Bailey Balloons have three main launch sites:
Ashton Court, Bristol
Royal Victoria Park, Bath
Llanarth Village Hall, Raglan
We look forward to welcoming you. We have flown many passengers who have different needs including those who are blind, have hearing difficulties, have a physical disability or learning difficulties, or are very unwell. If you would like to fly we will do our best to accommodate you, if at all possible.
If you have any queries or require any assistance please phone us on 01275 375300 or email Info@baileyballoons.co.uk.
If you have any access needs please speak to Clive or Jo Bailey before your balloon flight to discuss your needs, so we can ensure that you can have the best experience possible on the day. Ballooning involves taking off from grass fields and usually landing in grass fields that may be difficult for some visitors. We have managed to fly people who have been told previously there are too many constraints but if we can work out a way for you to fly, then we will do our best to help you do so.
For full details and maps of how to reach us please see the directions section of our website http://www.baileyballoons.co.uk/our-flights/where-we-fly . Alternatively, you can plan your journey by car or public transport using http://www.transportdirect.info to get directions simply enter your postcode and ours, which are:
BS41 9JN for Ashton Court, Bristol
BA1 2DS for Royal Victoria Park, Bath
NP15 2AU for Llanarth Village Hall, Raglan.
Please note we can e-mail flight messages rather than listening to a recorded message if required.
We take off from 3 main launch sites:
Ashton Court, Bristol
Ashton Court Estate is situated two miles from Bristol city centre. Ashton Court is two miles to the west of the city centre and can be found by following the brown tourist signs. All car parking cost £1 except for Blue Badge holders.
The main entrance for ballooning is off the A369 Portishead Road at Kennel Lodge Road, we have keys for this entrance to allow access outside normal park opening times.
By bike: For cycle routes visit www.betterbybike.info
The Avon Cycle Way runs from Long Ashton through the estate to Clifton Lodge.
By bus: A number of buses serve the estate, for more details please call Traveline South West on 0871 200 2233 or visit www.traveline.info
On foot/walking: Pedestrian access points are available via Kennel Lodge, Clifton Lodge and Church Lodge.
By train: The nearest train station is Bristol Temple Meads. For details call 08457 48 49 50 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk Taxis are available at the station. If you require an accessible taxi you can book this in advance, see contact information for details.
Information for disabled visitors to Ashton Court
Mobility buggies are available to hire
Ten disabled parking bays in the Mansion House car park (access via Kennel Lodge Road)
Blue badge holders park free of charge in the allocated disabled bays.
Two disabled toilets are open during daylight hours daily, these are located in the Stables Courtyard.
Baby changing facilities can be accessed from the stables courtyard.
An outdoor attraction with difficult terrain and topography which may present difficulties to visitors who use wheelchairs, those with restricted mobility or who are visually impaired.
The stables courtyard, where a cafe is located, is an historic surface. It’s level but has a cobbled surface that may be uncomfortable for some visitors.
Courtyard café: Flat, but uneven surface.
Royal Victoria Park, Bath
Royal Victoria Park (RVP) is situated just north/west of the city centre on the Upper Bristol Road (A4). There is limited car parking within the park, some at parking meters. Charlotte Street ‘pay on foot’ car park adjoins RVP and provides access to the park directly behind the bandstand. There is an accessible toilet opposite the entrance to RVP on Weston Road in the Golf Café.
By Train: Royal Victoria Park is about a 30 minute walk from Bath Spa Train Station. Head East on Dorchester Street, Turn left onto A3039, Turn Left on to Orange Grove, continue on to Northgate Street, continue straight on to Broad Street, Continue on to Lansdown Road, Turn Left on to Julian Road.
Park and Ride is the easiest way to get into Bath by car. There are three Park and Ride sites located at the edges of Bath, at Newbridge BA1 3NB, Lansdown BA1 9BJ and Odd Down BA2 8PA. There are regular bus services from these sites to the city centre, including Royal Victoria Park. Park for free at the site and pay on the bus to get to your destination. The new low emission vehicles are clean, quick, modern, comfortable and environmentally friendly.
The Park & Ride buses have low floors, designed to be accessible for wheel chair users, child buggies and push chairs.
Convenient and secure locations are available on the buses to accommodate wheel chair users, disabled passengers, buggies and pushchairs.
Llanarth Village Hall, near Raglan
The village hall has free parking and is accessible for wheel chairs with an accessible toilet.
Please note this launch site is in the countryside near a small village so public transport is very limited. The nearest train station is at Abergavenny which is 37 minutes by train from Cardiff and 50 mins on the train from Bristol. Bus services from Abergavenny take 15 minutes go to Pit and then there is a 13 minute walk to Llanarth. Wheelchair accessible taxis are available from Alpha Taxis, Abergavenny on 07727 967144.
Please make yourself known to one of our crew who will be wearing a burgundy polo shirt with Bailey Balloons on it. They will welcome you and tell you when the pilot’s pre-flight briefing is going to be. Please ask them if you have any questions. When the balloon is ready for inflation the pilot will commence the pre-flight briefing which will include a demonstration of the landing position. Again please feel free to ask any questions.
After the balloon inflation, the pilot will ask the passengers to get into the balloon. This means climbing into the basket using two foot holes- it is similar to climbing over a 3 bar gate. If you have access needs we can offer the opportunity to go into the basket before inflation. This is usually discussed before the day of the flight but can also be arranged on the day.
Before you take off the pilot will go through your landing position again with you and ask you to practice. In the large balloon this means sitting on a bench seat and holding on to the rope handle in front of you. Again if you have any problems please ask, but we can discuss this with you before your flight if you would like to talk this through and again we have different options available.
You can lean on the side of the basket as it comes up to chest level and is padded and most people do this anyway! If you need to sit down during the flight the bench seat will be next to you as it runs along the side of the basket. Please note that your view will be restricted when you are sitting during the flight.
The pilot will ask you to sit down and get into your landing positions and hold on. The basket may tip over on its side, which is perfectly normal. On landing, as you will be facing backwards to the direction of travel this means you will be on your back in your seat with your back against the padded side of the wicker basket. The pilot will ask you to stay there until he/she has made the balloon safe and then you will be able to get out of the basket. Again if you need assistance at this stage, the pilot will assist you.
The retrieve crew will come into the field and pack the balloon away. After this Champagne and soft drinks are served on a flat bed trailer where everyone can be seated if they so wish. Assistance to the retrieve vehicle can be arranged.
We do not have wheel chair accessible vehicle but your wheel chair accessible vehicle can follow the retrieve crew so it can be there on landing.
We welcome your feedback to help us continuously improve our service delivery. If you have any comments please phone 01275 375300 or e-mail info@baileyballoons.co.uk
All of our staff receive regular training which includes disability awareness training.
All of our pilots are commercially qualified with a great deal of flying experience and are chosen for both piloting and people skills.
We can offer a list of nearby accommodation and where available, details of their Access Statements for information.
Contact Information
Office Address (Inc postcode): 44 Ham Green, Bristol BS20 0HA
Launchsite addresses:
Ashton Court, Kennel Lodge Rd, Bristol BS41 9JN
Royal Victoria Park, Weston Road Bath BA1 2DS
Llanarth Village Hall, Raglan. NP15 2AU
Last update December 2018 Version 12
