Wheels on the Western Front: Ride to Arnhem

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Wheels on the Western Front: Ride to Arnhem

There are no available dates at this moment, please check back soon.

A charity ride in aid of ABF The Soldiers' Charity, this is the 5th instalment of this popular event using the same successful formula as previous years. Riders will then cycle 331 miles through France, Belgium and Holland visiting the important sites of Ypres, Waterloo and to commemorate those events of Operation Market Garden in 1944 focusing on the battle for the bridges at Eindhoven, Nijmegen and finally Arnhem 77 years on. Overnight stops will be in Ypres, Waterloo, Eindhoven and Arnhem (2 nights) before returning to Folkestone by coach transfer on Friday 9 September 2022. This event has been postponed from 2021 due to Coronavirus and will now run in September 2022.

What is included:

Visit the Dunkirk, Ypres, Waterloo and Arnhem battlefileds.

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner except dinner only on day 1 and no dinner on the first night in Arnhem giving you a chance to explore.

Cake and refreshment stops.

Services of an experienced military historian.

Twin share in good quality hotels (single rooms available at supplement).

Detailed route book and gpx files.

Wreath laying at Oosterbeek British cemetery.

Ferry travel outbound and coach travel return. Bike transport back to start.

Baggage Transport , medical cover and mechanical support.

The registration particulars are detailed on our application page (follow the link below) and please be sure to read and understand the fundraising requirements and deadlines.

Registration fee: £250

Fundraising requirement: £1,375

CLICK HERE to go to the Online Registration Form

CLICK HERE for a downloadable version

CLICK HERE for event Terms and Conditions

Your Next Adventure Awaits

What you need to know...

Start Location
Folkestone

Finish Location
Folkestone

Country/Region
Battlefields by Bike

Grading
Difficult

Shortest Day
45

Longest Day
89

Total Days
6

Total Miles
331

Departure Dates & Prices

There are no available dates at this moment.
Please choose an alternative Tour or check back soon.

Itinerary

Day 1

Sunday 4 September: After registration at St Martin’s Plain Camp, Folkestone we ride to Dover to catch a mid-morning ferry to Dunkirk. On arrival, we will take time to look at events of Operation Dynamo in 1940. From Dunkirk we ride to Ypres, pausing to pay our respects at the poignant memorial to the Wormhout massacre of 1940; thence to Poperinge and on to Ypres arriving in time to get ready for the nightly ceremony at the Menin Gate at 8pm. Distance: 50 miles. Ascent: 403m.

Day 2

Monday 5 September: A long day. Exiting through the Menin Gate we will briefly see some of the places famous in the 1914 - 1918 war and will give a brief overview of events in the Ypres Salient over 100 years ago, before striking off east, to the north of Lille and head straight for Waterloo. The battlefield of 1815 is well worth a visit with a good museum and visitor centre to follow on from our historian’s description of one of the most significant battles in history. Distance: 85 miles. Ascent: 1348m.

Day 3

Tuesday 6 September: Another long day where we follow in the footsteps of the British Second Army which had landed in Normandy on D Day and had seen heavy fighting at the closure of the Falaise Pocket. The Army was to advance deep into German territory, and capture intact the bridges leading to, and including the Rhine crossing at Arnhem. They were to be aided by the 82nd and 101st US Airborne, and the 1st British Airborne, who were to capture the bridges at Eindhoven, Nijmegen, and Arnhem and await relief and reinforcement from the ground forces. Distance: 89 miles. Ascent: 1025m.

Day 4

Wednesday 7 September: Leaving Eindhoven we soon cross the bridge at Son, one of the first objectives of the campaign completed by US 82nd Airborne. From here we continue north to Nijmegen which was successfully captured by the US 101st Airborne who courageously crossed the Waal River in small boats whilst under fire. We then arrive at the John Frost bridge in Arnhem, renamed in honour of the commanding officer of 2nd Parachute Battalion who held the position, surrounded, for three days until their ammunition ran out. Distance: 62 miles. Ascent: 321m.

Day 5

Thursday 8 September: Depart Arnhem for our ride around the Arnhem battlefield. We start by heading to the northwest to the Drop Zone 'Y' on Ginkel Heath, which was the first one used by 4 Parachute Brigade on 18 September 1944. From there we cycle to the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeek where 1800 men lie. We then cross the river by ferry to follow the withdrawal route of 1st Airborne Division on the night of 25 September 1944. We then cycle to Driel, where the Polish Airborne Brigade landed before returning to Arnhem across the famous bridge once more to bring our cycling to a close. Distance: 45 miles. Ascent: 200m.

Day 6

Friday 9 September: After breakfast you will return by coach to Folkestone arriving mid-afternoon.

Some Tour Photos...

Ride to Arnhem in 2021

Travel Information

This tour includes outward ferry Dover - Dunkirk and return from Arnhem by coach. Bikes will be transported back to the start where free parking is available for the duration of the event.

Click here for our Travel Information page.