Trip Invite Battlefield trip

[grantmac]

Maybe a bit more than a weekend and probably more sight seeing than riding but was talking to KarlP over our dinner in Verdun about maybe setting up a trip in the spring to take in some of the WW1 sites. Well the main ones anyway:
Beaumont Hamel, Thiepval, Ypres, Paschendale, Ulster Tower. Tyne Cot….
Would be interesting…..

 

[siddo]

Maybe a bit more than a weekend and probably more sight seeing than riding but was talking to KarlP over our dinner in Verdun about maybe setting up a trip in the spring to take in some of the WW1 sites. Well the main ones anyway:
Beaumont Hamel, Thiepval, Ypres, Paschendale, Ulster Tower. Tyne Cot….
Would be interesting…..

Ive done all those and they are well worth visiting.
This site has some forgotten or little known about places to visit. We met the guy in Verdun: https://www.jarrelook.co.uk/Urbex/Verdun/Verdun.htm

 

[leadfarmer]

Add the memorial du Linge, it’s well worth a visit if you’re going anywhere near

Bienvenue

Au cœur d'un champ de bataille un lieu vivant, sensoriel, une marche dans l’Histoire grandeur nature. Au cœur d'un champ de bataille Explorez un site historique majeur de la Grande Guerre Mémorialdu Linge1915 Le 20 juillet 1915, commence au Linge une bataille sanglante qui va voir s'affronter...

linge1915.eu

Also Vimmy Ridge

 

[wessie]

Add the memorial du Linge, it’s well worth a visit if you’re going anywhere near

quite a bit further south than the Somme stuff but a good opportunity to stay at an excellent Logis Hotel
https://www.hotel-panorama-alsace.com/en/accueil/ - has the blue Elegance and Savoureux badges and superb views across Munster to the Petit Ballon mountain.

 

[grantmac]

quite a bit further south than the Somme stuff but a good opportunity to stay at an excellent Logis Hotel
https://www.hotel-panorama-alsace.com/en/accueil/ - has the blue Elegance and Savoureux badges and superb views across Munster to the Petit Ballon mountain.

Funny you mention that one @wessie , we’re actually staying there on this trip. Tonight just inside the French border and tomorrow after a trip down the B500 and other roads back across the border to the place you have listed above

Regarding the battlefield tour indeed there is so much to see starting in Verdun. Down to Hohrod where we will be tomorrow night, then head west. To make it a reasonable long weekend I was thinking mainly of the places of interest on the west side of France so from Ypres, Paschendale down to the Somme and the Thiepval area. You could do all that in 3 days

…. And before I get any smart pompous comments …. I know Ypres and Paschendale are in Belgium.

Let’s see. I’ll try and put something together in the coming weeks.

 

[Wapping]

… I was thinking mainly of the places of interest on the west side of France so from Ypres, Paschendale down to the Somme and the Thiepval area.

?

 

[siddo]

If it's not too far. Fort eben emael is well worth a visit.

 

[ChasMill]

I’d be interested in this if you want company?

 

[grantmac]

ah yes. Before @wessie has another shit fit about my geography, I mean the north part of France below Belgium. And not Brittany…..

 

[wessie]

ah yes. Before @wessie has another shit fit about my geography, I mean the north part of France below Belgium. And not Brittany…..

seems you are falling foul of the Cardinal Point Committee not just me ...

 

[grantmac]

Will put something up shortly in the coming weeks with some ideas and dates and sights to see.
Then we can see how to do it. Probably put the routes and hotel options and those that want to join can go ahead and book themselves.
Idea of timing would probably be 2 full days for the sights. 1 full day for the Somme area. Hawthorne crater, Posiers, Thiepval, Beaumont Hamel and the Ulster tower are all relatively close. If Ypres, Tyne Cot and Paschedale are to be included then another full day. A bit of a ride around and between both locations makes it 3 full days.
I’ll get back with routes and hotel options….

If anyone has any recommendation for accomodation in or around Ypres that would help. Somewhere with safe parking for 1/2 dozen bikes

For the France part I have some reasonable ideas already.
Montreuil and Bermicourt are on the list….

 

[grantmac]

seems you are falling foul of the Cardinal Point Committee not just me ...

