RECOMMENDED BUS TOURS OF THE WESTERN FRONT

[Matthew]

My 14 year old son and I are planning our first trip to the Western Front next summer. I had been thinking about either hoofing it by train and bus; trying to follow in my grandfather's footsteps. My wife has pointed out that I am not as young as I think I am and that this might be unwise.

My alternative would be to drive but this would, I feel, distance me a bit from what I want to experience and make it less enjoyable. Hence my thinking about joining a small bus tour. Has anyone any experience of these and any recommendations?

[truthergw]

Lots of posts on the subject, Matthew. I will just add that I have been on one to the Arras area and thoroughly enjoyed it. I am off on another next year to a different area and already looking forward to it. Use the internet, lots of companies offer them and most will send a brochure if you ask. The only advice I would offer is that you go with the larger well respected companies. I have been disappointed a couple of times when tours I had booked were cancelled due to lack of interest. Less likely with a big popular tour but book soon!

[Matthew]

I did try and see if there were previous posts but must have used the wrong search term; I'll try aagain.Thanks for the advice though.

[charliebrady]

Hello Matthew,

As said, you'll find plenty of tour companies and no doubt many different recommendations !

If you want any info on training it and then walking, I'll be only too happy to pass on any tips from my own experiences (some good, and some not quite so!) . Walking is certainly the way to do it; the first time I ever went to Ieper I walked along the battlefield to Passchendaele (now Passendale), taking all day and getting back to Ieper by local bus. Tiring, and the old legs wouldn't stand it now, so I take the bike with me by train. You can hire bikes in Ieper by the day or longer, and you could also in Albert, but I think that particular bike shop has closed, although there is a good shop on the Hotel de Ville square who may help.

There is a very good local bus service, de Lijn, in the Ieper area so with some planning it is possible to walk a lot of the area: not so further south though, where there are no local buses in the Albert/Bapaume areas. It is possible to spend an enjoyable time based in Albert, walking, and some trains between Arras and Albert/Amien call at Achiet.

Of course, it all depends on where you want to go and how much you want to see on your first visit.

Good luck, John

[stevem49]

You could drive to the Battlefields, then hire a bike or do daily walks of the area (s).

Cycling the Salient is a wonderful way of getting to know the Battlefield. As is doing the walks.

Once in the area you cold also take one of the local mini bus tours.

Steve M

[willy]

My 14 year old son and I are planning our first trip to the Western Front next summer. I had been thinking about either hoofing it by train and bus; trying to follow in my grandfather's footsteps. My wife has pointed out that I am not as young as I think I am and that this might be unwise.

My alternative would be to drive but this would, I feel, distance me a bit from what I want to experience and make it less enjoyable. Hence my thinking about joining a small bus tour. Has anyone any experience of these and any recommendations?

The western front is a big place! which areas do you wish to visit? do you have any specific areas of interest?

[Matthew]

Everywhere! I've read so much about it that I'd like to see the lot! Seriously though I suppose I'd like to combine a general first introduction with perhaps visits to Monchy and Pozieres to follow the 37th Division and my grandfather. My son has joined the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment cadets so it would be good to pick a 'Lancashire' theme as well. Realise that this may be a rather broad scope but its the best I can come up with.

[willy]

Everywhere! I've read so much about it that I'd like to see the lot! Seriously though I suppose I'd like to combine a general first introduction with perhaps visits to Monchy and Pozieres to follow the 37th Division and my grandfather. My son has joined the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment cadets so it would be good to pick a 'Lancashire' theme as well. Realise that this may be a rather broad scope but its the best I can come up with.

well i have been visiting for the last 40 odd years, and there are still many places i have not visited! best you go for a somme based visit for a few days, then maybe move onto ypres, or the other way around, there are plenty of tour firms offering this, but if you put in the research first, a self drive tour is a must at some stage, maybe employing a local reputable guide for a day or so to get some added depth.

[Roger H]

The general advice from forum members is not to try and do too much at once and keep a proper record of all photos taken etc. because once you are back one cemetery looks fairly similar to another! You can always go back

Roger

[willy]

The general advice from forum members is not to try and do too much at once and keep a proper record of all photos taken etc. because once you are back one cemetery looks fairly similar to another! You can always go back

Roger

first shot of any cemetery should always be the name inscription by the entrance!...really helps later.

[trenchtrotter]

Decide where you want to go ie Somme , Ypres etc. As others have said stick to one area or perhaps three days here and three days there...no more.

Read up and then go for it independantly. If you have done your research and bought a guide book a self tour is far the best option.

TT

[Chris_Baker]

Try not to spend all your time at cemeteries. It is very easy for a battlefield trip to become a cemetery crawl, as they are compelling, fascinating places. Take a look instead at the landscape - relate it to the trenches or to a battle - and your understanding of how the war was fought will skyrocket. I agree with TT - do your homework and travel independently.

[auchonvillerssomme]

I agree, you can get cemetery exhaustion and if your companion isn't as enthusiastic as you then it can be a drag for them and you if you have that continuous whine in your ear. And don't be tempted to hire a bike on your first trip unless you are relatively fit and a regular cyclist, look at the lie of the land first. Might sound good cycling down sunny country lanes, but its really not the reality.

[Matthew]

Had a look at the Holts tours and especially their general Somme introduction. The problem is that their dates may not fit with the school holidays. Accordingly I may have to go on my own but pick up on a point made here about using a local guide.

