2011年11月2日 星期三

Hot Air Ballooning in Cumbria

Sharing borders with Scotland, Northumberland, Durham and North Yorkshire; the predominately rural county of Cumbria is a fantastic place for sightseeing with the beautiful Lake District National Park making up over 30 miles across of countryside, lakes and mountains. A hot air balloon ride across Cumbria provides a truly unique experience of one of the largest counties in England.
With its mountainous backdrop, the Lake District National Park is one of the UK's most popular holiday destinations and has provided inspiration for many successful poets, musicians and artists. The area has many lakes and several mountains, also known as 'fells'; including Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in the country.
The quaint Newby Bridge is a popular launch site in Cumbria, overlooking the busy River Leven that flows in to Lake Windermere. Situated in the Lake District, you will be able to see many water sports enthusiasts taking to the water throughout the year. The Newby Bridge Hotel was one of the first manor houses to be built on the shores of Lake Windermere, the largest natural lake in England.
Close by is the industrial town of Barrow-in-Furness. Often associated with iron and steel works, the town grew rapidly in the industrial revolution to become a major shipyard. If you end up near its peninsula, you may see Piel Island across the harbour complete with its abandoned medieval castle.
Alternatively, you may wish to set off on your hot air ballooning adventure in Dalemain, near the market town of Penrith, complete with its fourteenth century castle that was built to offer some defence in case of a Scottish invasion.
If your balloon flight takes you north you are likely to encounter the city of Carlisle. Originally a Roman settlement built to serve Roman soldiers that were based at Hadrian's Hall, Carlisle is known as the 'Border' City and is the main cultural and commercial hub of the county. There is also an affliction placed on the city known as The Curse of Carlisle, invoked by Archbishop Dunbar in the sixteenth century, so be wary if you are planning a visit!
Throughout history, Cumbria has been known as a common area of attempts to invade the country from the north. Hadrian's Wall was built as one of the main fortifications built across Great Britain by the Romans. Most of the wall is intact to this day and has become the most popular tourist attraction in the north of England and is accepted as one of the most important monuments remaining from the Roman Empire.
Wherever the wind may guide you, a hot air balloon ride over Cumbria is one of the best ways to capture the beauty of the county.
Submitted by Eve Ashwell, Digital Marketing Executive at Virgin Balloon Flights. Virgin Balloon Flights operate the largest fleet of hot air balloons in the UK, offering the experience of hot air balloon rides from over 100 launch sites across the country.
For more information on ballooning in Cumbria visit Virgin Balloon Flights at virginballoonflights.co.uk.

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