Buxton Helicopter Rides
Choose from 12 helicopter experiences departing from Moor Grange Farm, from short buzz flights to longer sightseeing adventures.
See the Peak District from a helicopter
The Peak District is familiar to walkers and drivers, but a helicopter offers a way to see it that most people never experience. Departing from Moor Grange Farm near Buxton, you can enjoy the excitement of taking off while the hills, fields and villages provide a distinctive backdrop. It is a memorable choice for someone who has always wanted to fly in a helicopter, or a gift that gives them the chance to finally try it.
Keep it short with a 5 or 8 minute buzz, choose more time for sightseeing, or make the flight part of a bigger occasion. Buxton’s range includes 30 minute tours, Dambusters experiences, bubbly, a cream tea and a Discovery Day package. There is also the Ultimate Co-Pilot option for anyone who would love to sit up front beside the pilot. The grouped choices below make it easier to find the right flight without losing the excitement of the day itself.
Shorter Flights
Flying times of 5-8 minutes, including straightforward introductory rides and selected special packages.
Sightseeing
Longer flights from 10-30 minutes, giving more time for countryside, landmarks and themed routes.
Themed Tours
Four options built around a particular route or theme, with flying times from 8-30 minutes.
Special Experiences
Four alternatives add extras such as the co-pilot seat, bubbly or a longer day-out package.
Compare Helicopter Rides
Compare Buxton’s standard helicopter rides by flying time and price.
6 Mile Buzz Helicopter Flight
The shortest flying option at Buxton. Five minutes in the air is enough to experience lift-off, the climb and a quick look at the countryside around the launch site.
View Experience
12 Mile Themed Helicopter Flight
A step up from the shortest buzz flight, with eight minutes in the air to enjoy the views and see more of the surrounding area.
View Experience
18 Mile Adventure Helicopter Flight
Ten minutes of flying gives you more range from the launch site and more time to pick out countryside and local landmarks below.
View Experience
25 Mile Adventure Helicopter Flight
With around 15 minutes in the air, this option covers more ground and gives you longer to enjoy the scenery before returning to the launch site.
View Experience
20 Min Helicopter Pleasure Flight
A longer pleasure flight with around 18 minutes airborne, suited to anyone who wants more sightseeing time without moving up to the half hour tours.
View ExperienceMore flying time, with particular routes and Peak District sights playing a bigger part in the experience.
Dambusters Helicopter Tour with Cream Tea
An 18 minute Dambusters-themed flight over the Peak District, followed by a cream tea after landing.
View Experience
30 Min Themed Helicopter Sightseeing Tour
Around 30 minutes in the air makes this one of the longest sightseeing choices at Buxton, with time for a broader route and more landmarks along the way.
View Experience
Extended Dambusters Helicopter Tour
A 30 minute themed flight over the Peak District, taking in landmarks linked to the Dambusters story, including the Derwent Valley reservoirs.
View ExperienceHelicopter flights combined with a particular seat, celebration or wider day package.
Blue Skies Helicopter Flight with Bubbly
Five minutes in the air followed by a glass of bubbly after landing. A short flight with a celebratory extra built in.
View Experience
Summer Discovery Day Package
A half day package built around more than the flight itself, combining a five minute helicopter ride with a circular walk and refreshments.
View Experience
Extended Blue Skies Helicopter Flight with Bubbly
Eight minutes flying plus a glass of bubbly after landing, giving you more airtime than the standard Blue Skies option while keeping the same celebratory finish.
View Experience
Ultimate Co-Pilot Helicopter Experience
Take the front co-pilot seat for an eight minute flight, sitting beside the pilot rather than in the rear cabin and getting a clear view ahead.
View ExperienceMoor Grange Farm
Your Buxton helicopter ride departs from Moor Grange Farm, a rural Peak District venue at Taddington Barns, a short drive from Buxton.
Moor Grange FarmTaddington Barns
Moor Lane
Buxton, Derbyshire
SK17 9RA
Flight-day arrangements can vary, so check the details supplied with your booking before travelling.
From the first hover to the Dambusters route
Moor Grange Farm makes a fitting starting point for a Peak District helicopter ride. The rural setting is part of the anticipation, but the real change comes when the aircraft lifts clear of the ground. You feel the movement through the cabin, watch the pilot bring the helicopter into forward flight and begin to see the countryside as a pattern of fields, roads, stone walls and hills rather than a landscape you are travelling through on the ground.
The shorter flights are for the pleasure of trying a helicopter, with 5 or 8 minutes of flying and a quick look at the surrounding area. Choosing 10, 15 or around 18 minutes gives you more time to enjoy the aircraft and the countryside. The 20 Min Pleasure Flight is a useful middle choice, while the front-seat Co-Pilot experience changes where you sit rather than simply adding more minutes. If the occasion calls for something different, bubbly, a cream tea or the Discovery Day package can make the visit about more than the flight alone.
For the fullest sightseeing experience, the 30 minute tours give the pilot more time to follow a wider route across the Peak District. The Extended Dambusters Tour is built around places including Chatsworth House, Mam Tor, Ladybower Reservoir and the Derwent Valley, bringing the area’s scenery and aviation history together in one flight. Whether you choose a short buzz or a longer themed tour, the return to Moor Grange Farm brings the experience back to its starting point – with the chance to look back on what you have just seen from the air.
Before you fly
Which Buxton helicopter ride should I choose?
Start with the flying time. The shorter options give you 5 or 8 minutes in the air and keep the price lower while still giving you the experience of helicopter flight. Flights offering 10-18 minutes of flying cover more ground and give you more time for sightseeing. The 30-minute flights are the longest in the Buxton range and include tours built around specific Peak District sights.
What can I see on a Buxton sightseeing flight?
The named tours are the clearest guide. The Extended Dambusters Helicopter Tour is designed to cover Chatsworth House, Mam Tor, Ladybower Reservoir and the Derwent Valley. Longer Buxton sightseeing flights also take in Bakewell and the Monsal Trail. The shorter general flights cover less distance and are more about the flying experience itself.
Where do the Buxton helicopter rides depart from?
Flights depart from Moor Grange Farm at Taddington Barns, Moor Lane, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9RA. The launch-site section above shows the location and the visitor information we currently have for the venue.
Can spectators come to Moor Grange Farm?
Yes. Spectators are welcome, so friends or family can come along to see you depart and take photographs. Free car parking is also available at the launch site.
What happens if the weather is unsuitable?
Helicopter flying is weather dependent and the flight-day decision is made with safety in mind. If conditions prevent flying, follow the rearrangement instructions supplied with your booking rather than travelling on the assumption that the flight will operate.
How long is my voucher valid for?
UKHR’s listed helicopter ride vouchers are valid for 12 months, giving you time to choose a suitable flying date after purchase.
Are there age or weight restrictions?
The helicopter sightseeing experiences have a minimum age of 6 and a maximum passenger weight of 95 kg. Check the individual experience before buying if passenger age or weight is close to a stated limit.