Normandy beaches 2015

Discussion in 'WW2 Battlefields Today' started by slick, Jul 19, 2015.

  1. slick

    slick Junior Member

    The wife and I took a short 4 day break to have a look around the D Day beaches in early June this year. We caught the Poole to Cherbourg ferry and used the budget Ibis in Bayeux as a base. I printed off a few maps from the internet to use along with a road map, and Holts pocket guide.
    We arrived Tuesday afternoon after a rough crossing and a bit of a delay due to the weather. We took a look around Bayeux to get some provisions from Lidl then made our way to our lodgings.
    Our 3 bed room was about £35 a night, was clean and had the usual en suite toilet, shower and TV, also free wifi. No cooking facilities which was to be expected, although the lack of a kettle was a bit of a nuisance, so no early morning coffee or late night hot chocolate. There was a drinks machine in the reception area however.
    Wednesday morning saw us heading for Merville as a starting point, and working westward. We stopped in a cafe at Pegasus bridge for a coffee and criossant....
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    Then headed for Merville battery....
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    At certain times throughout the day, this bunker holds a fascinating sound and light show to try and give some impression of the attack. It was rather good and slightly eerie in the confines of a dark bunker.
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    pensioner1938, dbf, CL1 and 2 others like this.
  2. slick

    slick Junior Member

    After Merville we decided to take a slow drive along the coast road through the various towns, stopping every now and then for a view.

    Courseulles sur Mer
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    Mulberry
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    Longues sur Mer
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    Ending up in Port en Bessin for tea, anyone who`s seen the film "The Longest Day" should recognise this town as the film location for the French commando attack at Ouistreham....
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  3. slick

    slick Junior Member

    Thursday saw us heading off for the general area of Omaha beach....
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    Pointe du Hoc
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  4. slick

    slick Junior Member

    US Cemetery
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    La Cambe German cemetery....
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    Then over to Grandcamp Maisy and Maisy battery....
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  5. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Great photos. Thank you for posting

    Lesley
     
  6. slick

    slick Junior Member

    On Friday we headed for the western end....

    St Mere Eglise
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    Utah....
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    The very good Liberte museum at Quineville....
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    CL1 likes this.
  7. slick

    slick Junior Member

    No probs, glad you like them :)
     
  8. slick

    slick Junior Member

    There were hordes of re-enactors around, and several types of vehicles....
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  9. slick

    slick Junior Member

    We were blessed with good weather (apart from the initial crossing), and it was such a good trip I didn`t want to return to the UK. I used this as a sort of recce trip to do the whole length of the beach area, next time we`ll try and break it down into smaller segments in order to view more.
    I`d like to do a bit more walking of the area possibly using Paul Reeds book, but my wife struggles on anything more than a mile or two so that probably won`t happen.
    The area makes good use of the history to bring in tourists, this seems to tail off the more westerly you go, Utah is almost deserted compared to the other areas, which is quite nice in it`s own way.
     
  10. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Slick
    Great photos very interesting
    Thank you for posting

    Regards
    Clive
     
  11. Sussex by the Sea

    Sussex by the Sea Senior Member

    Great photos Slick, thanks very much.

    Steve
     
  12. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    Thanks for sharing Slick, wonderful photos, also thank you for the info on your itinerary and where you stayed, could be useful for next years possible trip.

    David
     
  13. slick

    slick Junior Member

    Cheers folks :)
    If I was doing the trip again I might splash out a bit more and book in to the Ibis at Port en Bessin. The Bayeux Ibis is good, but is situated on the edge of Bayeux in a small industrial estate so not much to do in the evening. There is a restaurant next door but they won`t serve drinks without ordering a meal, so we found ourselves staying out until about 9 in the evening then travelling back to our digs.
    Port en Bessin has several nice cafe`s and clifftop walks to keep one entertained in the evening, all within a few minutes walking distance of the hotel.
    We went over before in 2004 and did a few museums but I tried to steer clear of them this time as they can be a bit repetitive. The exception being the surprisingly good museum at Quineville which told of the occupation from the French viewpoint. I learned lots of stuff I`d never considered before.
    Being based in Cornwall our main bugbear is ferry crossings. Brittany Ferries seem excruciatingly expensive, we found one of their discounted crossings this time for £200 return, normally it`s up around £350-£400. Plymouth to Roscoff would be ideal but the cost is even more exhorbitant (and that`s before adding a cabin for a night crossing).
    I did consider driving further to Newhaven and getting the DFDS ferry to Dieppe, adds a few miles but their price was between £145-£189 return.
    I did mention to the wife about getting a small motorhome, that way we could use the aires which are for the most part free, and generally situated in pleasant spots. This would also enable us to self cater and have more of a flexible itinerary. The cheaper cost would also allow us to extend the duration of our trip.
     
