Four Day, D-Day Beaches Tour
Cycling to, from & along the D-Day beaches
Route: Caen-Pegasus Bridge-
Sword-Juno-Gold-Bayeux-St.Lo
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Omaha-Ste. Marie Eglise-Utah-Caen
From £675 per person (based on two people sharing a room)
Single person supplement of £150 available.
- all tours are guided and supported
Customised tours are also available
2022 Dates:
20th-24th May
17th-21st June
26th-30th August
Difficulty level:
Easy (15-30 miles per day) to Moderate (50-70 miles per day)
What's included:
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Modern, rural farmhouse
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Double bedroom
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Breakfast & dinner
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Support vehicle
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Met from ferry/airport
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Guide (optional)
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Gourmet dinner (last night)​
What's not included:
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Flights or ferry
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Bikes (hiring option available)
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Helmets & cycle wear
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The Tour:
2020 marks the 76th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. On June 6, 1944 – 150,000 British, Commonwealth and American troops waded ashore at dawn and confronted the German guns. Within the month one million Allied troops had landed in France via these beaches. By which time many dramatic battles had either been fought or were now raging in the fields, farms and rural towns behind the coast.
We will be commemorating this year with a series of special guided rides taking in the beaches of Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah. Today these beaches are a picture of tranquillity and seem to ramble effortlessly alongside a seamless, sandy coast. To cycle, the coastal road here is a real treat further enhanced by turning inland and taking in country lanes, rustic villages, remote dairy farms and orchards. The experience is always enhanced by good dinners, strategic lunch stops and for those of a sensitive disposition – nice, smooth roads.
This is a very rewarding cycling country and there is lots to absorb. It is an area of inspiration and memory and rightly commemorated as the place of “the beginning of the end” of the Second World War.
The D-Day route is divided into five different landing beaches each with its own story to tell. This is a small group ride and will suit riders wanting to take in the beaches during this special year of commemoration. We will be staying inland outside St.Lo, the City of Ruins, which itself suffered many hardships from the conflict. The group will cycle to different places of significant interest each day at a suitable pace and distance. The tours will be guided from the saddle by one of our team
The Accommodation:
The accommodation will be in a modernised farmhouse in rural Dangy. The property consists of 3 double bedrooms and will ideally suit couples. Single riders are very welcome but a single supplement will apply to the overall cost. Breakfast and dinner will be provided each day and there will be a gourmet evening on the last night at a local establishment. Bags will be collected from the point of disembarkation (ferry port or airport) and taken to the property.
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The Itinerary
Day 1:
On landing on French soil the party will travel toward Pegasus Bridge which saw the first action of the D-Day offensive. In 1944 the bridge was successfully attacked by the British Army who landed airborne troops by glider. The group will then cycle in-land toward the first ‘beach’ – Sword and then onto Juno and Gold – turning inland toward the famous medieval town of Bayeux. We will then cycle to St. Lo for a lunch-stop and make our way toward the accommodation in Dangy.
Maximum distance: 70 miles
Day 2:
The group will cycle to Port-en-Bessin and Omaha Beach, the site of the 1st US Division’s bridgehead and the scene of fierce fighting on the first day of the action. We will cycle along the coastal path as far as Grandcamp Maisy. After lunch, we will turn inland again and head for our accommodation in Dangy.
Maximum distance: 68 miles
Day 3:
We will be cycling to our last beach, Utah – the place of the 4th US Division’s landing by sea and air. After lunch in a local town, we will return inland via a number of famous old towns en route which played a significant part in the campaign. Our last night will be spent at a local establishment enjoying some fine local hospitality.
Maximum distance: 66 miles
Day 4:
We will cycle back to either the ferry port at Ouistreham (or Caen airport) to return home. Cyclists not wanting to cycle on the final day can be taken on the final leg by car/bus
Maximum distance 64 miles
From £600 per person (based on two people sharing a room)
Single person supplement available.
