Planning a trip to see the landing beaches in May. Any recommendations on what we need, extra insurance, hotels/ bike friendly B&B's etc ?
Major & Mrs Holts Battlefield Guide to the Normandy Landings is a good book to stash in your luggage. A GHIC/EHIC card to supplement travel insurance that covers you for riding a bike.
Depending on the length of your trip into France,but if you have time,and not that far away is Ypes in Belgium..... Absolutely beautiful town,and the Last Post is played every night at the Menin Gate...... But as previously mentioned,a GHIC is a must....
Riding in Europe Breakfast in a hotel at Arromanches Les Bains At least one Cemetary St Mere Eglise and the Airborne Museum Pegasus Bridge In my opinion Belgium including the Menin Gate is another must, but a trip on its own and needs to include The Flanders in the Fields museum.
Further to my above post. I've taken small groups on a Normany tour a couple of times. @ymfb's post above is on the mark. I'd add, if you have the time, the following: Battery at Longues-sur-Mer - intact gun enplacement Pointe du Hoc - German position on top of cliffs heavily bombed and hit by naval bombardment then defeated by incredibly brave US Rangers who climbed the cliff under fire. American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer - pretty awe inspiring, large number of graves, beautiful position and like all cemeteries along this coast respectfully well maintained. At Arromanche visit the viewing position off the main road above the town for the best view of the remains of the Mullberry Harbour, impressively large and a stoke of somewhat eccentric genius. Rather than capture heavily defended Cherbourg and it's deep water port, build in the UK, two huge concrete sectional ports and tow them across and set them up in suitable places. The landings could only progress with proper logistical support and the Germans knew this, hence the large garrison at Cherbourg. Whacky idea that worked, allowing Cherbourg to be isolated and left for later avoiding a bitter battle. The second harbour was unfortunately less successful than the one at Arromanche and was sunk in a storm in the early days of the invasion. Depending on the size of your group this accomodation may suit. We stayed here in 2022. Peaceful and secluded. Self cater or plenty of places to eat in the evening in Port-en-Bessien. A barn, open on one side, under the accomodation to park your bikes in under cover. You may get lucky but being costal expect a day or two of rain and you won't be disappointed.
Depending on your cultural interest the Bayeux tapestry is not to far either. I completely agree with @Bumpkin places all of which we have seen, but we have been three times and I’d urge you to allow sufficient time at each place. Just riding along the coast is interesting in its self. The place I haven’t visited is the https://www.britishnormandymemorial.org/ it’s on my list when time permits.
Thanks guys . Some great info here. There's 4 of us going in May, 5 nights including 1st night in, or near Dover then train across in the morning. We've talked about Pegasus bridge so maybe fit that in on the last day.
Surprisingly there are also some great roads to ride along the North France coast. Just keep off the main roads. Proper travel insurance that includes biking is a necessity, European breakdown cover too. And enjoy. Riding in France is on another level to riding in the UK.
French version of ulez, citiair, if u air going near these areas. It's only 5 euros, apply online. Also don't forget passport, logbook, gb sticker on number plate, warning triangle, high size jacket, Insurance certificate, breakdown cover.
There's one interesting thing that everyone has missed, and is a legal requirement for motorcyclists in France. Gloves ( CE rated ) if you're not wearing them when stopped it will cost you a 68€ fine ( and one point off your licence if you have a French one )
The 360 degree cinema on the headland above Arromanches is well worth a visit. It takes you on a tour through Normandy switching from wartime footage to the modern day and back again by sea, air and land. Very thought provoking.
French equivalent of ULEZ is called ZFE (Zones à Faibles Émissions). They are in and around major cities. Crit’Air is the sticker you need to display on your vehicle to be legally driving in one of these. There are different levels based on gasoline vs diesel and more importantly, how old is your vehicle. Passed 10 years, in theory, you’re illegal… It is barely enforced at this time as the vast majority of people in France still drive over 10 years diesel vehicles (diesel was the norm, highly encouraged by the government, from 1990 till 2015-ish…). Only richer people can change cars every 5 years or so. And as you know, French culture has something against richer people, so this whole ZFE/electric vehicles for everyone generates a huge popular resentment. Long story short, as a foreign motorcycle rider, I wouldn’t worry too much about a Crit’Air sticker. Watch your speed instead…
I'm assuming you've already booked your hotel and crossing but I reckon that Portsmouth to Caen overnight wouldn't be much dearer than a hotel and tunnel. Ride the coast road from Calais to Boulogne just outside the village of Audinghen is a Museum housed in and around a massive gun emplacement It was owned and run by a brit but that may have changed now. Not far from there is the Museum at the site of the V3 all before you head south to Normandy I rode down to Portsmouth on 5th June and crossed to Cherbourg spent the morning of the 6th in St Mere Eglise then rode accross to Pegasus Bridge for the Afternoon and caught the Caen ferry that night back to Portsmouth
Great trip, should be good. VE Day (Victory in Europe Day ) is in May - will you be there for that ? Should be a big one this year - 80 years ?
We went there in 2022, it was quite recently finished at the time, not something that was built after the war unless it was 'upgraded'. Soinds a bit unfair for a Brit to say but one of those places to see if you're passing... If you're into Band of Brothers there's also the Major Dick Winters memorial and the Easy Company memorial at Brecourt Manor just a few hundred yards away down the lane. This is just before you get to Sainte-Mère-Église travelling east to West. Worth watching the first couple of episodes of Band of Brothers before you go. Great, enjoy. Hope you like dogs and being woken by a cockerel... Off with their heads!
