Walking the Somme Battlefields

Walking the Somme Battlefields

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tourhub | Leger Holidays | Walking the Somme Battlefields | frsw
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5 Days From

$808

Walking the Somme Battlefields

5 Days Starting and ending in 80300 Albert, France

Visiting: Albert, Fricourt, Maricourt, Flers, AIF Burial Ground Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, Leuze, Combles, Ancre, Vignacourt

Tour operator:

Leger Holidays

Tour code:

frsw

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

0-99

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English
From: $808

NB: Prices correct on 28-Jun-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Following the line of the 1st July, we walk the World War 1 Somme battlefields in northern France seeing sites such as Bois Francais, Pals Memorial, Leuze Wood and Vignacourt Museum. Our first walk begins near Fricourt, and we walk the battlefield where war poets Robert Graves and Siegfried Sassoon served before the Battle of the Somme. On our second walk we follow the Pals Battalions recruited in Liverpool and Manchester. We walk the fields of the ‘forgotten Somme’ on the third walk, and our fourth walk takes us along the edge of Leuze Wood. We look at the fighting around the Ancre Heights on our final walk, before rounding the tour off at the 14-18 Museum.

Highlights

  • Walk the World War 1 Somme battlefields in northern France seeing sites such as Bois Francais, Pals Memorial, Leuze Wood and Vignacourt Museum

  • Walk the battlefield where war poets Robert Graves and Siegfried Sassoon served before the Battle of the Somme

  • Look at the fighting around the Ancre Heights on our final walk, before rounding the tour off at the 14-18 Museum

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrive In Albert

Location: Albert

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3-star Ibis Albert

Meals Included: No Meals

Local departure by coach then to our hotel in Albert, where we stay for four nights.

Day 2 : Poets And Pals On The Somme

Location: Fricourt, Maricourt

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3-star Ibis Albert

Meals Included: Breakfast

Walk 1: We begin near Fricourt and walk the battlefield where war poets Robert Graves and Siegfried Sassoon served before the Battle of the Somme. We see some of the small battlefield cemeteries including Point 110 Old and New, and then walk up to the Bois Francais area, where the front lines were. We then follow the ground across to Mansel Copse and look at the story of poet William Noel Hodgson and the men of the Devonshire Regiment who fought and fell here on 1st July 1916, seeing their memorial and Devonshire Cemetery.


Walk 2: On this walk we follow the Pals Battalions recruited in Liverpool and Manchester. Starting at Peronne Road Cemetery, we walk into the village of Maricourt and then out to the front-line areas following the Pals' attack on Montauban. Continuing into the village we see the Pals Memorial, and then end at the Quarry Cemetery and look at what happened here in the next phase of the Somme battle.

Day 3 : Guedecourt And Leuze Wood

Location: Flers, AIF Burial Ground Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, Leuze, Combles

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3-star Ibis Albert

Meals Included: Breakfast

Walk 3: We start in the village of Flers, seeing the moving bronze British Tommy on the memorial to the 41st Division, before walking out to Bull’s Road Cemetery, looking at the first use of tanks here in September 1916. We then continue to AIF Burial Ground Cemetery, looking at some of the later fighting, and then walk the fields of the ‘forgotten Somme’ around Guedecourt, seeing where the October 1916 fighting took place and ending at the Caribou Memorial to the Newfoundland Regiment.


Walk 4: Out in the fields near Ginchy we see the wooden cross to Major Cedric Dickens, grandson of the famous author Charles Dickens. This was once his field grave and we follow his story and those of the men of the London Regiments who fought here in September 1916. We walk along the edge of Leuze Wood – ‘Lousy Wood’ to the troops – and see a German bunker, and then down into Combles to visit the small Guards Cemetery.