  14. Staffsyeoman

    Staffsyeoman Member

    Having done a very successful trip to Normandy last August - to let the 70th anniversary frenzy damp down - staying in a gite outside Bayeux owned by friends of our companions (who, sadly, told us they were winding down the business). We wanted to go back again in September, but there isn't a room to be had in Bayeux after 12 September. I cannot find out why... anyone know? Might try Port-en-Bessin, then...
     
  15. toki2

    toki2 Junior Member

    We were in most of these places later in June. We were in a caravan and found a lovely site near Bayeux. Can be a bit dodgy towing in the bocage, praying that a lorry did'nt come round the corner. The roads were pretty empty and we loved the little hamlets complete with shrine and Maire's house. Port-en-bessin is a busy wee port to while away a few hours. Great photos.
     
  16. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Port-en-Bessin is a lovely place to visit, although I haven't stayed in the Ibis there. Looks good though-prices at around 60 quid a night in September

    Lesley
     
  17. Mozziefood

    Mozziefood Member

    Your pics are great, and I did a similar tour at the end of June together with wife and son. I wanted to start near Pegasus bridge so looked for accommodation nearby . We finished up staying at a "yelloh village campsite" half a mile from the beach at St Aubin Sur Mer. As the French holiday season starts in July the last week of June was still out of season and a small static caravan cost us £160 for the week ( did get an over 50s discount too). It was a great base to start from and after we had a really rough Newhaven -Dieppe crossing on the Monday we had an incredible sunny and hot week.
    Pegasus bridge is an amazing place and even the wife was impressed when she realised where the gliders landed. More amazing to me was finding a picture of my great uncle on the wall of the museum which led to a great deal of his lost history being rediscovered.
    From there we went to Ranville cemetery where he's buried and then onto The merville battery where he fought. The battery is impressive although I feel they should mark where the wire and machine guns were more clearly so you could get a feel for the route the paras took into the battery.
    We then headed west over the next few days and got to St Mere on Thursday, it was so hot in the town we had to seek refuge in the church to cool down.
    We also discovered there are a number of small monuments dotted around the area marking smaller actions and deaths etc, we didn't have a guide to these so couldn't follow the trail very well.
    And yes we did visit too many museums during the week but each one had something new to offer. We also hit every beach at low tide so we could stand in the footprints of the allied soldiers and see what they saw when the ramps went down on June 6th.
    I loved Normandy it was so clean and easy to access, no parking charges on the seafronts no miles of arcades and pound shops it makes you realise what the seaside should be like and I for one am definatly going back.
     
    nigel barrett likes this.
  18. slick

    slick Junior Member

    I have to agree with you regarding Merville, standing there trying to get some orientation regarding the attack took some time, a few markers around the place wouldn`t go amiss.

    Yes totally agree again, it makes a real difference being able to find a parking place easily, not having to fumble around for change for the meters. Taking a leisurely stroll around town without worrying about the ticket running out. Nice little inexpensive cafe`s with friendly staff, clean beaches....the list goes on.
    France is a breath of fresh air when it comes to welcoming tourists, instead of the British approach of trying to milk them of every penny.
    My next trip I`m going to go in a different direction and try to get down to see Oradour sur Glane, just trying to work out if there is anything else wartime related in the area or on the way.
     
  19. CommanderChuff

    CommanderChuff Senior Member

    These are great photos for showing how the many attractions have improved and expanded over the years. There is much more to discover and we will look forward to new finds. Good Hunting.
     
  20. Goodygixxer

    Goodygixxer Senior Member

    Isn't the route the Para's took at Merville battery explained on the information board on top of one of the gun emplacments?
     

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