Halfords Help for Heroes Bike Ride - Cycling Challenge
7 days / 6 nights
Depart: Portsmouth – Ouistreham
Return: Dunkirk – London
INTRODUCTION
Our cycle challenge takes us from HMS Victory in Portsmouth, across the channel to Caen travelling through northern France and returning to London.
This demanding route traces some of the region’s most significant WW1 & WW2 battle sites, including the Normandy landing beaches and Thiepval on the Somme.
This will be a great physical challenge ending with a cycle through central London past the Cenotaph and onto Horse Guards.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Portsmouth – Ouistreham/Caen
We will register at HMS Victory in Portsmouth’s Naval Dockyard and after dinner will cycle to the ferry terminal to catch the 11pm ferry to Ouistreham where you will have been allocated a cabin.
Cycle approx 3km (2 miles)
Day 2: Ouistreham – Le Havre
We will arrive in France at around 7am local time. On disembarking, we will cycle to Pegasus Bridge where the first house to be liberated in June 1944 still stands. We will head north-east through gently undulating countryside towards Honfleur and Le Havre – that night’s destination. Our route is predominantly on quiet roads and through small villages.
From Honfleur we will cross the huge 3km Pont de Normandie, which will take us over the River Seine at its confluence with the sea. Overnight hotel accommodation will be provided on the outskirts of Le Havre (lunch & dinner included, group buy own breakfast on ferry).
Cycle approx 90km (56 miles)
Day 3: Le Havre – Dieppe
After cycling through Le Havre, we will make our way to St Valery-en-Caux where the 51st Highland Division, part of the British Expeditionary Force, attempted to evacuate Northern France in June 1940. Our cycle will continue along the beautiful coastal road to Dieppe with stops at several memorials relating to both the D-Day landings and the BEF evacuations.
Overnight accommodation in hotel (breakfast, lunch & dinner included).
Cycle approx 120km (75 miles)
Day 4: Dieppe – Amiens
From Dieppe we will cycle inland, gradually climbing away from the coast along country roads, with the possibility of stopping in a typical village café. The terrain becomes undulating on this stretch of the ride. We will visit a small WW1 cemetery at Grandcourt, where 29 British and Commonwealth soldiers are buried. Overnight hotel accommodation will be provided in Amiens (breakfast, lunch & dinner included).
Cycle approx 124km (77 miles)
Day 5: Amiens – Béthune
Leaving Amiens the route follows the River Somme heading east through small villages towards Albert. The cemeteries and memorials increase as we ride on into the heart of the Somme. The next stop is Thiepval, the main memorial to the lost French and British soldiers from WW1. Our destination will be Béthune.
Overnight in hotel (breakfast, lunch & dinner included).
Cycle approx 114km (71 miles)
Day 6: Béthune – Dover
Our final day’s cycle will take us north through small villages and towns to our ultimate destination of Dunkirk, a very poignant place in our history. Subject to operational commitments we will board HMS Bulwark and depart for Dover, arriving at the port by landing craft! Accommodation will be provided in Dover, where we plan to have a celebratory dinner to recognise your achievement.
Overnight in hotel (breakfast, lunch & dinner included).
Cycle approx 93km (58 miles)
Day 7: Dover – London
Coaches will transfer us to Blackheath (SE London) where we will be reunited with our bicycles and head into London to meet the cyclists of the Great British Hero Ride at Whitehall. The final leg in this challenge will take us past the Cenotaph and on to our finishing point: Horse Guards parade.
(breakfast included).
Cycle approx 12km (8 miles)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Tour cost
The tour cost includes all meals (other than breakfast on Day 2 and lunch and dinner on Day 7); accommodation; support vehicle and Discover Adventure leaders, drivers & cooks.
It also includes transportation to London on Day7.
The tour cost does not include travel insurance, meals as specified, tips or personal expenditure.
Approx. £100 - £150 is recommended for personal expenses.
Food and Accommodation
5 nights in **/*** hotels. The hotels are comfortable and well-situated for our ride, but not luxurious. All rooms have en suite facilities. All food is included except breakfast on Day 2 and lunch and dinner on Day 7 as above.
Passport, Visa and Vaccinations
A valid ten-year passport is required. Visas are not required for British passport-holders. No specific vaccinations are recommended for France but a tetanus injection is essential.
Climate
May 16 - 25°C
The climate of northern France is very similar to that of southern England, rain is a possibility in May and it may be windy.
CYCLING INFORMATION
Support vehicles will be with the group at all times. All luggage and spares will be carried in them.
The route is mainly undulating, distances are fairly long, varying from 55 – 75 miles per day, and participants should make sure they are fit enough to manage these distances. We will be riding mainly on small country roads. Traffic is light on most of the roads but when we pass through large towns we will go through as a group.
Bike Repairs
There will be a range of spares in the vehicle along with a full tool kit. However it is impossible for us to carry spares for every eventuality so it is vital that if you bring your own bike it is in good order before departure.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU SUPPLY YOUR OWN HELMET AND WEAR IT AT ALL TIMES WHILE CYCLING.
Further information, kit list etc will be sent on receiving your booking
Please phone the office with any questions.
Discover Adventure Ltd
Throope Down House
Blandford Road
Coombe Bissett
Salisbury
SP5 4LN
ATOL 5636
Tel: 01722 718444
Fax: 01722 718445
info@discoveradventure.com
www.discoveradventure.com