ESCORTED TOURING BATTLEFIELDS DESTINATIONS


LEFT: Tyne Cot Cemetery


RIGHT: Leger offers a Somme Advance to Victory Centenary Tour


BELOW: Derwent Dam


of those famous battlefields ring with a sad familiarity – the Somme, Passchendaele, Verdun, Ypres – and there is no more evocative way to trace the history of the Great War than by walking in the footsteps of the soldiers, through strangely peaceful, poppy-filled fields, and in the cemeteries, among the crosses, row on row.


w TAKE A TOUR And while clients can make the journeys alone, a tour really is a no-brainer. Not only will all the practicalities be looked after for them, including transport to and from the sights, which are usually located outside urban areas, they’ll also benefit from the expertise of their guide. Look out for operators that use specialist battlefield guides, particularly if clients have a strong interest in military history, as they’ll be keen to quiz them on details. But even passengers who have only a passing acquaintance


Tours range from a relatively general,


There is no more evocative way to trace the history of the Great War than by walking in the soldiers’ footsteps


with historical events will find a great guide invaluable – their accounts will not only summarise the tides of the conflict, but they’ll also bring alive the human experiences of the soldiers on the ground. There’s always an interest in visiting


the battlefields of the Great War – countless tours run every year – but the centenary of the end of the conflict has signalled a surge in popularity for these trips, with clients wishing to mark the anniversary and pay their respects to those who lost their lives.


introductory level suited to first-timers, to more-specific itineraries tailored to those who have certain areas of interest, or perhaps family connections to a campaign. If clients want to spend time finding a relative’s resting place at a particular cemetery or memorial, consider tours that run with smaller groups, as it’s likely to be easier for a guide to tailor-make the experience to individual needs.


w NEW ITINERARIES Operators, including Insight Vacations, Travelsphere and Newmarket Holidays, are running their First World War itineraries as usual, but the increase in demand for battlefield tours has seen specialists increase their portfolios and newcomers join the market. Just Go, for example, is running a four-day, First World War – One Hundred Years On itinerary for the first time, for £250. Leger Holidays, with its large range of battlefield tours, has


1 March 2018 travelweekly.co.uk 55


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