Somme trip next week

[thedawnpatrol]

two of us are off down to the Somme again next Friday, staying in Arras........can anyone suggest some  interesting places to visit between Callas and Arras on our drive down .............we have been to Vimy a couple of times...........

thank you

 

Julian.

[Michelle Young]

The forgotten 1915 sector. Festubert, Richebourg, Givenchy, Loos. 

[WilliamRev]

I was just about to type a suggestion that you could visit the Loos battlefield when Michelle's post popped up. If you go to Dud Corner Cemetery you can climb to roof of the tower in the southwest corner (ie by the road) and you get a very good view of the battlefield. Or what about Neuve Chappelle? There are two very lovely monuments within a mile or two of each other - the Indian Monument and Le Touret, both well worth a visit.

William

[thedawnpatrol]

Thank you both, they are certainly of interest, i will investige further 

[Loopgraaf]

Total different from British war graves and monuments. The Notre Dame de Lorette French National Memorial & Cemetery.  Nearby is a small museum. It is worth for stop.

[Michelle Young]

The lantern tower is currently undergoing restoration. 

[mebu]

The monuments stated above are all interesting. But, why not put your boots on and walk some of sites? The actual battlefields of Festubert, Loos, Neuve Chapelle, etc are accessible down the tracks and small roads which cross the fields, and sometimes skirt the farmers fields, you can get a proper idea of what went on and how the ground was fought over "in their footsteps".

Peter

[mandy hall]

Next to Notre Dame de Lorette is the Ring of Remembrance.  When heading down the A26, this is our usual stop for breakfast, closer to the motorway and clean toilets.

https://www.arraspaysdartois.com/en/remembrance/the-ring-of-remembrance-an-international-memorial/

At the bottom of the hill to get up to Notre Dame de Lorette is this museum.  Check opening times, usually been closed when we are passing.

https://citypass.lillemetropole.fr/en/60-memorial-14-18-notre-dame-de-lorette

Drop down from the top of Notre Dame du Lorette through single track lanes to Mount St Eloi

https://www.arraspaysdartois.com/en/visit-pays-dartois/visit-mont-saint-eloi/

Mandy

 

 

[Loopgraaf]

The Ring is impressive. And the idea behind the Ring is very great.

[thedawnpatrol]

22 hours ago, mebu said:

The monuments stated above are all interesting. But, why not put your boots on and walk some of sites? The actual battlefields of Festubert, Loos, Neuve Chapelle, etc are accessible down the tracks and small roads which cross the fields, and sometimes skirt the farmers fields, you can get a proper idea of what went on and how the ground was fought over "in their footsteps".

Peter

Thank you Peter, we are in fact spending 4 days walking the Somme battlefields with the help of Paul Reeds excellent book……..but will bare in mind your suggestions for another visit.

12 hours ago, mandy hall said:

Next to Notre Dame de Lorette is the Ring of Remembrance.  When heading down the A26, this is our usual stop for breakfast, closer to the motorway and clean toilets.

https://www.arraspaysdartois.com/en/remembrance/the-ring-of-remembrance-an-international-memorial/

At the bottom of the hill to get up to Notre Dame de Lorette is this museum.  Check opening times, usually been closed when we are passing.

https://citypass.lillemetropole.fr/en/60-memorial-14-18-notre-dame-de-lorette

Drop down from the top of Notre Dame du Lorette through single track lanes to Mount St Eloi

https://www.arraspaysdartois.com/en/visit-pays-dartois/visit-mont-saint-eloi/

Mandy

 

 

Thank you Mandy, we will look these up.

[Don Regiano]

Latest frustration - a relatively new installation of traffic lights on the Albert-Peronne road at Maricourt.  No, not at the crossroads but slightly to the Albert side and the lights are separated by a few hundred yards, those for the Peronne bound traffic are nearer to the cemetery.  The default is red and, unless you go very slowly, they stay red for a very long time.  Of course, once through you can zoom off ignoring the fact that you are still in the 50kmh zone and for Peronne bound traffic you have still to reach the crossroads!  I didn't thinkspeeding was that much of a problem - unlike a few miles further on towards Peronne on the downhill stretch.

[Michelle Young]

Thanks for the heads up Don. I may well be in the vicinity in a couple of weeks so good to be forewarned. Are there any other roadworks around?

[Don Regiano]

8 hours ago, Michelle Young said:

Thanks for the heads up Don. I may well be in the vicinity in a couple of weeks so good to be forewarned. Are there any other roadworks around?

Haven't travelled extensively on this trip Michelle - mainly on the Guillemont - Longueval - Flers - Bapaume road and the odd trip to Albert and Peronne.  no roadworks there.  A26/A1 was clear too when we arrived a week ago.