A bridge too far: Arnhem, via Ypres and Waterloo

Day 1

We meet at Dunkirk ferry terminal at 10am for your safety briefing and overview of the tour. Here, we will also take time to look at events of 1940 when the British Expeditionary Force was evacuated from beaches a few miles up the coast. The 'Miracle of Dunkirk' took off ten times the number of soldiers estimated an allowed the British army, whilst having lost much of its equipment, to reform and rearm in Britain. From Dunkirk we ride to Ypres, pausing to pay our respects at the poignant memorial to the Wormhout massacre of 1940. From this incredibly moving place, we ride to Poperinge and on to Ypres via the sombre Tyne Cot cemetery just to the nort of the city, and arrive in Ypres in time to get ready for the nightly ceremony at the Menin Gate at 8pm. About 61 miles. 1200ft climb.(Thursday. Meals included: Dinner).  

Day 3

We now start to follow in the footsteps of the British Second Army who had landed in Normandy on D Day and been at the closure of the Falaise Pocket; now they were tasked with a ground penetration deep into German territory, in order to capture intact the bridges leading to, and including the Rhine crossing at Arnhem. The overall plan was to avoid German Siegfried Line defences and to then sweep south into the industrial Ruhr area, thus knocking out the enemy's ability to manufacture and replace lost equipment; and to force a German surrender before the winter of 1944 set in. They were to be aided by the 82nd and 101st US Airborne, and the 1st British Airbourne who would capture the forward bridges at Eindhoven, Nijmegen, and Arnhem and await relief and reinforcement from the ground forces. As we ride into The Netherlands we will see many places where Horrocks' XXX Corps men fought bravely and created a salient that would be exploited throughout the winter. About 77 miles. 806ft climb. (Saturday. Meals included: breakfast and picnic lunch. Dinner not included - free choice).

Day 5

Depart after breakfast for the gentle ride to Arnhem which we enter over the John Frost bridge. We then continue on our tour around the Arnhem battlefield 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 here they would take the Amsterdamweg towards Arnhem but tragically be repulsed before they got there, being forced to set up defensive positions in Wolfheze and Oosterbeek, which is where we cycle to next, paying our respects at the Airbourne Cemetery at Oosterbeek where 1800 men lie. We then cross over the river at the same place that the troops were withdrawn when the situation became hopeless on the night of 25 September 1944, towards Driel, where the Polish Airbourne Brigade had landed to assist in relief and securing the south bank; many did not survive the landing however. Coming back into Arnhem we cross the famous bridge once more to bring our cycling to a close. About 35 miles. 200ft climb. (Monday. meals included: breakfast).

Travel Information

Outbound we meet in Dunkirk having taken the ferry from Dover. For the return, transfers back to Dunkirk or Calais are included from Arnhem, or alternatively the Hook of Holland is another option by train (not included).

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