STAR INCUSIONS ★ St Venant: Memorial & Cemetery ★ Cassel Hill ★ Wormhout Massacre site ★ East Mole
★ War Museum of Operation Dynamo ★ Dunes of Dunkirk
The evacuation of more than 330,000 British and French troops from Dunkirk in May 1940 during Operation Dynamo, following the Battle of France, was one of the turning points of WW2. Four long years of occupation followed which saw the construction of the Atlantic Wall in this part of Northern France and Belgium, to prevent any Allied return. On this tour we visit the war graves, the memorials, the battle sites of 1940 and both the beaches and port of Dunkirk, even seeing wrecks of the Little Ships. In addition we see some fantastic local war museums as well as the Dunkirk Memorial and War Cemetery. We explore bunkers and defences, as well as seeing where the V-weapons such as the Doodlebug and V2 were launched from.
Depart from your chosen UK pick-up point and travel to the port where a coach interchange will take place, you will then join your tour coach for the Channel crossing. On arrival on the Continent we continue to our hotel.
We start the tour with a look at some of the fighting in the Battle of France in May 1940 following the story of the Durham Light Infantry and Royal Welch Fusiliers at St. Venant, seeing the memorial and nearby graves. At Cassel Hill we examine the last stand here by the Oxs & Bucks and Glosters. Following lunch we visit the site at Wormhout where a massacre of British troops took place by the SS and then go into Dunkirk to visit the excellent War Museum of Operation Dynamo, followed by a visit to the East Mole. We end the day in the dunes of Dunkirk to remember the sacrifice of French troops in May-June 1940. (B)
STAR INCLUSIONS ★ St Venant: Memorial & Cemetery ★ Cassel Hill ★ Wormhout Massacre site
★ East Mole ★ War Museum of Operation Dynamo ★ Dunes of Dunkirk
We return to Dunkirk to see the Dunkirk War Cemetery and the Dunkirk Memorial to the Missing. At Bray Dunes we look at the story of the evacuation beaches and the ‘little ships’, forever connected to the Dunkirk story. At Eperlecques we see the massive Blockhaus, built as a launch site for V2 rockets. We then see a typical V1 Doodlebug ski-ramp site, hidden in the woods near Morbecque and constructed to fire more than 2000 V1s a day at London. In the evening join us on an optional trip to nearby Ypres for the moving Last Post Ceremony. (B)
STAR INCLUSIONS ★ Blockhaus Eperlecques ★ Menin Gate ★ Dunkirk War Cemetery & Memorial ★ Bray Dunes ★ V1 Site, Morbecque
OPTIONAL EXCURSION ★ Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate
We leave the hotel after breakfast and travel to the Channel port. You will leave your tour coach behind as you join your transfer vehicle for your return journey to your original departure point. (B)
Depart from your chosen UK pick-up point and travel to the port where a coach interchange will take place, you will then join your tour coach for the Channel crossing. On arrival on the Continent we continue to our hotel (passengers joining the tour in Europe will meet the group at the hotel this evening).