Slip of the pen @wessie
I am just too used to referring to that part as west France but of course it’s not.
Northern France

But we are staying in the Paramount Hotwl tomorrow

 

[wessie]

But we are staying in the Paramount Hotwl tomorrow

assume you mean Panorama. Hope it lives up to expectations. Been a while since we stayed there. It's not had enough rooms for my group on recent visits to Alsace, so last time we stayed in Obernai which is lovely.

 

[grantmac]

Yes sorry. Auto correct. The Panorama

 

[grantmac]

So as said I´d put together a rough idea of what I think would be a possibility.
Here it is. I have put this all in day numbers and not specific dates or days as this can then be used in whichever way people want.

Meet day 1 pm in Montreuil Sur Mer.

Hotel will be the Les Hauts de Montreuil with its fabulous restaurant ´´Le Patio´´ Costs per room are around EURO 110 and dinner around Euro 50 for 3 courses excl drinks. Those that find this a bit too much or extravagant there are plenty of cheaper and good options in the town of Montreuil.

Logis Hôtel les Hauts de Montreuil

Les Hauts de Montreuil ligt in het hart van Montreuil-Sur-Mer, een geliefd Frans dorp vanwege zijn historische bezienswaardigheden en monumenten. Het is een gezellig, warm en elegant hotel, op 15 km van het strand van Le Touquet en Berck. Het hotel biedt een Engels-Frans ontbijtbuffet, gratis...

www.logishotels.com

Day 2 ride to the Following sites:

Beaumont Hamel Canadian memorial and Trenches
Ulster Tower Memorial
Thiepval Memorial
Lochnagar Crater
Poziers cemetary

Lunch is optional but there is a MacD close by Albert for a quick fix.
Return to the overnight stay at the Cour de Remi in Bermicourt. Rooms a bit more pricey at EURO 120 per night. Restaurant is a bit cheaper so overall same price.
Some interesting history as the chateau was the British Tank Regiments command centre during WW1.
total round trip km - 183km

Logis Hôtel la Cour de Rémi

La Cour de Rémi is a charming hotel nestled in the pretty countryside of Le Ternois. 9 rooms encourage you to relax and enjoy unforgettable moments. The 18th century farm, completely renovated ten years ago, houses spacious and tranquil rooms. This establishment does not allow pets.

www.logishotels.com

Day 3 ride to the Belgium Battlefield sites:

Cloth Hall Ypres and various monuments in the town
Tyne Cot Cemetery and museum
Langemark German Cemetery.

Overnight stay at t´oud Gemeentehuis in Peolkappele




Those that wish to ride the short trip back to Ypres for the Menen Gate ceremony can do so.

Route for this trip is 128 km. More time will be needed in Ypres for all the sights.

Hope this give you an idea of what would be a possibility. I was thinking of maybe April next year as options

 

[Jeremy]

I'm up for that.

 

[timeandtide]

Hi Grant
If you need/want any advice DM Posh Pete ( he isn’t!).
Ex head of history who used to run very well regarded battle site tours for tossers.

 

[grantmac]

I think I’m good. But if he wants to join more than welcome

 

[karlp]

Up for this

 

[Si Yates]

Hi,

If you're looking to head to the Somme I would highly recommend you contact Terry Berry he owns Hawthorn Ridge Crater. We bumped into him in the 3 pigeons bar in Albert turns out this is his watering hole, also a Logis in town so would be worth staying don't know about parking though as we camped (decent campsite if anyone's interested & a short walk into town).
Back to Terry a really passionate bloke, he bought the Crater as the French farmers were going to use it for land fill he did us and some Scott's guys a tour at the drop of a hat the next day met us by Sunken Road & took us first to the exact spot where the famous footage taken by Geoffrey Malins was taken he explains all the footage of the Lancashire Fussilers etc. then takes you up to the crater absolutely fascinating with him explaining in detail the events & he does this for free only asking for a donation to help keep things running!!
He also holds two ceremonies each year 1st of July being the obvious one & the second on Nov 13th when they blew it up again!

Hope this helps.

(Perhaps a moderator could do something with the attached business card to help get it to a wider audience than this post?)

Hawthorn Ridge Crater Association

hawthornridgeca.com