Maximus Posted 1 November , 2006 Share Posted 1 November , 2006 Hi I want to visit the battlefields of Flanders (passchendaele) Tyne Cot, I have the Ledger's brochure, is it best to book this or is there another way which is better, perhaps if you have been before you can give me advice. many thanks June Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF Kelly Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 I've been on 3 trips with a tour company over the years, including Walking the Salient and Walking the Somme. I had no complaints whatever about the quality of the guides or hotels. I realise that organised tours are not for everyone and if you look back on this forum you'll find many opinions. All I can say is I had a great time. If you have never been before, you can always give it a try once. At least then you will become a little bit more familiar with the area and be in a better position to make your own arrangements in the future. However you get there, I'm sure you will find it an unforgettable experience. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 Whilst I personally prefer to do it on my own, I have talked to a number of people who use tour companies. Obviously they are hectic but useful if you cannot get there any other way. Many do the Salient and the Somme in one trip but you may just get the Salient. Once there you can always do your own thing and not go with the coach. Ypres has minibus tours each day or you can get the bus to Tyne Cot etc. The real beauty of doing it on your own is the fact that you can visit places rarely seen by tours. Either way, I am sure you will have wonderful experience. stevem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
better ole Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 My first trip to the Western Front was with a Leger tour. As mentioned it was frantic but it gave me a taste. The guides knew their stuff and we visited places which could easily have been missed. Don't think I will ever forget the coach driver reversing up the hill toward the Devonshire Trench Cemetery. Apart from a traumatic encounter with Leffe beer, nothing to do with the tour company, (the memorable last day started, for me, with a banging hangover) I have very happy memories of that bus trip. It helped to have about 48 other interested and interesting people around you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyspiller Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 June Have a look at some of the independent tour companies. They can offer a far better trip and can taylor their itinereries to suit your requirements. Rgds Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 My first trip to the Western Front was with a Leger tour. As mentioned it was frantic but it gave me a taste. The guides knew their stuff and we visited places which could easily have been missed. Don't think I will ever forget the coach driver reversing up the hill toward the Devonshire Trench Cemetery. Apart from a traumatic encounter with Leffe beer, nothing to do with the tour company, (the memorable last day started, for me, with a banging hangover) I have very happy memories of that bus trip. It helped to have about 48 other interested and interesting people around you. 'Leffe' ! Try some real stuff - St Bernardus - put chest on your hairs. There is another - voted best in world but we keep it secret cos not much is made. stevem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pieter-jan Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 hello i live nearby the tyne cot cemetery there's a new tourist center at the back of the graveyard with photos and the information of the battle on 11th november there are prefaced conducted tours i will be there also kind regards pj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 hello i live nearby the tyne cot cemetery there's a new tourist center at the back of the graveyard with photos and the information of the battle on 11th november there are prefaced conducted tours i will be there also kind regards pj I would love to be there but this years is impossible. Spare a few seconds to remember my 9th Bn Sherwood Forester men on the Memorial. Most killed in or around Poelcappelle on 4th October 1917. I visited the centre a couple of weeks ago - very moving and I could not tear myself away from the images of the men killed, changing every few seconds as their names were read out. The Panoramic view is also excellent. stevem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Mackenzie Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 I used Leger for my first few tours. The travel arrangements with the coaches and the out of town locations of some hotels started to grate after a while and I now use more specialist guides. However, I really enjoyed the first few trips and met a number of people who have become good friends so for getting a general overview of the main battlefields they are certainly worth considering. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maximus Posted 3 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 3 November , 2006 Hi Guy's Thanks for the info, very helpful. I don't want to waste time as I will only be there for 4 or 5 days, definately want to visit Tyne-cot and the museum, I'm sure there will be so much to see it will also be very sad. Sometimes the tour operators miss a lot of what you need to see so I need to find the best one as I don't want to come back and find I missed a lot. 3rd battle Passchendaele and where it was fought is of particular interest, Hill 60 too. June Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pieter-jan Posted 4 November , 2006 Share Posted 4 November , 2006 there are also tours with the battlefield tours. they bring you of the one place to the other you get also information and it visits: menin gate, tyne cot, and others graveyards. you must be quick to get a place for such a tour with the mini-busses especialy on 11th november kind regards pj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
