Cottages near Virgin Balloon Flights - Blandford Forum

Packed with Georgian charm and surrounded by the rolling Dorset Downs, a hot air balloon ride from Blandford Forum is as refreshing as the ‘Badger’ beers it’s famous for. This market town on the River Stour -featured in Thomas Hardy novels as 'Shottesford Forum'- is a fantastic place to fly over. Look out for the corn exchange, market place and six-arch bridge - all highlights of the Georgian architecture found here. Just south lies the small village of Blandford St Mary, home of the Hall and Woodhouse brewery, where ales like Badger Original, Tanglefoot, and Fursty Ferret are still made today. Although Champagne is the traditional ballooing tipple, after a balloon ride from Blandford Forum, maybe an exception should be made.