Dieppe, Normandy and the Somme

[GSGIRLY]

Hi.,
Im planning a little trip out on my GS via eurotunnel (I get sick just looking at a boat) at the end of june for approx 10 days or so. I plan to go to the Normandy beaches via Dieppe, (my Dad won his DFM there so will be popping into the CWGC cemetery there to pay my respects to his sqn leader who was killed that day in 1942) ..Spend a few days riding round Normandy and then over to friends in the Somme - Orchard Farm run by the Peglers who are both bikers.
Ive already been to the huge American cemetery but wondered if anyone could recomend other places to visit that may not be as widely advertised.. Ive a pile of books listing various sites and i will be taking Major Holts book but am open to other suggestions (clean ones only)

 

[wessie]

Some of the 20th century military sites are very interesting - the Airborne museum in St Marie Église was one I found interesting, mainly as I was there just after Band of Brothers was aired.

Don't ignore the other good stuff. Not far from Dieppe is Fécamp which has an abbey worth visiting. It's where the Bénédictine liqueur was first created. Honfleur is a nice place to visit, just sitting in a café watching the world go by. They have some great markets in Normandy - hotels or tourist offices will have a leaflet telling you where to go on a particular day. Lots of delicious finger food often cooked in front of your eyes.

 

[Wapping]

If you are in Normandy, youl'll not be far from the Bayeux tapestry.

Definitely worth seeing

http://www.tapisserie-bayeux.fr/index.php?id=1&L=1

One little oddity is the Chinese WW1 cemetery

http://www.ww1cemeteries.com/ww1frenchcemeteries/noyelleschinese.htm

And worthwhile reading why they came to be laid to rest there, miles from home.

One last idea.... The small train ride around the Baie du Somme

http://www.cfbs.eu/en/

Which you might be able to take in on your way across to the Somme itself.

 

[franco]

.

Hi, we did a similar trip last year after the Le Mans 24hr race last year and are planning further sorties after this year's race. there's a thread here which documents our travels with some photos. If you're already done the American cemetary, the gun batteries are worth seeing at Longues sur Mer and Pte du Hoc.
Other highlights were the museums at Juno and Utah beaches.
Generally whereever you point you nose in Normandy there's some relic to see, and the roads, scenery, people, food and hotels are generally nice.
Enjoy, and if you see a big Scottish bloke on an 1150ADV in June in Normandy, say "hello can I buy you a beer please"
If you need any more info, let me know

Bon route.../Rob

 

[Timpo]

There is too much for a single trip, and tastes vary as individuals have differing interests in what there is to see. I, for example, have been interested in The Atlantique Wall and the fortifications built by the Nazis from France to Norway, but to someoneelse they are just concrete.....
La Cambe is sobering, a German cemetery wirth 17000 soldiers (iirc) remains in, and then there is anotrher at Orglandes with 11000 in.
Arrowmanche is good, with the pontoons visible from the British Mulberry Harbour, and there is a very good 360-degree cinema that is well worth a visit.

Have a search throuigh the Battelfield section here and you may see things that you want to visit....

Again, you will not have enough time to see it all...... it's amazing!

Timpo.

 

[Wapping]

Aha, I now see where Orchard Farm is.....

http://www.orchardfarmsomme.com/

Here:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?oe=UT...a=X&ei=y4EzUbDSFMar0AWMrYCgDA&ved=0CDEQ8gEwAA

I see your hosts have kindly included some hints and tips on what to see:

http://www.orchardfarmsomme.com/picardy_attractions.php

Really, there is more stuff than you can shake a stick at. Use this to get yourself started:

http://travel.michelin.com/web/dest...ce_and_the_Paris_Region-Amiens/cities-regions

Click on a town and see what ones up.

Use this one for Normandy:

http://travel.michelin.com/web/destination/France-Normandy

 

[Mike Werner]

Dieppe is where the Germans had their showroom for the general who were shopping for bunkers. So every bunker in the German arsenal is to be found there. If you go to the Golf Club of Dieppe, walking on the greens you see many of the concrete walkways under your feet (restaurant is worth a go, the owner is a biker).

Fecamp has an interesting bunker complex which is enormous (including a hospital), but can only be visited occasionally.

 

[Old Codger]

Hi

Have stayed with Martin and Kate several times Top hosts

The Underground Museum in Albert alongside the Town Hall is a cracker

Lochnagar Crater worth a look Only an eccentric englishman could purchase a hole in the ground

The Tunnels (carrierre) dug by the Kiwi,s under enemy lines on the outskirts of Arras outstanding Not the naff fairy grotto ones in the town
http://www.greatwar.co.uk/french-flanders-artois/museum-wellington-quarry.htm

Thiepval Memorial and Museum

Please ask Martin if he has had any joy gaining access to the tunnels under Combles yet ?

More history down there than you can shake a stick at

Bon Voyage Frank

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Might be worth a quick look here........................

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=329529

 

[CuzGS]

Youre not a million miles from Pegasus Bridge, well worth a visit.

