Virgin Balloon Flights (Gosfield) - Hot Air Balloon Rides

Rising at dawn from a field near Halstead is the whole point of Virgin Balloon Flights - you're actually going up in a hot air balloon, not just looking at one. The basket lifts off slowly, which gives your stomach time to adjust, and then you're drifting across the Essex countryside at whatever pace the wind fancies. On a clear morning you can see for miles - church spires, patchwork fields, the occasional confused sheep below.

It's proper exhilarating, though not for the faint-hearted. The flight itself lasts around an hour, but you'll need to allow most of the morning because there's the briefing, the inflation of the balloon (fascinating to watch), and then the drive back to base. Families with older kids tend to love it - the sense of weightlessness appeals to them - but under-eights might find the waiting around tedious.

Costs aren't cheap, and you'll want to book well ahead, especially in summer. Weather dictates everything here; if the wind's too strong or it's pouring rain, you'll reschedule. That's the trade-off for safety.

If you're staying at Gosfield Lake Resort just down the road, it's an excellent way to start a holiday week. Less convenient from the camping options further out like Hill Farm or Stocks Farm, but still manageable as a day trip. The experience stays with you far longer than most tourist attractions - there's something about seeing your holiday park from two thousand feet up that puts things in perspective.