A little competition

[JimSmithson]

I visited Valley Cemetery near Vis-en-Artois last week and was struck by the length of its 'approach'. By that I mean the carefully maintained grass strip through a field to get to the cemetery. Here is a photo of what I mean.

I was wondering as I walked back, which cemetery has the longest such approach. Evidence must be produced of any claimants. It must be a grass approach, maintained by CWGC. I have personally been to many which required a long walk but I don't mean lanes or normal paths as an approach.

Jim

[JimSmithson]

Thelus Cenemery which I visited later in the week was not as long but they have certainly been generous with its width!

If you have not visited this cemetery you must do so. It still has a visitors book, not a folder and you can see who has visited since 1979. Remarkable the rise in the number of visitors over these years. Look out for the use of the book by 2 French as a means of communicating!

Jim

[jmoha]

I made a special effort to visit Thelus as it seemed to be so far off the usual path and, I supposed, missed by most visitors to Vimy. I too was astounded to see the length of service of the visitors book. Despite the visitors being few and far between, it was still immaculate, a true testament to the diligence the CWGC teams put into all the sites in their care.

[burlington]

Here are 2 pics of Thelus, one being the cemetery almost from the start of the track.

[Steven Broomfield]

I visited Valley Cemetery near Vis-en-Artois last week and was struck by the length of its 'approach'. By that I mean the carefully maintained grass strip through a field to get to the cemetery. Here is a photo of what I mean.

Jim

Not surprised the poor ruddy dog was tired.

[JimSmithson]

Mo says she was not 'tired', she is an elderly lady and was just resting her eyes a moment when the rest of her body joined in.

Jim

[Tom Tulloch-Marshall]

Jim - if you think that Valley and Thelus are "a walk" then if you ever see the signs below you should probably "be afraid" (very "afraid").

regards - Tom

[JimSmithson]

Will pay a visit and compare - I do not fear - I have seen Year 9 on a Friday afternoon!

Jim

[Michelle Young]

Beehive at Willerval is quite a trek

Michelle

[Michael Johnson]

Dury Mill Cemetery. Teebo can tell you how long.

[Steven Broomfield]

Dury Mill Cemetery.

I suppose most of them are a bit of a stroll from Ontario.

[(nzef)]

Here's the walk to Gwalia Farm Cemetery about HALF way along the path - I'm sure I recall one that took minutes to walk but can't find it at the mo

Cheers

[chrissparrow]

CWGC gives clues:

Willerval is a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, 10 kilometres north-east of Arras. Beehive Cemetery is 1 kilometre north of the village and 600 metres by the footpath from the west side of the D50E road to Mericourt in a place called Lorgette.

Dury is a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, 1 kilometre north of the straight main road (D939) from Arras to Cambrai. Approximately 16 kilometres from Arras travelling towards Cambrai on the D939 is the Canadian Forces Memorial at Dury. 300 metres after the Memorial the Cemetery is signposted to the left towards Dury village. It is located in open fields, and is approached along an unsurfaced track about 500 metres long.

Visitors to this site should note a 400 metre grassed access path which is unsuitable for vehicles and that prior to reaching the cemetery the road name changes to Elverdingseweg. Please note that this cemetery is accessed via very long chemins and these will prove problematic for wheelchair users at certain times of year. Wheelchair access with some difficulty.

Chris