Normandy June 09

[rocks]

In 2006, I by happen stance made it too Normandy on my way back from the Picos on the 6th of June and spent a fab day watching the celebrations and visiting museums. I swore i would go back, but not had the chance.

Thinking of doing a week visit, going over on the 4th and coming back around the 11th or 12th and doing a WW2 battle field tour as it were. I have several guide books and fancy doing a trip around the beaches, some of the more far flung places inland.

The questions is, when got france in 2006 it was mid may and most campsites were still closed as the season had not started. Any one able to recommend a good campsite in the region? And know if its likley be open?

Also ferry prices seem blooming high to cherbourg, any discount deals out there. I am struggling to find any? Can get a dover-calais for £34 return, so £103 from portsmouth to cherbourg seems pricey. I fancy avoiding the ride from calais through to normandy if i can, if not, will do a "bunker visit" on the way as loads to see.

 

[shuck raider]

Some campsites at Arromanches discussed here

Sorry can't help on discounted ferries but you could try travelling to say, St. Malo or Le Havre, not too far from the Beaches

 

[Baz]

We're going in May, getting the fast ferry from Portsmouth. It is more expensive, but avoids 300 miles of boring motorway each way. When you factor in the fuel there probably little difference.

Baz

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

BMW Club are doing one, on this site,

http://www.camping-cote-de-nacre.com/en/index.htm

Its a public 4* campsite and your welcome to join us there, you dont have to be a member of the BMW Club, there already about a dozen non members onsite, approx 50 going in total so far, its a public site,
book your own ferry, and book directly with campsite, choice of accomadation, chalets / camping, no additional rally fees, public site all welcome.

duration 3/6/09-10/6/09, but book any number of days you wish

The East Anglia section are holding a Rally in Normandy over the weekend celebrating the 65th anniversary of the D Day landing, the location looks to be "Camp Du Nacre" at Sur Aubin Sur mere, right in the centre of things,
This will be a landmark anniversary for D Day and expections are that the celebrations will be impressive.
The Campsite has a mix of Chalets and camping and has all the facilities you would expect on a 4**** site





Organiser ;
Mark Handley,
PM me on here if you want more details

 

[rocks]

Thanks

Thanks Easy.. sounds like a pretty good site and it is indeed well positioned to get to most places. Prices aren't to bad either.

Nice to know other bikers will be about. I am keen wargamer for my since, and have a fair few historical books and maps so just generating a list of things i want to see.

In 2006, i had a long stop over at Point de hoc and was there when the American ambassedor made his visit with armed CIA guards. It was full of re-enactors and was a great fun.

My one tip for anyone going, take a torch.. there are no lights in side some of the block houses and so if you want to go into the lower areas, you need a torch. Luckily I had a little mag light with my last time.

 

[shuck raider]

My one tip for anyone going, take a torch.. there are no lights in side some of the block houses and so if you want to go into the lower areas, you need a torch. Luckily I had a little mag light with my last time.

If you like underground stuff, have a look at the German battery at Azeville, incredible maze of tunnels and rooms

 

[Big Lee]

If you like underground stuff, have a look at the German battery at Azeville, incredible maze of tunnels and rooms

I went there a couple of years ago, fantastic place

See how much the ferry into St Malo is. Theres a very good camp site over looking the port with old german pill boxes dotted over the camp site with the holes from the allied guns in them!

 

[Joybringer]

http://www.camping-cote-de-nacre.com/en/index.htm[/url]

Stayed at that camp site last year - Yelloh have a string of sites across France, and I always try to stay in one, as they're very well run.

Most pitches are on a slight slope, but nothing too bad, and most have a power socket nearby. There's an extra cost for this, and you just need a basic French-plug adapter thing.

Each pitch has enough room for 2 tents and bikes, if you wanted. Didn't see many shaded pitches, but last June wasn't exactly blisteringly hot.

They have regular security patrols around the site, which was welcomed, but I got bollocked for playing my phone too loudly at 22:30ish! At least it keeps the pesky kids quiet.

Showers and toilets were kept absolutely spotless. On-site mini-market is good, especially the warm croissants and breads in the morning.

The bar and restaurant is OK - great pizzas. Didn't venture into the town, but riding through, it didn't look as though it offered much in the way of bars/restaurants/shops etc.

It wasn't too busy with screaming kids last year (D-Day time), but was fully open.

The extra money spent on Portsmouth to Caen/Le Havre is well worth losing the tedium of the roads from Calais.

JB

 

[rocks]

Going..

Defenitely going now..
Ticket will be booked shortly.
Have a growing list of places and site I want to go too, including the operational areas of the 6th airborne, merville battery, each of the beaches and more.. The atmosphere was great last time, so really hoping to explore more and have more time to look at each site I visit.

 

[QuickNick]

Been and going again

Went last year and going again end of June, booked with LD Lines Portsmouth to Le Havre return £40 to £45 monday to saturday but depends on what days you travel, and thats seat only and does get dearer the later you leave it to book. Sorry I don't know how to put up a link but they're easy to find.
We left Portsmouth 11.30pm getting into Le Havre 7.30am, following a gentle pace overnight and a few hours kip and all day to amble down to Arromanches. Left Le Havre at 5.30pm back in P'mouth at 9.30pm. We met a couple on a Tiger who were going to stay in a Travelodge for the night and go back up to N Wales the following day last year.

