2012 Tour Dates: 20 April - 24 April & 19 July -23 July & 7 September - 11 September 2012
Tour Highlights
Ideal for first time riders to the continent and/or novice riders
All types of bikes are welcome on this tour
Very experienced guides
Optional motorcycle tuition available from guides using two way radios and used in conjunction with HD video cameras
An in depth knowledge of the area and best roads - (we have owned a property, located only 15 miles form our last stop in
Bagnoles, for over 10 years)
Our guides have an in depth knowledge of military history - we know the best museums and best military sites to visit.
If you are new to motorcycling and are keen to
develop your motorcycling skills on the fantastic French roads then this could be the ideal tour. Similarly, if you have been riding bikes for a number of years but have never ventured abroad
then this is the ideal introduction to riding a motorcycle in Europe.
We will ensure that you experience the best of what France has to offer. In addition, you will be accompanied by extremely
experienced tour leaders who have a wealth of motorcycling experience. During the tour and only if you wish, we will give you riding tips and advice. This is done in a very relaxed manner and
is optional. We carry two way radios and HD video cameras on our bikes, we are more than happy to give you some gentle tuition during the tour should you choose.
The basic itinerary is as follows :-
Day 1: Calais to Honfleur (Approx 170 miles)
Arrival day in France. We can offer a number of ferry options and depending on time of year and availability we may use the
‘EuroTunnel’. The Dover - Calais or Eurotunnel crossing is included in the price; alternatively for a little bit extra we can organise a Portsmouth - Caen, Newhaven - Le Havre
crossing etc.
After a short spell on the motorway to get us out of Northern France, we head towards the coastal road. Our first overnight stop
will be the lovely coastal town of Honfleur. This beautiful town is a superb place to stay. A really picturesque harbour and a favourite haunt of the artist, Monet.
Day 2: Honfleur to St Mere Eglise (Approx 125 miles)
After a traditional French breakfast and short safety briefing we will begin our journey along the
beautiful Normandy coast.
The first days ride will take us along twisty rural roads through delightful villages and beautiful
scenery. There will be plenty of opportunities for photos, coffee and snacks. The pace will be gentle, though some of the roads are challenging.
The route to our hotel will take us past our first D-Day sites, including the famous Pegasus Bridge
which was taken by the 6th British Airborne Division on the night of the 5th June and the Merville battery. These airborne troops were the first to land in Normandy.
Then its on to the coast road and past the beaches of Sword, Juno and Gold and up the cliffs
overlooking Arromanches and the remains of the famous Mulberry harbour. Here we will stop for a short while for a snack, coffee and to visit the 360 degree cinema. The latter is highly
recommended.
From Arromanches it is only a short distance to the infamous Omaha beach and the poignant
American cemetery. Then onto Pointe Du Hoc where one of the most strenuous, dangerous, and
demanding missions took place. Lt. Col. James Earl Rudder’s was ordered to take his Second
Ranger Battalion of roughly 200 men and land on a shingled shelf, scale the imposing 100-foot-high cliff while under hostile fire, and then destroy the six enemy guns. Pointe Du Hoc is now a
memorial to these men and has remained untouched since D-Day.
After a long but interesting day we will arrive at our hotel in the St Mere Eglise area for a well
earned beer, glass of wine and evening meal.
Day 3: St Mere Eglise to Fougeres (Approx 140 miles)
Again up bright and early. After a traditional French breakfast, our first destination will be the
airborne museum at St Mere Eglise. St Mere Eglise is famous for being the centre of US airborne operations on 6th June 1944. It was in this region that many of the 82nd and 101st US Airborne
units (Band of Brothers) landed. Then it is off to the beaches of Utah before hitting the glorious and barely used Normandy roads.
We will overnight in the beautiful but little known town of Fougeres in Britanny. Fougeres is home
to one of the largest medieval castles in Europe - it is a splendid sight and we will make sure you
get time to visit the castle and the beautiful gardens that surround it. It is only a short walk from our hotel - we will then take you to one of our favourite restaurants for a lovely and very
reasonably priced dinner, cooked from locally grown and seasonal produce.
Day 4: Fougeres to Bagnoles de L’Ornes ( Approx 120 miles)
Today, is a pure biking day. We will take you on little used country roads through the beautiful
countryside of Britanny, Normandy and Pays De Loire. We will pass by Mont St Michel and usually take the time to enjoy a splendid and cheap ‘Plat du Jour’ lunchtime meal.
We always visit beautiful Mortain. Mortain is built on a hillside where the Cance river cuts through
rock-strewn gorges to the vast wooded basin of the Sélune river. These gorges offer splendid
walks alongside the two spectacular sets of waterfalls. "La Grande Cascade" is the largest waterfall
in the north and west of France. The town itself was almost entirely rebuilt after 1944, having been the centre of a ferocious battle when the Germans counter-attacked after the allied breakout
at Avranches. There is a memorial to the defenders of Hill 314 at "La Petite Chapelle" on the edge of the town. A viewing platform offers views as far as Mont St.Michel, some 25+ miles away.
Our overnight stop will be in the lovely Spa town of Bagnoles De L’Ornes. This beautiful Spa town
has a very Alpine feel to it with lots of hotels, restaurants located around a magnificent lake.
Day 5: Bagnoles to Calais (Approx 250 miles)
Hopefully the hangovers are not too bad and we are all healthy enough to partake in breakfast.
Then it is time for people to say farewell and head home.
Of course, if you want to stay on and visit other areas of Normandy or Pays De Loire then that’s fine by us.
What You Get and Costs.
The basic cost of the tour is £400 for a single rider in a shared room; £500 for a single rider in a single room and
£650 for a rider and pillion. For these prices you will get the following:-
Return ferry crossing (Dover- Calais)
Four nights accommodation in good quality hotels
Breakfast each morning.
Service throughout the trip of a British Bike Tours guide.
Route maps (digital - Garmin & Tom Tom)
Hotel parking
The following is not included:
Petrol
Travel Insurance
Breakdown cover insurance
Evening Meals
Museum and Chateaux entrance fees
You need to budget around 20 - 25 euros for a decent 3 course evening meal. For lunchtimes we try and use local
bakers for sandwiches/baguettes etc. Evening meal costs are very much dependent on how much wine and beer you drink!!
Schedules
In 2012 the Normandy Beaches Tour is scheduled for 3 dates. These are:
Friday 20 April - Tuesday 24 April
Thursday 19 July - Monday 23 July
Friday 7 September - Tuesday 11 September
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