Brentwood, |
| cathedral. Nearby Hylands House, set in a 500 | | | | Billericay and nearby Norsey Wood Nature |
| acre landscaped parkland, underwent a heavy | | | | Reserve. |
| restoration programme having been left derelict | | | | Whichever Essex Balloon Ride you choose you'll |
| for many years and can be seen from the | | | | undoubtedly spot countless Essex windmills |
| basket of balloon flights over central Essex too. | | | | beneath you, the most famous of which is John |
| North Essex is another popular location for hot air | | | | Webb's 19th century masterpiece at Thaxted. It |
| balloon rides and no flight here would be complete | | | | quickly becomes clear that despite being the brunt |
| without seeing Colchester Castle. Built by William | | | | of many jokes, Essex is in fact a county steeped |
| the Conqueror, the site is the first, and | | | | in centuries of history and culture, with bustling |
| incidentally, largest royal castle to be built entirely | | | | towns and villages which give way to rolling hills, |
| of stone. | | | | forests and miles of stunning coastline all of which |
| From Colchester your flight path might take you | | | | make for an exhilarating hot air balloon ride |
| over Coggeshall, renowned as a centre for | | | | No two balloon flights are ever the same, so |
| antiques, proudly displaying its many fine timber | | | | where you'll fly and what you'll see, be it chimney |
| framed buildings. Perhaps you will gaze down on | | | | pots or countryside, is really up to the wind (with |
| the bustling market town of Braintree sitting | | | | a little help from your pilot). Just don't forget to |
| astride one of many Roman roads crossing the | | | | take your camera, binoculars or camcorder to |
| county. Alternatively you may find yourself | | | | record the magic of a balloon flight experience. |