[Ian Riley]

Everywhere! I've read so much about it that I'd like to see the lot! Seriously though I suppose I'd like to combine a general first introduction with perhaps visits to Monchy and Pozieres to follow the 37th Division and my grandfather. My son has joined the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment cadets so it would be good to pick a 'Lancashire' theme as well. Realise that this may be a rather broad scope but its the best I can come up with.

Matthew,

Congratulations to your son on joining cadets badged to the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border). I presume that your part of the world is within the WW1 recruiting area of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment (which went into the Loyals and then the Queen's Lancashire Regiment and now the Duke of Lancaster's). If you are looking at a West Lancashire theme you could follow some of the story of the two Territorial divisions. the 55th (West Lancashire) or the second line divsision, the 57th (Second West Lancashire) Division. The 55th is generally better documented with a short history by the Rev. Canon J O Coop, the senior divisional padre, The Story of the 55th Division (available in reprint). The divisions were made up almost entirely of battalions from infantry regiments that have now formed the Duke of Lancaster's; the present regiment also has the traditions of the east Lancashire regiments.

A one day (or less) visit that followed a 55th (West Lancashire) theme could be one of

• Guillemont on the Somme (August 1916) - a very compact area, a small battlefield with heavy casualties, an attack over-hastily arranged against the eventual advice of the divisional commander. This is out to the eastern edge of the Somme battlefield; Guillemont, a very nice village, is not a tourist village!
• First three days of the Passchendaele campaign (Battle of Pilckem Ridge) (July/August 1917) forward from the village of Wieltje a few kilometres outside Ieper/Ypres or the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge in September 1917 (almost on the same ground NE of Ypres/Ieper and easily accessible from the town by bike) - very convenient to the accommodation, museums, restaurants and campsite of Ieper
• Givenchy and Festubert, about 6 miles NW of Lens, site of the intense defensive battle fought by the 55th Division in April 1918, when the division blocked the German attack. Givenchy is the site of the divisional memorial. Interesting but a bit out in the sticks and not generally on the battlefield tour route apart from more specialist tours.
• Epehy, south of Cambrai, where the 55th Division, heavily over-extended, took a bit of a battering in the German counter-attack at the end of November 1917 that followed the intial successes of the Cambrai battle. I am afraid that the only time I visited (November 2008) it was completely shrouded in mist as it had been in November 1917. Again, off the tourist track

All of these involved two territorial battalions of the Loyal North Lancs within the twelve infantry/pioneer battalions all of which are now represented within the Duke of Lancaster's. In fact, now that the 4th Bn Duke of Lancaster's includes a Fusiler platoon based in Bury, the modern regiment incorporates some of the tradition of the thirteenth battalion of the 55th Division, the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers. All of these visits would need some preparation and familiarity with the ground in order to get the best out of them; I would be happy to offer further advice and some paperwork if you care to PM me

Ian

[Matthew]

Ian,

I am very grateful for your advice and scholarship. I think what I will do is get out my large scale map of the areas and plot the places you mention plus the 37th Div ones of Monchy and Poziers (plus some of the totemic locations such as Thiepval). That should give me a feel for where I need to find accomodation and the issues of transport etc. Once I've done that I will, if I may, take you up on your offer for further advice.

Thanks

Yours

M

[20th Division]

Ian,

I am very grateful for your advice and scholarship. I think what I will do is get out my large scale map of the areas and plot the places you mention plus the 37th Div ones of Monchy and Poziers (plus some of the totemic locations such as Thiepval). That should give me a feel for where I need to find accomodation and the issues of transport etc. Once I've done that I will, if I may, take you up on your offer for further advice.

Thanks

Yours

M

If you are thinking of going to the LOOS battlefield, then contact the local museum there by e-mail. They willingly supply A really knowledgeable Guide who will show you all the interesting aspects of the battle---the highlight is a trip up to the top of one of the Crassieres for a birds eye view of the battlefield, then taking you on a personal visit to the amazing private museum there! When I did this with 4 members of my Family 2 years ago, we were charged only 4 Euros each!! ( to help maintain the museum)--we of course made a suitable extra donation in the museum's honesty box. The "volunteer" Guides do it for the love of it----all donations going only to their museum. Not sure if other private museums and local volunteer groups do the same at other battle sites?----try googling this in to find out. If so , you can book these visits ahead and "bingo" your itinerary will be sorted!!. I found that Gilles' enthusiasm and knowledge was "priceless"-he brought the whole battle to life! Have good trip--- however you go.

Beware though--- it's catching!---- Bestwishes. Dave.

[tripit]

Hi Matthew i do not drive , my grand daughter dose. that for me , she chatts for england , we use a tape recorder and a cine camera or rather she dose

also have a a camera set up out side car fixed to wing mirrow. which added sound .

the running commetary is for me as i cannot see. . a bit exstream yes , take your time do not rush the day , even if pusshed for time if on back roade

stop get out and look around if you can listern , make note,s there are some great cafe,s in and around the area , chat to the owners can be very helpfull

and have a good time

cossack

[Matthew]

Thinking that I want to stay in Albert for a few days to 'do' the Great War sites for the first time and then we want to travel to Agincourt, Waterloo and then Normandy. Bit of a military history 'fest'!

Any hotel or hostel recommendations gratefully received.

TIA

M

[willy]

Thinking that I want to stay in Albert for a few days to 'do' the Great War sites for the first time and then we want to travel to Agincourt, Waterloo and then Normandy. Bit of a military history 'fest'!

Any hotel or hostel recommendations gratefully received.

TIA

M

How long are you going for?

[Matthew]

Willy,

I'm in my early planning stages but thinking to spend 3-4 days in the Somme area followed by 1-2 day stops in the Waterloo, Agincourt and Normandy areas.

Yours

M