Tell Madame Gondree youre dad has a DFM and youll be well loked after at the cafe

 

[Riders Rest]

Here you go http://www.ridersrest.eu/documents/dday.zip. Say hi to Martin and Kate from us at Ridersrest...

 

[Riders Rest]

Sorry the link is a zip file which contains most of the DDay waypoints or points of interest in a GPX file, along with a word document explaining what is at each waypoint. Should give you loads of ideas of where to go and what to see on your trip...

 

[GSGIRLY]

thank you

Thanks to all who sent me a reply.
Im booked on the tunnel now and am planning my route, places to stay and visit now.
Cheers to you all!

xx

 

[Peirre O`Bollox]

Bump

Advice required please.
I`ve spent some time searching the forum, but I`m starting to suffer information overload, so I put myself at the mercy of the members here.
I`m planning to stay at orchard farm in July, and would like to ask what historic sites you`d recommend I visit in the local area with just a day to take in the Highlights.
As I have only 2 nights booked at Orchard Farm, this leaves me the end of the 1st day riding up from Munster (France) to see any sites on route, the whole of the following day (for the 2nd night) to tour around the area which I figure going to Albert will feature, then whatever I can squeeze in on the route up to Zeebrugge for the ferry. Where I`m hoping to pass by the Menin gate.

 

[Glyno]

Thiepval memorial to the missing and visitor centre, make that your first stop. It will give you an insight as to what happened in the area and theres loads of info available should you want to visit anywhere else in particular.
Excellent museum in Albert Basilica. That should fill your one day. "Corners" pub in Albert do good wholesome grub. Enjoy the trip.

 

[ricardo]

Being from Accrington, the Pals memorial at Serre was a very special place to visit a couple of years ago. Half a mile off the road down a farm track.

http://www.pals.org.uk/visit.htm

 

[Peirre O`Bollox]

Thank you Gentlemen.
The Serre road sites and the Albert Museum will no doubt keep me occupied enough for the day

 

[GSGIRLY]

Orchard FArm is in Combles and the village has some interesting bits. Find the Guards Cemetery on the outskirts of the village and walk towards the farm called Falfemont farm. There is a track heading up hill between two fields towards Leuze Wood at the top of the hill. Half way up the track is a huge electric pillon thingy.. here turn left straight across the field. You will find the field grave of Captain Richard Heumann, CSM Mills and Sgt Torrance. ITs still maintained by the CWGC so dont worry about walking across the field as the farmer is used to it! They were buried where they fell attacking the germans in Combles. VEry humbling.
CArry on up the hill and walk round the left side of the wood.. its private.. and at the top left hand corner just in the woods you will find a german bumker. When i last visited it was surrounded by unexploded ordiance that the farmer ploughs up each year.. so be careful! Theres also a private memorial attached to the side of the bunker to a london regiment officer who fell nearby.
Take a look at the private memorial cross on the right hand side of the road as you leave Combles.. behind Orchard Farm garden. Its to Captain Cedric Charles Dickens who was kia nearby and buried. His grave was later lost but the family bought the land on which the cross now stands. He was a grandson of the famous Charles Dickens.
Hope thats of some help and send my best wishes to Katies and MArtin at Orchard Farm!!

 

[Glyno]

My Great uncle is buried in Combles. Always visit when Im up that way.

Orchard FArm is in Combles and the village has some interesting bits. Find the Guards Cemetery on the outskirts of the village and walk towards the farm called Falfemont farm. There is a track heading up hill between two fields towards Leuze Wood at the top of the hill. Half way up the track is a huge electric pillon thingy.. here turn left straight across the field. You will find the field grave of Captain Richard Heumann, CSM Mills and Sgt Torrance. ITs still maintained by the CWGC so dont worry about walking across the field as the farmer is used to it! They were buried where they fell attacking the germans in Combles. VEry humbling.
CArry on up the hill and walk round the left side of the wood.. its private.. and at the top left hand corner just in the woods you will find a german bumker. When i last visited it was surrounded by unexploded ordiance that the farmer ploughs up each year.. so be careful! Theres also a private memorial attached to the side of the bunker to a london regiment officer who fell nearby.
Take a look at the private memorial cross on the right hand side of the road as you leave Combles.. behind Orchard Farm garden. Its to Captain Cedric Charles Dickens who was kia nearby and buried. His grave was later lost but the family bought the land on which the cross now stands. He was a grandson of the famous Charles Dickens.
Hope thats of some help and send my best wishes to Katies and MArtin at Orchard Farm!!

 

[PETELU]

Combles visit

Me and my two sons were there last week staying at Martin and Kates bb amazing hosts,food beer and wine really looked after us,Martin planned some routes and info for us to go out on the bikes.We walked up around the local area found the Guards cemetery and the bunker,visited Thiepval,Beaumont Hamel trenches,the South African memorial,Vimy Ridge,the Lochnagar crater,a compelling and sombre trip,so much to see.We also called by the V2 museum south of St Omer on the way down.