Day 4 : The Ancre Heights And Vignacourt

Location: Ancre, Vignacourt

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3-star Ibis Albert

Meals Included: Breakfast

Walk 5: Today we look at the fighting around the Ancre Heights, starting at the Ancre British Cemetery and walking up onto the high ground above the river valley. We continue into Beaumont-Hamel and look at the end of the Somme battle, seeing all that remains of the pre-war village before ending at Hawthorn Ridge, where we visit the Hawthorn Mine Crater and Sunken Lane.


After lunch, we travel behind the lines to the village of Vignacourt for an included visit to the 14-18 Museum, where the amazing photographic collection of local photographer Louis Thuillier is on display. He took portraits of thousands of soldiers who passed through the village in his studio, and the unique collection is displayed in original buildings dating from the period.

Day 5 : Return Home

Location: Albert

Meals Included: Breakfast

Return home.

What's Included

  • Accommodation

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • Additional Services

    Travel from a wide range of convenient joining points across the UK is included within your coach holiday price; some carry a supplement. Please contact us for our full list of joining points.

  • Airport Transfers at Destination

    This trip includes coach travel from/to a local UK joining point

  • Fully Guided

  • International Travel

  • Meals

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • Transport

    Comfortable, air-conditioned motorcoach

What's Not Included

Accommodation

You will stay for four nights at the 3-star Ibis Albert.

Check out our Q&As

  • Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?

    Fully escorted by our experienced drivers/crews. And in most towns and cities we either include or offer optional sightseeing tours with expert local guides to help you get the most from your visits.

  • Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

    No

  • Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • Is the tour coach air conditioned?

    Yes

  • What is the fitness level required to do this tour?

    Low

  • Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?

    Yes

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Is there a supplement for solo travellers?

    Some tours carry a supplement for solo travellers, please ask for details if the Single price is not shown

  • What type of coach will be used?

    You will travel on either our Luxuria Coach or our Silver Service Coach

  • Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?

    On Leger Coach Holidays, your allowance is one medium sized suitcase per person, which should weigh no more than 20kg when full.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    40 years

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Sole use of your own room on all Single Traveller holidays: means you still get your privacy and time out from the group.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • Battlefield Tours - Will it be possible to visit a particular cemetery whilst on the tour?

    Please contact us and we will check to see whether you can visit a particular cemetery on any of our Battlefield Tours, if we are not able to fit it into our itinerary then you could take some time out of the tour and do this independently by taxi or public transport.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies

Reviews of this operator

Gary White (Google Reviewer)  

Just got back from a...

27-May-2024

Just got back from a holiday with leger holidays to callea spain which my wife done as a surprise for my 60th and wedding anniversary together my wife and i had a great time the coach journey there was excellent regular stops for toilet breaks and a stretch. Our two drivers Geoff and katrina were brilliant serving regular drinks and making the trip pleasant all the people on the coach were pleasant the hotel in spain was so nice the best we've stayed in lovely staff lovely bar the guy at the bar was great really friendly nice room. Overall our journey there and our return journey was brill the only thing that was not good at all was the ibis hotel on the return journey the room was horrible not a nice breakfast not polite French staff. Not really interested in trying to speak some english if i was leger should try and use a different hotel. Once again a big thank you to Geoff and katrina well done guys for making our holiday lovely. Hope to see you on another holiday soon

Will (Google Reviewer)  

I went on the 4...

05-Jan-2024

I went on the 4 countries trip and swiss glacier express and overall it was a great trip. The coach I was on was silver service, it was tidy had nice seats and other accessories such as charging points and headsets which was very handy. The drivers Alex and Dave were fantastic, very kind, funny and respectful throughout the whole trip and a pleasure to talk to. The excursions were very pleasant and all ran very smoothly. The hotels were decent and offered a good service. I overall very much recommend leger holidays.

Sally Matson  

Excellent customer service

10-Jan-2023

Booked our ‘Christmas in Austria & Scenic Trains of the Tyrol’ through George on the customer Helpline. Nothing was too much trouble, everything clearly & patiently explained. He even had permission to log in on his day off to finalise the sale! A charming and helpful young person and a credit to the company.

