Bristol Hot Air Balloons
Discussion
Its on this weekend, I remember driving over the seven bridge about 9 years ago on a Friday night and seeing loads of balloons. I may not get a chance to go to the actual fiesta but where can I go to see some of them just in my car.
Do I need to drive into Bristol? I'm coming from South Wales.
Do I need to drive into Bristol? I'm coming from South Wales.
PAULJ5555 said:
Its on this weekend, I remember driving over the seven bridge about 9 years ago on a Friday night and seeing loads of balloons. I may not get a chance to go to the actual fiesta but where can I go to see some of them just in my car.
Do I need to drive into Bristol? I'm coming from South Wales.
Assuming the wind direction is such...Bedminster Down is quite a good spot as its elevated, you can look over into the Ashton Gate "bowl" and you have a good view of the baloons climbing out over the city with the Suspension bridge in the background.....Do I need to drive into Bristol? I'm coming from South Wales.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/29+Bridgwater+...
If you are traveling through the city, avoid the general area of the Clifton Suspension Bridge as its shut to ALL traffic including pedestrians.
You could try The Circular on the Downs (easier to get to from your approach) but chances are it'll be busy and possibly not see much due to overgrowth/bushes etc.
BristolRich said:
Assuming the wind direction is such...Bedminster Down is quite a good spot as its elevated, you can look over into the Ashton Gate "bowl" and you have a good view of the baloons climbing out over the city with the Suspension bridge in the background.....
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/29+Bridgwater+...
If you are traveling through the city, avoid the general area of the Clifton Suspension Bridge as its shut to ALL traffic including pedestrians.
You could try The Circular on the Downs (easier to get to from your approach) but chances are it'll be busy and possibly not see much due to overgrowth/bushes etc.
Bedminster down has good views of the liftoff, but can get really busy. There are other vantage points but as Rich said they are wind direction dependant.https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/29+Bridgwater+...
If you are traveling through the city, avoid the general area of the Clifton Suspension Bridge as its shut to ALL traffic including pedestrians.
You could try The Circular on the Downs (easier to get to from your approach) but chances are it'll be busy and possibly not see much due to overgrowth/bushes etc.
jkh112 said:
Bedminster down has good views of the liftoff, but can get really busy. There are other vantage points but as Rich said they are wind direction dependant.
Came through Bedminster (Down) on my way out of town back home after work (about 8pm) it was packed - Ice Cream Vans, cars parked on the grass in the front of the terraced houses, everyone looked like they were waiting for the night glow. Seemed to be enough space for hundred's of cars there, all well behaved and no s
t parking anywhere...Good view from there tooLordGrover said:
Funny this morning... Beautiful morning, sunshine.
Up went the balloons. And stopped.
Not a breath of wind - I expect they're still hovering over Ashton now.
I went over there on Friday morning, was really weird. The first one went up, hovered, moved off to another direction then reappeared and span off somewhere else. Others just seem to go up and then not know what to do. Loads last night landed close to my house, probably Golden Valley Lane area. Up went the balloons. And stopped.
Not a breath of wind - I expect they're still hovering over Ashton now.
To be fair I think there were concerns with the wind direction taking them off towards Bristol Airport. IIRC they send up a single balloon which reports back on wind speeds and directions at the various altitudes. Once up everyone goes for the suitable altitude - i.e. the direction away from the airport!
We'd prior arranged to go to the Cottage which unfortunatly coincided with the festival. By the time we'd bailed out of the cab in the traffic and walked to the Watershed the centre was rammed - cars and people. Fortunatly we managed to get a ferry PDQ however the queues were building to over an hour long with only 10-15 being allowed to board.
The Cottage whilst busy provided an excellent vantage point of all the traffic not moving on the Cumberland Basin as well as being bathed in full sun and supping cider.
Walking past the traffic on route to get some food there were some pretty depressed looking people in the cars. The busses wernt much better... rammed and steamed up from the hot bodies...
Looked up the net on Sunday am and the concensous was 1hour M32 to Centre, 3-4hours Centre to Ashton Court....nuts to even consider sitting it out.
We'd prior arranged to go to the Cottage which unfortunatly coincided with the festival. By the time we'd bailed out of the cab in the traffic and walked to the Watershed the centre was rammed - cars and people. Fortunatly we managed to get a ferry PDQ however the queues were building to over an hour long with only 10-15 being allowed to board.
The Cottage whilst busy provided an excellent vantage point of all the traffic not moving on the Cumberland Basin as well as being bathed in full sun and supping cider.
Walking past the traffic on route to get some food there were some pretty depressed looking people in the cars. The busses wernt much better... rammed and steamed up from the hot bodies...
Looked up the net on Sunday am and the concensous was 1hour M32 to Centre, 3-4hours Centre to Ashton Court....nuts to even consider sitting it out.
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