HIGH in the sky and far in the distance, a tiny dot begins to take shape as it moves serenely and silently through the air. Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it's a soaring, majestic hot air balloon, 3,000ft up, its crew, swinging in the basket below, unable to hear the gasps of admiration from those they pass below. Only the occasional dog bark rises up to pierce their high altitude tranquillity.
The sight of even a single hot air balloon is somehow captivating – but next weekend, weather permitting, 17 graceful bursts of colour will glide across the Strathaven sky as part of Scotland's only ballooning festival.
From Friday to Sunday evening, the flying machines, including two owned by a pair Edinburgh-based balloonists, will dip up and down over the countryside.
If the weather holds strong, that is.
Too wet, too windy or too cloudy and the mass fly will be cancelled. In one of the riskiest 'all or nothing' festivals around, the balloonists could scale the air three times in one day; or they could be grounded for the whole weekend. But even if they can't take off, Alistair Leggate and his friend and original instructor, Mark Stelling, will not be too upset.
The duo have been roaming the skies together for years, and they would be happy to just catch up with their balloon enthusiast friends from around the globe over a pint.
Alistair, from Lothian Road, has been a master of ballooning for seven years. He rides with a team from Edinburgh University, one of only four universities in Britain which takes part in the sport.
The 30-year-old picked up on the hobby in his final year of study and enjoyed sailing the clouds so much that he became an instructor of the sport – the first person trained up in about a decade at the university.
He says: "Most people just enjoy the ride rather than training up to teach, but I liked the feeling too much. You don't have much control over where the balloon goes, you're basically at the mercy of the wind. The unexpected nature of the journey is a huge draw of the sport.
"That is not to say it is a huge risk to fly. In the last 20 years or so there has only been two fatalities, although it is not the smooth ride of champagne and strawberries people think it is. It can be bumpy. You can be dragged 100 metres along the ground."
In a year, Alistair, whose day job is a financial analyst, estimates that he takes around 80 flights, although he admits that "20 is a good number for somewhere like Scotland". You will rarely see a balloon over central Edinburgh because the ever-expanding air traffic zone means balloonists are restricted to surrounding areas, such as Dalkeith and Fife.
He says: "Riding Scotland is completely different, you never take a balloon out when it's windy or you could get knocked clean over. But I like local flights because the weather makes it more challenging. In France you've basically got open fields, so everybody can take off and land. Here you have to dodge crops and animals, especially during lambing season."
Alistair has travelled in his basket all over the world. But his most memorable trip three years ago when he flew 15,000 feet – half the height of an average airplane – over the Austrian Alps. It was so far up that he needed oxygen supplies to survive. He says: "Everybody's seen the postcard pictures from the ground but seeing hundreds of peaks from the air was amazing.
"You can't replicate that kind of view behind the glass or a helicopter or aeroplane. Even if it can get a bit chilly."
Ballooning is more than a one-man effort. Alistair's balloon holds five people, and Mark's balloon takes four. Only once has Alistair enjoyed the serenity of a balloon trip by himself, as part of his training. "You're usually joined by an instructor or people helping man the balloon, so it's a very strange feeling to be alone.
"You're much lighter and you hardly have to use the burner. It was one of those moments that was eerie, but enjoyable too. The only thing you can hear at 3,000 feet is dogs barking. You leave the cars and bustle behind."
But if you want to experience such moments of tranquillity, it will cost you. A brand new balloon and all the trimmings will cost £30,000.
However, there is a credit crunch approach. Mark, who picked up the hobby in 1995, went for a second-hand balloon, which set him back just £5,000.
The 42-year-old from South Queensferry remembers his first flight over Malham Cove, in North Yorkshire, which he found so enjoyable that he bought his balloon – with its skull and crossbones pattern – a month later.
He remembers: "It was black and white, with the pirate sign across it. Some people thought it was inappropriate but I thought it was a bit of a laugh. You can't fly it now, it looks more like a teabag. But I got 340 hours out of it, which is a good rate."
Ballooning makes a change from his day job, piloting planes for Monarch airline. Every year he spends over 700 hours in the sky, but he knows which method of flying he prefers.
Like Alistair, he says being directly amongst the clouds and wind cannot be beaten. "You see everything, without any engine noise or unnatural surroundings. There's just a slightly rocking breeze and your thoughts."
Next weekend's event will see the 17 balloons – most the regular 'tear' shape – drift to the sky. Each balloon will lift half a ton of weight slowly and sensible, so the crew can enjoy the scenery without crashes. Alistair says: "There are rules of the air. The person above always has to give way. We're not in competition, we're just enthusiasts enjoying the hobby.
"The same people from across the country tow their balloons along every year, so it's not like a wet or windy weekend will make it a disappointment. We're all friends and we'll share our tales."
Even if the rain and wind gets in the way, they will always hold a night glow event. If the weather is too severe, each owner will light up their balloon in the evening in a sign of unity and celebration.
• Strathaven Balloon Festival will take place at John Hastie Park, on between 28-30 August. Admission is free. Log on to www.strathavenballoonfestival.co.uk
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