better ole Posted 4 November , 2006 Share Posted 4 November , 2006 'Leffe' ! Try some real stuff - St Bernardus - put chest on your hairs Steve, would this be one of those Monk brewed TRIPEL's, designed to be sipped and not poured down the throat like water ? I suspect it should not be consumed on an 'empty head'. Sorry to go off subject but beer is something close to my heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Best Posted 4 November , 2006 Share Posted 4 November , 2006 "on 11th november there are prefaced conducted tours i will be there also" Hi PJ Is there a formal programme of events at Tyne Cot for 1100hrs next Saturday? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 4 November , 2006 Share Posted 4 November , 2006 'Leffe' ! Try some real stuff - St Bernardus - put chest on your hairs Steve, would this be one of those Monk brewed TRIPEL's, designed to be sipped and not poured down the throat like water ? I suspect it should not be consumed on an 'empty head'. Sorry to go off subject but beer is something close to my heart. Various ones but the Best beer in the World winner does not even put a label on - just 8 -10-12 %! St Bernardus is indeed a beer to be sipped - also in 8 -10 -12%. Pity I was not told that before downing three of them. Sticking to Passendale tonight! stevem My apoligies also for going off topic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 4 November , 2006 Share Posted 4 November , 2006 Hi Guy's Thanks for the info, very helpful. I don't want to waste time as I will only be there for 4 or 5 days, definately want to visit Tyne-cot and the museum, I'm sure there will be so much to see it will also be very sad. Sometimes the tour operators miss a lot of what you need to see so I need to find the best one as I don't want to come back and find I missed a lot. 3rd battle Passchendaele and where it was fought is of particular interest, Hill 60 too. June Also try and get to Hedge Row Trench cemetery near the Palingbeek. The DCLI and Woods cemeteries nearby also worth going to. The palingbeek cafe also does OXO - lovely on a cold day. Stevem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Linham Posted 5 November , 2006 Share Posted 5 November , 2006 June, I have used Holts Battlefield tours for 10 yrs, in fact being a bit sneaky they formed part of our honeymoon. But as my wife Wendy has now got the bug and has accompanied me on every tour I have no problems. One thing I will say is that I use them as a reece aid and will travel back on our own when we have more time to spend where we want. However way you go enjoy it. Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maximus Posted 6 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 6 November , 2006 June, I have used Holts Battlefield tours for 10 yrs, in fact being a bit sneaky they formed part of our honeymoon. But as my wife Wendy has now got the bug and has accompanied me on every tour I have no problems. One thing I will say is that I use them as a reece aid and will travel back on our own when we have more time to spend where we want. However way you go enjoy it. Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maximus Posted 6 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 6 November , 2006 Well that is VERY sneaky and not the place for your honeymoon, hope you made it up to Wendy June Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Linham Posted 6 November , 2006 Share Posted 6 November , 2006 I promised to take Wendy anywhere in the world if she would bear with me for the four days. It wasnt my fault that she chose North Wales where we had vertical and horizontal rain at the same time. However once my prospective in laws heard what we intended, the family history of her grandfather came out - joined for the Boer war underage, captured on the retreat from Mons and because he was RAMC released in 1915 (we assume he assisted in the repatration of some one seriously wounded) then onto Salonaki. So after the Holts tour had finished and we are on way back to Calais and they annouce some of thier tours for the following year will include on focusing on the RAMC - Wendy says I want to do that, so I have been making it up to Wendy every year with a trip somewhere on the Western Front . regards Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 6 November , 2006 Admin Share Posted 6 November , 2006 Well that is VERY sneaky and not the place for your honeymoon, I spent my honeymoon on the battlefields too- and no I didn't go under duress it was a mutual decison. We got engaged on the Somme. We had 2 weeks of rain, not great as we were motorcycling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan Nix Posted 7 November , 2006 Share Posted 7 November , 2006 June I've visited the battlefields twice, both times on an organised tour, mainly because I was travelling on my own and didn't know my way around. Had a great time, good company, interesting and knowledgable people all with a shared interest in WW1. Choose your tour carefully to make sure it takes in your area of interest and only travel with a company that can guarantee you can make any special visits - you usually need to request these when booking. Have a good trip however you decide to travel. Regards Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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