Rolling countryside punctuated by charming waterways, historical towns and iconic architecture make Norfolk a county of great contrast. A hot air balloon ride over Norfolk provides the perfect opportunity to view this scenic county from an entirely new perspective - or more specifically from anything up to 5,000 feet.

Being the focal-point of East Anglia, Norfolk is enriched with many examples of architectural and natural brilliance that makes the county a popular tourist destination in the UK. Dunston Hall is a grand red-brick country house hotel found within 150 acres of beautiful parkland and just to the south of Norwich, making it the perfect location to start your journey in a hot air balloon.

As you begin to drift north you may soon discover Norwich, a city offering a skyline dominated by medieval wonder with an influence from modern sophistication. With the second tallest spire in the country, Norwich Cathedral is just one of the magnificent pieces of medieval history found in the city. Built as a royal palace, Norwich Castle is now home to some of the most outstanding collections of fine art, archeology and natural history. Opened in 2001, The Forum is a fine piece of contemporary architecture and was the landmark Millennium project for the East of England. Home to the Millennium Library, local media broadcasters and Europe’s largest permanent digital screen gallery, The Forum is the modern hub for any visitor to the city.

If you continue to head north of Norfolk, one highlight is passing Blickerling Hall, a picturesque 17th century Jacobean house with spectacular parkland and lake features. Scattered across the county are many monuments to the second world war and it is possible to discover several United States Air Force air bases and strategic pillboxes erected to help defend the nation against foreign invasion.

Another population launch location is the historic market town of Wymondham. It is the home of the railway station used in the classic television series, Dad’s Army and you may have the opportunity to follow the steam locomotive as it meanders through the countryside on the mid-Norfolk railway line.

If your journey takes you east of Norwich, passengers will be able to capture some of the rural landscape of the county, encapsulated by the Norfolk Broads. Made up of around 40 water-filled broads and connected by 200km of rivers, shallow lakes, woodland, fens and grazing marshes; the Norfolk Broads provide many unforgettable attractions to gaze at from above. Flights can follow the River Bure past quaint country villages like Coltishall and Horning towards the exciting coastal town of Great Yarmouth. Much of the Norfolk coastline is designated as being an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a magnet for those seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Norfolk is a county steeped in centuries of history and culture, with bustling towns and villages which give way to natural waterways, woodland and miles of stunning coastline all of which make for an exhilarating hot air balloon ride.

No two balloon flights are ever the same, so where you’ll fly and what you’ll see, be it chimney pots or countryside, is really up to the wind (with a little help from your pilot). Just don’t forget to take your camera, binoculars or camcorder to record the magic of a balloon flight experience.