A good base in the Somme?

paul08

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Hi, I am planning on a short visit to the Somme (Vimy, Cambrai, Ypres, Verdun, etc) and am looking for a good place to base myself.

Can anyone recommend a good cheap(ish) hotel, pension, B&B from which I can strike out each day?
 
A highly recommended base......

I can recommend this place. In the heart of Ypres, but tucked away nicely ;), it had excellent facilities and the hospitality was second to none. The female owner, Christine, was very pleasant and a wonderful hostess. :thumb

A minute's walk and you are in the main square with all the restaurants and cafes etc.

I used it to take a group of guys to the sites you have mentioned, they have each since returned with their wives/partners for a short break themselves. It has a rear parking area for the security of the bikes, although it is not under cover. It was a good place to ride out from to the sites and to return to at the end of the day, the Menin Gate is also a minute or two away

The rooms/food/bar area etc were all very good. The price was very reasonable and it attracted a very nice clientele :thumb I have enclosed a link for you.

http://www.albionhotel.be/

I hope this is of use :)

JH
 
Many thanks for those 2 suggestions.

I had picked up a recommendation for Avril Williams' Guest House in another thread. However, on visiting the website, I cannot see any information on the guest house. ie. facilities, rates, secure parking for m'bikes etc. Or am I being dim and failing to see the link to that part of the website? Also, the site does not appear to have been updated since 2008. Are they still open?
 
campsite

paul08 said:
Many thanks for those 2 suggestions.

I had picked up a recommendation for Avril Williams' Guest House in another thread. However, on visiting the website, I cannot see any information on the guest house. ie. facilities, rates, secure parking for m'bikes etc. Or am I being dim and failing to see the link to that part of the website? Also, the site does not appear to have been updated since 2008. Are they still open?
Click to expand...

their is a good campsite neer center of ypres i think it is about 12.50 euros for tent and 1 person or you could have a hut
 
Try

Kate and Martin Pegler

Orchard Farm Historic Centre in Combles

Top notch hosts
 
paul08 said:
Many thanks for those 2 suggestions.

I had picked up a recommendation for Avril Williams' Guest House in another thread. However, on visiting the website, I cannot see any information on the guest house. ie. facilities, rates, secure parking for m'bikes etc. Or am I being dim and failing to see the link to that part of the website? Also, the site does not appear to have been updated since 2008. Are they still open?
Click to expand...

Avrils is still open. Cant remember her rates but she has about 5 twin or double rooms. Most visitors opt for the home cooked evening meal because its quite a drive to the nearest town, Albert. Just flirt an email to her with the dates you want. There is parking available in the barn opposite but over the many years Ive been there there has never been a problem. :thumb2
 
'JH' said:
I can recommend this place. In the heart of Ypres, but tucked away nicely ;), it had excellent facilities and the hospitality was second to none. The female owner, Christine, was very pleasant and a wonderful hostess. :thumb

A minute's walk and you are in the main square with all the restaurants and cafes etc.

I used it to take a group of guys to the sites you have mentioned, they have each since returned with their wives/partners for a short break themselves. It has a rear parking area for the security of the bikes, although it is not under cover. It was a good place to ride out from to the sites and to return to at the end of the day, the Menin Gate is also a minute or two away

The rooms/food/bar area etc were all very good. The price was very reasonable and it attracted a very nice clientele :thumb I have enclosed a link for you.

http://www.albionhotel.be/

I hope this is of use :)

JH
Click to expand...

I have stayed at The Albion twice an will use it again in the future. Excellent base.
 