We start the tour with a look at some of the fighting in the Battle of France in May 1940 following the story of the Durham Light Infantry and Royal Welch Fusiliers at St. Venant, seeing the memorial and nearby graves. At Cassel Hill we examine the last stand here by the Oxs & Bucks and Glosters. Following lunch we visit the site at Wormhout where a massacre of British troops took place by the SS and then go into Dunkirk to visit the excellent War Museum of Operation Dynamo, followed by a visit to the East Mole. We end the day in the dunes of Dunkirk to remember the sacrifice of French troops in May-June 1940. (B)
STAR INCUSIONS ★ St Venant: Memorial & Cemetery ★ Cassel Hill ★ Wormhout Massacre site ★ East Mole
★ War Museum of Operation Dynamo ★ Dunes of Dunkirk
We return to Dunkirk to see the Dunkirk War Cemetery and the Dunkirk Memorial to the Missing. At Bray Dunes we look at the story of the evacuation beaches and the ‘little ships’, forever connected to the Dunkirk story. At Eperlecques we see the massive Blockhaus, built as a launch site for V2 rockets. We then see a typical V1 Doodlebug ski-ramp site, hidden in the woods near Morbecque and constructed to fire more than 2000 V1s a day at London. In the evening join us on an optional trip to nearby Ypres for the moving Last Post Ceremony. (B)
STAR INCUSIONS ★ Blockhaus Eperlecques ★ Menin Gate ★ Dunkirk War Cemetery & Memorial ★ Bray Dunes ★ V1 Site, Morbecque
OPTIONAL EXCURSION ★ Last Post Ceremony
On the Belgium coast at Raversijde we see how the WWI Aachen Battery was turned into a section of the Atlantic Wall by the Germans, seeing the bunker, trenches and many original features. We then travel to the French coast for lunch and in the afternoon visit Batterie Todt, a massive bunker that housed a huge artilery piece which bombarded Britain and could be used to fire on any invasion fleet. We see the museum here which includes a very rare German 280mm Railway Gun, then visit the V3 super-gun system at Mimoyecques. Here we go through tunnels built to house this incredible weapon which was never fired in anger due to Allied bombing. We end the day looking at the liberation of the coastal region in northern France in September 1944 with a visit to Calais Canadian Cemetery. (B)
STAR INCLUSIONS ★ Raversijde ★ Batterie Todt ★ V3 Site Mimoyecques ★ Calais Canadian War Cemetery
We leave the hotel after breakfast and travel to the Channel port. You will leave your tour coach behind as you join your transfer vehicle for your return journey to your original departure point. (B)
★ 3 or 4 nights’ hotel accommodation
★ Daily continental breakfast
★ Specialist Battlefield Historian
★ Battlefield touring as per the itinerary
★ Hundreds of convenient local joining points in the UK
★ Travel by Executive coach or upgrade to Silver Service
Value Tours are operated in conjunction with our UK partner, Leger Holidays.
Please note: Itineraries are subject to change due to operational reasons. Any changes will be advised closer to the time of departure.
We are a full-service travel agency and can book your entire European holiday!
Ask about our airfare, hotel, car hire and river cruise deals, which offer great discounts when booked in conjunction with our tours.
Value Tours are operated in conjunction with our UK partner, Leger Holidays.
Please note: Itineraries are subject to change due to operational reasons. Any changes will be advised closer to the time of departure.
“We have no hesitation in giving you a 10/10, and highly recommend Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours.
I know that these 2 days will stay with me forever.
The whole experience from the travel, accommodation and tour guide/manager was exceptional.
The four day tour was so very well organised right down to the finest detail and although tiring at some stages it was fantastic and certainly exceeded our expectations. Being selected to lay a wreath on behalf of the tour at the Menin Gate Memorial was only exceeded by being invited to read the Exhortation during the Last Post Memorial - what a highlight and one that I will never forget.
Absolutely incredible!
Erdem as guide, Roachie as our historian and Zafir as our fearless bus driver.
Stayed in the stunning çannakale, seen everything i wanted too and seriously i cannot think of a better experience in my entire life!
I would like to recommend highly the Western Front Battlefields Tour.
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. The whole experience was one I will remember.
The Tour Guide was very knowledgeable and approachable. The facilities were amazing.
Thank you for a wonderful experience.
I have been in complete awe of the service and experience from Mat McLachlan tours.
Not only was my family and I reassured about our safety from the moment we booked but we knew we were in safe hands the moment we started the tour.
As one of my first tours, I am beyond impressed!
Let’s start the journey of a lifetime!
Ask about our airfare, hotel and car hire deals, which offer great discounts when booked in conjunction with our tours.
Please note: Itineraries are subject to change due to operational reasons. In addition, your Historian may alter the sites visited on each day to suit local conditions. Any changes will be advised closer to the time of departure.