Ypres Tours

Good grub in Wipers. Those Belgians know how to do proper huge portions of yummy chips!

 

Agreed but I would also suggest skipping the smoked eel.

 

Watty/All

I see from this original post in 2016 you were going to do this tour early 2017? Now it's late 2017, did you do it and any tips?
I'm another Grumpy Scotsman (actually from UP NORTH) and ex serviceman, and am looking to do similar next year, 2018, as it'll be a poignant 100yrs since the end of WW1.
I'd really love to be there on Nov 11th but am concerned about the weather so will probably pay my respects a few months early, late summer.
Any tips/tricks/advice about the travel would be much appreciated, from all Triumph enthusiasts!

 

Hi, a nice place to visit on the way to Ypres is the town of Poperinge, a few miles NW. The centre of the hop growing district, good for beer, (also nearby is Watou and the St Sixths monastery), Poperinge was the last town British troops saw before they marched off to the front at Ypres.
A stay at The Talbot House is a MUST if you like first world war history. We went in the summer, it's a great place with secure bike parking in the garden.

 

I'm thinking of going July-ish
If I can't be there for the actual end +100 Years, then I want to be there to see fields full of poppies.
Going 2up, so the missus can get a feel for it too.
First big trip for us, so should be interesting
Look forward to your report

 

A friend & I toured Ypres, on way back had lunch in Poperinge ended up staying overnight. Visited my great grandfathers war memorial on the way to Nouex Le Mines. Stayed overnight at La Maison Rouge Hotel. My third visit to this establishment. Bit pricey, but very nice with a fantastic restaurant. Worth a look?

 

All excellent feedback. Cheers guys

 

Without doubt, you don't need to use a battlefield tour firm. Ieper is only 60 miles from the chunnel and there are [unfortunately for the boys of 1914-18 but fortunately for those of us interested in the history] almost unlimited sites for you to explore. If you can manage [say] 4 or 5 days you can easily get down to the Somme too, as it's less than 50 miles from Ieper.

Ieper [local Flemish], or Ypres [French], or "Wipers" [British Tommy slang] will astound you. Look at photos from 1919 and compare that to what you'll find there now. They only completed the rebuilding in the 1960's and you'll find it hard to believe that it isn't originally medieval!

My hotel of choice is The Ariane. Pricey but extraordinarily friendly and not right in the centre of town - so a bit quieter than around the square. It's still only a 15 minute walk to the Menen Gate and it has secure garage parking for your bike. As others have said, do not miss the Last Post ceremony [8:00 pm]. It's probably the only time you'll see dozens of school children together being quiet and respectful and quite a lot of middle-aged/elderly men with tears in their eyes [me included].

As well as the Commonwealth cemeteries, try to get to a German one. The contrast is interesting. The nearest to Ieper is Langemark-Poelkapelle [GPS coordinates = 50.920168, 2.917440] and that is just 5 miles from the Commonwealth one at Tyne Cot [Paschendaele] at GPS 50.887040, 2.997711.

Another German relic worth visiting is the Bayernwald trench/dugout system near Kemmel. To get into this unmanned site you have to visit the tourism centre in Kemmel village, buy a ticket [now 4 Euros! per adult, so hide the wife round the corner] and they'll give you a code to punch into the keypad access system at the site itself. Bayernwald = 50.801529, 2.876999 [Ticket at Kemmel Tourist Office at 50.782524, 2.830997].

To contrast the styles of Commonwealth and German trenchworks, you should go to Hill 62 [Sanctuary Wood 50.836899, 2.945951]. Whilst it's quite commercialised, it is a pretty authentic allied trench system for you to compare to the Bayernwald one. There's an entry fee but I can't tell you much it'll be. Every time I go the owner charges something different [and not always higher!]

Don't go poking around on the Messines Ridge, there are still undetonated mines buried. One of the undetonated ones was set off by a lightning strike in 1955!

On the subject of munitions, you may be lucky enough to see recovered shells laid at the side of the road. Farmers and builders still plough up/dig up what's been named an "iron harvest" each year and they leave the shells piled up at the edge of their fields for collection and destruction by the Belgian army. These are still highly dangerous, so it's best to limit yourself to taking pictures.

I second "Callumity's" suggestion of "Before Endeavours Fade" as a great source for planning your itinerary.

I hope you manage to get your plans together and that, if you do, you have as moving an experience as I do every time I go. If nothing else you've reminded me to get arranging 2018's trip. As much as I'd like to be there for Armistice Day, I think I'll wuss out of the November weather and go earlier in the year. One distinct possibility is August, when the British Legion are going en masse to recreate the Great Pilgrimage of 1928, although that'll put up the hotel prices exponentially.

Have a great trip. Cheers, Steve

 

I'm booked in for the 9th to 12th 2018 in Albert.
I'm going to go to the Thiepval memorial to remember my Great Uncle.

 

Noble Quest mate
Not sure when we’re going as got a big trip to California (no bike) in March, but you never know!
Those dates sound good!

 

Accommodation booked in Ypres for the first week in August, gonna look at buying the book mentioned by toddy above.

 

Bugger! Sorry to hear that Watty. Still, it'll give you plenty of time to plan a major European "offensive" for next year [assuming they're still welcoming us in Brexit year].