 

[Joybringer]

Scratching chin....

Hmmm....looking at maybe going again.

Maybe meet up??

JB

 

[Trippy]

Did the same last year and stayed at a site recommended by MikeP.
Wanted to be a bit further down as the coastel area is quite 'busy'.
Stayed at the Municipal site in Falaise, the site is under the walls of William the Conquerors castle and a five minute walk to the town centre.
It is small, well laid out, clean and very cheap (£5ish a night).
On one day we rode south a little doing a 180 mile loop that took us through some lovely forests and through the WW2 battle area known as the Falaise Gap.

 

[tommymoto]

Already booked up for this with the wierdy beardy club.

Then in August I'm off to the Rhurr valley for the 'Dambusters' Tour with the Royal Legion Riders Branch.

 

[Joybringer]

I'll be at the Cote de Nacre site from 4 to 8 June - will try and meet up for a beer and/or ride out??

Yoy

 

[rocks]

Booked in

I am booked in, from the 3rd to the 13th.. June.
Their website is having problems, so if anyone else wishes to book.
Book via the telephone; 0033 2 31 97 14 45

I am on a ferry from Poole to Cherbourg, due to the majority of Brit Ferry routes now being fully booked.

Got a growing list of places to visit.

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

Ok all, There's about 50 plus now booked onto the "Camp Du Nacre" site if anybody's experiencing difficulty’s booking in please ring me on 01354-740908
(leave a message if no answer and I'll ring you back.)


Cheers

Mark

 

[JethroDog]

share a spot

Has anyone booked a pitch that they would like to share (space and cost)? I will be riding out solo from Mainz (Germany) and I read on another post that the pitches would accomodate two tents....and the Frenglish at the website is too much for me to undersatnd! I'm planning on arriving on the 4th and my departure is open. I don't snore and my phone rarely rings.

Christopher

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

There is approx 60 going to be on Camp Du Nacre over the d-day event, (mix of UKGSER / BMW Club) anybody want to join us just contact the site direct on the following number to book in


June 3rd - 10th, 65th D-Day Rally, Normandy, East Anglia Section
Up to a week in the heart of the D-Day landing area for the 65th celebrations, info pack on arrival, ride outs, unmissable event.
Camping / Chalets at Camping Cote De Nacre at Sur Aubin Sur Mere, Superb 5* site with pool, Bar, Restaurant, Take away food, book your accommodation direct with the campsite, 0033231871445, http://www.camping-cote-de-nacre.com/en/pitches_normandy.htm
Arrange your ferry crossing to suit your chosen duration, E/Anglia members onsite from 3rd-10th/June, approx 40 already booked, Early booking recommended, For more information contact Organiser: Mark Handley 01354-740908, [email protected] details also on East Anglia section forum http://forum.bmw-club.org.uk/index.php


Seats Available For a Coach Trip To Sainte-Mère-Église on Saturday the 6th June for the Evening Celebrations – Departs Campsite at 16:00 Hrs ---- Departs Sainte-Mère-Église to return at 23:00 Hrs

£10 in advance, checks made payable to “BMW CLUB” to;

Mark Handley
19, Doddington Road,
Wimblington,
Cambs
PE15 0RA

Booked on site
Seats are £12 / Euro 13

Location Map;

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

Details for ride-outs etc;


Wed 3/6 Arrivals Day

Thurs 4/6 Arrivals, and local individual trips

Fri 5/6 some arrivals and a ride out, Eastwards from campsite , visiting Grand Bunker Museum, Merville Battery, Pegasus Bridge / Museum finishing at the "Café Gondrée" (*note Some admittance fees on this ride-out)

Saturday 6/6 D-Day anniversary day, list of events in welcome pack,

Saturday Coach Trip to Sainte-Mère-Église for evening celebrations.
ENSURE YOUR PLACE AND PRE-BOOK TO SAVE

£10 PER PERSON PREBOOKED, £12 ON THE WEEKEND
Please make cheques payable to the "BMW Club" and send to;
Mark Handley
19, Doddington Road,
Wimblington,
Cambs,
PE15 0RA

There’s lots going on in the town on the Anniversary Evening,, Bars, BBQ, Music, there will be time for a visit to the Airborne Museum as well, There will be a small charge for the coach trip, and if you go to the airborne museum there will be an admittance fee.



Sunday Ride Out, Westwards from campsite to marshes south of Sainte-Mère-Église to watch 550 paras jump from aircraft, then back via Pont du hoc, the Longues battery, Arromanches, and the Mulberry viewpiont.

Monday Full day Ride out to Mont St Michael

Tues Some departures, individual trips

Wed Final Departure Day

Some useful waypoints & info;

 

[Joybringer]

Pitch for sale!

Peeps

Due to a change in plan, I won't now be going to Normandy.

I have a pre-booked pitch (number 147) from 4 to 8 June inclusive, so if anyone wants it before I cancel with Yelloh!, PM me and we'll sort it out. I've paid only the deposit of €15, with a balance to pay of €46.60 on arrival.


Cheers

Yoy