Tablot House (Toc H)

A unique base in Popperinge, I have stayed there and can recommend it, it is possible to place your bike in the garden but you need to get it over a step through a arch door in the wall, I used sandbags from the garden with a R1200rt no problem
If you stay you get in the museum free, read the website fully to see what its about, and its not pricey :thumby:

Certainly a unique place!


http://www.talbothouse.be/en/index.php
 
I can highly recommend Orchard Farm in Combles run by Martin and Katie Pegler.
Secure parking for the bike along with washing facilities and workshop for bike stuff if needed.
Top notch hosts who are very knowledgeable on the area and history. Martin has his own GS and does trips round the Somme on it.
:beerjug:
 
Glyno said:
Avrils is still open. Cant remember her rates but she has about 5 twin or double rooms. Most visitors opt for the home cooked evening meal because its quite a drive to the nearest town, Albert. Just flirt an email to her with the dates you want. There is parking available in the barn opposite but over the many years Ive been there there has never been a problem. :thumb2
Click to expand...
Just had a response from Avril Williams. She has a new website:
www.avrilwilliams.eu


Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Will find a place to stay and then decide what circular routes to do
 
I have 2 nights booked at Avril William's guest house (Ocean Villas) in Auchonvillers next week.

As it is my first time in this part of the WWI battlefields, are there any must see or recommended sights to see whilst I am there.

I then move on to Ypres for one night and a final night that is still to be decided, although I might head off towards Verdun (as it is in the General direction of home in Germany!)

All recommendations gratefully received
 
Its always a good idea to get a travel book of the Somme and I highly recommend Holts Battlefield Tours book - obviously the one on the Somme. (They do one on Ypres as well as others) Amazon stock them..
I suggest you visit Thiepval Memorial - great new visitors centre there.
Just down the road from that memorial is the Ulster Tower. Two friends of mine, MAureen and Dom run it during the summer months and he does a great tour of Thiepval Woods opposite with its trenches etc. You have to book the visit but its brilliant and well worth it. They have a good cafe there with outstanding views of both front lines that you can still see when no crops about.
Also nearby is Hawthorn Ridge and the Sunken Lane. You may have seen the pic of the lads waiting in it before going over.. most of them were killed minutes later during the attack. If you walk to the top of the lane you will be able to visit a few little CWGC cemeteries in the fields. They are not well visited so I always make the effort to pay my respects..
Newfoundland memorial park and Sheffield Park are also good to visit..
Finally if you do go to Ypres there is the last post ceremony at 8pm every night. The Cloth Hall has a great museum and Tyne Cot Military cememtery and memorial is well worth a visit purely for its size and gives you a real sense of the loss suffered by this Country and commonwealth..
I hope you have a great time and have a beer for the boys :beerjug: ..
 
Have a gander at the WW1 Battleground series. I find them invaluable when Im up that way. Pocket sized as well :thumb

www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/?series_id=28

Have a great trip.

P.S. As GSGIRLY says make Thiepval Visitor centre your first stop then you can decide what else you want to see after that.
Oh ! and say Hi to Avril for me.
 
GSGIRLY said:
Its always a good idea to get a travel book of the Somme and I highly recommend Holts Battlefield Tours book - obviously the one on the Somme. (They do one on Ypres as well as others) Amazon stock them..
I suggest you visit Thiepval Memorial - great new visitors centre there.
Just down the road from that memorial is the Ulster Tower. Two friends of mine, MAureen and Dom run it during the summer months and he does a great tour of Thiepval Woods opposite with its trenches etc. You have to book the visit but its brilliant and well worth it. They have a good cafe there with outstanding views of both front lines that you can still see when no crops about.
Also nearby is Hawthorn Ridge and the Sunken Lane. You may have seen the pic of the lads waiting in it before going over.. most of them were killed minutes later during the attack. If you walk to the top of the lane you will be able to visit a few little CWGC cemeteries in the fields. They are not well visited so I always make the effort to pay my respects..
Newfoundland memorial park and Sheffield Park are also good to visit..
Finally if you do go to Ypres there is the last post ceremony at 8pm every night. The Cloth Hall has a great museum and Tyne Cot Military cememtery and memorial is well worth a visit purely for its size and gives you a real sense of the loss suffered by this Country and commonwealth..
I hope you have a great time and have a beer for the boys :beerjug: ..
Click to expand...
Yes, the reason for my (return) visit to Ypres is to attend the menin Gate ceremony.

Thanks for the other suggestions. I think that Thiepval is where I will start. I also intend doing the Circuit of Rememberance (40 miles starting from Albert) and will make an effort to get to the Ulster Tower.

I just hope that the weather is kind!
 
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