insideKENT Magazine Issue 77 - August 2018 | Page 61

DAYSOUT GET OUT INTO THE Elements cont. Kent Ballooning Air As the Hollies’ song goes: “all I need is the air that I breathe.” It’s true that human beings do need a little more than that to keep going, but air is another essential element that we tend to take for granted a lot of the time. Stop to think for a moment, though, and you’ll realise just how amazing it really is – the planet we live on sustains us, giving us the air that we need to survive and even uses the carbon dioxide that we breathe out to give life to plants and trees, producing evermore oxygen for us to breathe. That’s a truly awesome thing and something to bear in mind if you want to centre yourself and remember that life is beautiful, even when things aren’t going exactly to plan. As for Kent, we’ve got air aplenty, and good, fresh air at that. Here are some of the ways you can make the most of it. HOT AIR BALLOONING If you’ve seen The Wizard of Oz, you’ll have a special place in your heart for a hot air balloon, but even if Dorothy and the wizard don’t mean much to you, a hot air balloon is still going to be a super-exciting way to see Kent and beyond. When it comes to getting some good, fresh, Kentish air, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of being high up amongst it. Perhaps because of this, there are a number of hot air balloon companies in the county, each one offering a breathtaking experience for all. Kent Ballooning Kent Ballooning offer seven flights a week between mid-April and mid-October, and what makes these flights particularly special is that they take place at sunrise and sunset. The flights last for around an hour and launch from a number of different Kent locations including Canterbury, Folkestone and Ashford. You’ll see some of the most famous icons of the county including Leeds Castle and Canterbury Cathedral, and the most beautiful times of the day from a viewpoint that very few people get to experience. www.kentballooning.com Sky Bus Ballooning Sky Bus Ballooning has been going strong since the early 1990s. Run by Shiralee Colin, one of the country’s very few female balloon pilots, this company has a 100 per cent safety record and flies across Kent and Sussex too. Not only can you book onto standard flights, but you can also choose exclusive hire and VIP flights to make a special occasion even more special. www.skybusballooning.co.uk 61