Euan Donald (Google Reviewer)  

Been on two tours now...

10-Oct-2023

Been on two tours now the “D Day beaches” and “ All Quiet on the Western Front” tour of the Somme and Ypres. Both four days in total, two travelling and two on the site of the various battles. This is outstanding value for money, picked up from Carlisle , Cumbria and literally looked after all the way through the tours. The coaches are great and the accommodation spot on . The guides are very knowledgeable ( Mark Hope brilliant guy)and the bus drivers professional . Absolutely fantastic .

Sue Sinfield (Google Reviewer)  

Due to covid it was...

21-Jul-2022

Due to covid it was 3rd time lucky for us to visit lake Garda, what a treat. One or two hiccups but no fault of Legers at all. Praise to Graham and Chris for their excellent driving and coffee service. Our visit to Verona, our guide was very informative but did walk at a pace sometimes had to hurry to keep up. A lovely holiday

Michael Stephen Shilleto   England

Four Countries New Year & the Swiss Glacier Express

07-Jan-2024

Firstly we must thank Alex and Dave our tour guide / drivers who entertained us through out . The tour was fantastic so was the hotel’s food and entertainment. The tour was through the new year holidays as expected lots of shops closed and hotels were understaffed which was lost on some travelers. We travelled back from stop 24 on a luxuria coach I would recommend paying the extra for the comfort alone

Hilary Jackson (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on a...

12-Jun-2024

I recently went on a 4 night tour to Scarborough. Driver was great hotel superb. My criticism is too many destinations crammed into day excursion. Example visit to Flamborough head stop for 1 hour it was teeming nobody got off coach but even if fine pointless. Then on to Bridlington coach Park 1.5 ml from centre. Most people are hard pressed to get to center & back in 1.5 hours pointless. Incidentally if Leger paid a permit they could alight us in the resort. Very bad logistics. On to Whitby with a decent stop should have taken us there & bypassed the other stops. I will not go with them again. I will source a better holiday with excursions to one place only.

aled blackshaw (Google Reviewer)  

just returned from a solos...

25-Mar-2024

just returned from a solos break to valkenburg and rhine valley i enjoyed the break overall although both journeys were considerably longer than expected due to several picks ups. I could have done without the 3 countries meeting point excursion to be honest and the lunch on rhine cruise was very basic. The drivers/couriers were efficient and good humoured and provided free lunch vouchers on the ferry which were much appreciated. I probably would book another break with leger but to somewhere a lot closer to home.

Mary Elmhirst (Google Reviewer)  

I was told by a...

19-May-2024

I was told by a customer service advisor (Michael) , our hotel overlooked the River Seine, which was totally untrue. It was nowhere in sight and a good walk to get to it. My view from the hotel room was a wall and a window, There was no porterage available and although our drivers offered, after a 15 hour journey to France, we all opted to take our own luggage. To get into the shower there was a step to it and the floor of the shower was like an ice rink when wet, with nothing to hold onto. ( I showered wearing my slippers to avoid slipping). The plunger to the sink was unusable; (the lever to retrieve it was broken). The staff were pleasant and helpful, the bed was comfortable and clean abd the breakfast was worthy of the 3 stars given. Otherwise, I have stayed in a better 2* hotel in France. The driver and travel rep, Paul were both very friendly and pleasant but it was the first time Paul had been on this trip and therefore had little knowledge of the places we visited! There was no commentary and the history of Monet and Versailles was read out from a book! All in all, nothing would persuade me to take part in another Leger tour.

TU  

Many thanks to Molly.

03-Jan-2023

I have recently booked a trip to Le Mans and had the good fortune to speak to Molly. She was very helpful and a pleasure to talk to. She was able to answer all but one of my queries with clarity and promised to ring me with the answer to the un-answered question as it required further investigation. This she duly did. An unusually pleasant experience when making a booking over the phone, if only it could be this easy every the time.

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Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Leger Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of leger holidays charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.

    At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.