In our day dreams of flying, it’s usually the sensation of freedom which we focus on. But in reality, one of the best things about flight is, paradoxically, the land. Flying over a barren plain or a desert, or travelling in a jumbo jet with tiny windows, is nothing compared to soaring through clear skies above a beautiful and dramatic natural landscape. In England, there’s no better place than the county of Cumbria. In the far northwest of the country, boasts two National Parks, the Lake District which occupies about a third of the total area, and the edge of the Yorkshire Dales on its southern border, as well as two designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the North Pennines and the Solway Coast. And if you exchange the limited visibility of a commercial plane for the large windows and 360º views of a helicopter, you’ll be living out your wildest fantasies for real.

It’s not just the scenery that makes a helicopter flight in Cumbria special. While going up in a traditional one is a wonderful experience, you can also choose a more unusual aircraft for your flight - a gyroplane. Also known as gyrocopters or autogyros, these use forward propulsion systems like you find in planes alongside a rotor which generates lift. The real advantage of these machines over both helicopters and planes is that they’re open cockpit, giving the pilot and passenger unrivalled views of the spectacular scenery. You have a lot of choice when it comes to the aircraft, the air strip and the sightseeing route, the fact that there are great prices across the board makes the decision even more difficult!

Where are the best places to go on a helicopter ride in Cumbria?

• The Lake District: If you’re keen to go for a ride in a helicopter, you’ve probably got a head for heights - so why not go on a tour of the highest mountains in England? Scafell Pike, Hevellyn and Skiddaw are some of the most iconic peaks in the National Park, each of them rising to nearly 1000 metres above sea level. But this region’s beauty isn’t only thanks to the mountains - as the name suggests, the lakes that snake their ways along the valleys that cut between the mountain ridges are also a highlight.

• The Pennines and the Yorkshire Dales: The Pennines is the name given to the range of uplands that form the backbone of Britain, running almost 300 miles through the north of England. The highest peak in the range is Cross Fell, which lies in this county near the border with County Durham.

• The Solway Coast: Cumbria is separated from Scotland’s Galloway peninsula by an estuary, the shores of which are a unique environment of dunes, cliffs and beaches. This protected area is home to species of birds and butterflies that are hard to find in other parts of the country. If you go flying here, you might share the skies with some of them.

• Scottish Borders: The dividing line between England and Scotland is a natural and historical one. The River Esk which flows from Roxburghshire to the Firth of Solway marks the modern border for much of its length, while the ancient limit of the Roman Empire can still be seen today. Hadrian’s Wall was built from coast to coast across the north of England to keep the people in what is now Scotland out of Roman lands. It passes through Carlisle, which is the regional capital and one of the places that you can start a helicopter tour.

Take off points

There are several air strips in the area where you can start your aerial adventure. Your choice will depend on the area that you want to fly over, and whether you want to get on one aerove or another. Helicopters are to be found at Kirkbride Airfield, which is just to the south of the Solway Coast AONB and is perfectly located for exploring the north of the county. If you want to take a tour of the Lake District, you should head for Tewitfield in Lancashire, and it’s a quick hop across Morecambe Bay to the National Park.

Gyroplanes need a bit more space to take off - though not as much as aeroplanes - so some of the take off locations are different. The Berrier air strip is right on the edge of the Lake District, between the towns of Keswick and Penrith, and so it’s ideal for flight through the valleys of the national park. You can also opt for Carlisle airport, where Hadrian’s Wall and the north are yours to enjoy from the air. Finally, Kirkbride air strip is an option for gyroplanes as well as helicopters.

How long does a tour last?

- There are a range of options for organising a helicopter scenic or pleasure flight in Cumbria and while some of them may seem short, we guarantee that, with all encompassing views and no traffic to slow you down, you get a lot out of every minute in the air. In fact, a quick trip of just 6 minutes means completing a route of around 10 miles, so if you’re just looking for a taste of helicopter flight you can still see a lot. Of course, you can take longer flights to enjoy even more of the landscape. In a helicopter, the options are 15 or 30 minutes.

- It’s in a gyroplane that you can take the longest tours. 30 minute flights are an option, but if you want to cover a lot of ground marvel at the panorama spread out below you, you should go for a 60 or 90 minute tour. What’s more, you can enhance your pleasure flight by turning it into a trial lesson, in which you’ll be given the chance to control the craft during the flight! You can also arrange to have the full experience caught on camera, and take home a video that will keep the memory alive forever.

Requirements to do this activity

Going up in a gyroplane to experience the majesty of Cumbria’s national parks and scenery is a one person activity. This is because gyroplanes are small, two-seater craft, and one of those will be occupied by the pilot. Any adventurer can take the passenger seat as long as they don’t weigh over 16 stone, or 100 kilograms. The helicopters that are available are generally four-seater models, which means that a group of three people can go up together. Weight is also a factor, with a similar restriction on each passenger to that on gyroplanes, and a maximum combined weight as well. This experience is suitable for children over the age of 6 years old, when accompanied by an adult.

The sky’s the limit, and you can get there by one of these aircraft, so which do you prefer?