BATTLEFIElD EUROPE
A motorcycle adventure
across Eureop's Battlefields
A week long tour of some of Europe's major battle sites, from 1066 to World War II...
For illustration purposes only
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All on Tarmac
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Ride your own bike
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Hotel accommodation
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Visit the key battle sites
of Europe including
Ypres, Bastogne, Verdun
and Normandy Beaches -
Ride the Mulsanne Straight
at Le Mans along the way -
Includes Channel Tunnel
and ferry crossing -
Trip commences at Hasting
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£1066 per person
WHAT IS IT?
This is our take on the classic battlefield tour, but with the twist of it spanning multiple conflicts. As part of it we will be visiting some of the most important battlefields in Western Europe. Starting in Hastings and finishing in Bayeux, we will visit Battle Abbey, site of the battle of Hastings, then cross the channel via the tunnel to visit some of the most important sites of the First World War, including attending the moving last post ceremony at the Menin Gate.
Whilst in Belgium we will visit arguably the most significant Battlefield of the nineteenth century, Waterloo, where we will climb the Lion's Mound and visit the farmsteads.
Moving on to battlefields of the Second World War, we will head to Bastogne, scene of some of the most bitter fighting of the Battle of the Bulge where we'll visit the Bastogne War Museum.
We will then head to the D Day Beaches, visiting Pegasus Bridge and Pont du Hoc amongst others. Whilst on the way across France we will also get to ride the famous Mulsanne straight at Le Mans. Start your engines!
This is not just a Second or First World War Tour, but we will visit the most important battlefields in the history of Europe, together with motorsport at Le Mans. A tour with a twist!
HOW IT WORKS
This will be a guided tour with the cost including ferry, hotel accommodation on a twin room basis, plus entry to key museums along the way. Mileage each day will vary, but most days will be around 100 miles, with the ride to Le Mans closer to 200 miles.
The tour will be guided by qualified guides and military enthusiasts David Shaw and Steve Nash.
Riding won’t be overly challenging and will be mainly A roads suitable for any bike that can maintain a road legal speed. We will avoid motorways at all costs. If riders wish to self-navigate and make their own way to the next destination, then route cards will be provided.
WHO IS IT FOR?
This tour is for the motorcyclist who has an interest in the military history of Western Europe, with an enquiring mind and an interest in history. Accommodation is all hotel based on a 3-star basis with breakfast included.
WHO IS IT NOT FOR?
This tour is not for the motorcyclist looking for long rides and European passes. The riding will be scenic and moderately paced. There will be some town riding. The tour is also not for those looking for a deep and lingering experience of the battlefields. Whilst we will endeavour to visit the main sites it will be for the experience of being there rather than deep historical information.
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
The price includes Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais and return ferry from Caen to Portsmouth. It also includes hotel accommodations for each of the seven nights on a twin room basis with breakfast, entry to main museums and the services of two guides.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?
The price does not include fuel, food and spending money. Riders will need to check that their vehicle policy covers them for riding in Europe, and you are advised to take out both breakdown cover and travel insurance. Riders will embark on this trip at their own risk.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?
Firstly, you need a well serviced and road legal bike that is travel ready for a trip of about 1000 miles. Make sure tyres are up to it!
You will need decent riding kit including waterproofs, but most of all bring an enquiring mind and an adventurous spirit. Military fatigues not needed!
TO BOOK
To book please click below and select a ticket with a deposit of £75 and the remainder of the balance due February 2023.
LEAD GUIDES ON BATTLEFIELD EUROPE:
DAVID SHAW &
STEVE NASH
David has been involved with the Speed Shop since April 2021 as a business partner and has an extensive riding history and collection of bikes of his own. David served in the Navy and has undertaken many European rides. He's a good rider, knows his stuff and is a qualified motorcycle guide and first aider. Most of all, he's big into his military history.
Steve Nash first came to the Speed Shop as a customer when he and his son came to ride postie bikes for the day. Since then he's been on several more rides and also put together the Military History Tours of North Devon, which he curated and guided to great success. Steve also has a military background and is an Advanced Institute of Motorcyclists member and a regular Blood Biker.
A great pair of riders to guide the Battlefield tour.
ITINERARY
SUNDAY 7th May
Meet bright and early at 9.30am for breakfast with your fellow travellers at the Route 1066 café, A21 Robertsbridge TN32 5JH
After breakfast we leave for the site of the most famous battle to have been fought on British soil; the site of the death of king Harold and the Norman conquest, the Battle of Hastings. We will visit both the battlefield and Battle Abbey and from here we will head to the Euro tunnel terminal to catch the train to France.
From Calais we travel to Ypres, where we will attend the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate, the departure point for so many “Tommies” in the First World War.
We will stay at the centrally located Hotel Ariane and eat nearby; our first night on the road.
MONDAY 8th May
After breakfast we leave to visit the site of the Battle of Waterloo, the site of the Allies final victory over Napoleon and the defining battle of Europe in the nineteenth century. Climb not only the Lion mound but visit the 1815 memorial museum and the farmsteads.
Our hotel for the evening Martins Waterloo.
TUESDAY 9th May
In December 1944, General McAuliffee was invited by German commander Field Marshall Gerd Von Rundsredt to surrender. He famously sent a one word reply, “ Nuts!”
Today we will visit Bastogne the site where that message of defiance was sent by the American 101st Airborne division, famously known as the “Battered Bastards of Bastogne”.
The Battle of the Bulge, as it became known, was Hitlers last defiant attempt to win the war in the west and the bloodiest European Battle of World War 2.
Accommodation for the evening is the Vayamundo Houffalize
WEDNESDAY 10th May
The Battle of Verdun was the defining battle of World War 1 for the French. Almost 400,000 men were killed here in the longest single battle of the war. Probably the most important and moving memorial to the Battle is the Ossuaire of Douaumont. We will visit this, together with the battlefield and fort Douamont itself.
THURSDAY 11th May
Today we travel from the eastern side of France towards our final destination of the D Day Beaches. We won’t be visiting any famous battlefields today, but we will visit the site of many titanic struggles, Le Mans! This is the centenary year for Le Mans and exactly one month of our visit the famous 24 hours race will be run. In advance of that take the opportunity to ride the famous Mulsanne straight.
For our accommodation tonight we will have the use of three private bungalows at Smile & Braudieres.
FRIDAY 12th May
The next two days will be spent exploring the Normandy Beaches, site of the most significant event of World War 2 in Europe, D Day the 6th of June 1944. We will start with visiting Pegasus Bridge, the site of the fist house to be liberated in France by the Ox and Bucks light infantry. We will then work our way west along the British and Canadian sector, Sword, Juno and Gold beaches to the village of Arromanches, where the Mulberry harbour is still visible.
Our accommodation for the evening is B&B Hotel Ouistreham
SATURDAY 12th May
We continue our exploration of the D Day beaches exploring the American sector, Omaha and Utah beaches. We will visit amongst others, the American cemetery above Omaha beach, Pointe du Hoc assaulted by the US Rangers and the Airborne Museum at
Sainte-Mere-Eglise.
This marks the end of our tour, but it seems fitting that after starting at the site of the Battle of Hastings our last nights’ accommodation is in the town of Bayeux at the Campanile Bayeux.
SUNDAY 13th May
After breakfast in our hotel, we will depart for our ferry home
