I am going on a 3 night (4 day) tour to Ypres.2 full days will be taken up around the battlefields and all 3 nights will be spent in Ypres.I haven't decided what route to cross the channel by yet .I have considered cyclefrance's channel tunnel option.Can anyone advise on routes to Ypres that are cycle friendly. We would like to visit Cassel , Bergues and Gravelines on th eway there or on the return.
Simon
Calais to Ypres
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Penfold
- Posts: 223
- Joined: 30 Jan 2007, 3:07pm
- Location: Black Country in the heart of England (Gods country)
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Great campsite here some 15 mins walk from the Menin Gate
VZW Jeugdstadion
Leopold III Laan 16
8900 Ieper
Belgium
0032 57 21 72 82
http://www.jeugdstadion.be/index_english.htm
I have used the site and its very clean and couldn't be better located.
VZW Jeugdstadion
Leopold III Laan 16
8900 Ieper
Belgium
0032 57 21 72 82
http://www.jeugdstadion.be/index_english.htm
I have used the site and its very clean and couldn't be better located.
I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything,
I still believe that people are really good at heart.
- Anne Frank
There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is England.
- Winston Churchill
I still believe that people are really good at heart.
- Anne Frank
There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is England.
- Winston Churchill
I've done similar for the last 3 years, staying Poperinge or Ieper. (Rent-a-house in Ieper last year, the Palace hotel in Pop the previous years)
Ferry Norfolk Lines Dover - Dunkerque.
It's a mainly lorries ferry, and goes to a port half way between Dunkerque and Gravelines. Wait for the lorries to clear (usually you are last off anyway), and there's hardly any traffic apart from the first roundabout.
There's no building at the Dunkerque end, so if you are more than an hour before sailing, do your waiting in the Loon-Plage PMU cafe. Past form is that they start letting you on with about 1 hour to 55 mins before, and it's good to be on first as you get to the front of the food queue (open before sailing).
Routes we've used have been...
Direct:
Dunkerque Ferry - Loon Plage - Craywick - Broukerque - Bergues (along S side of canal), - Bamberque - Houtkerque - Poperinge - Vlamertinge - Ieper.
Return route via Cassel
Ieper - Reningelst - Godewaersvelde - St Sylvestre-Cappel - Cassel - Arneke - Zegerscappel - Pitgam - Broukerque - Craywick - Loon-Plage - Ferry
The Passchendaele museum in Zonnebeke is well worth a visit.
Ferry Norfolk Lines Dover - Dunkerque.
It's a mainly lorries ferry, and goes to a port half way between Dunkerque and Gravelines. Wait for the lorries to clear (usually you are last off anyway), and there's hardly any traffic apart from the first roundabout.
There's no building at the Dunkerque end, so if you are more than an hour before sailing, do your waiting in the Loon-Plage PMU cafe. Past form is that they start letting you on with about 1 hour to 55 mins before, and it's good to be on first as you get to the front of the food queue (open before sailing).
Routes we've used have been...
Direct:
Dunkerque Ferry - Loon Plage - Craywick - Broukerque - Bergues (along S side of canal), - Bamberque - Houtkerque - Poperinge - Vlamertinge - Ieper.
Return route via Cassel
Ieper - Reningelst - Godewaersvelde - St Sylvestre-Cappel - Cassel - Arneke - Zegerscappel - Pitgam - Broukerque - Craywick - Loon-Plage - Ferry
The Passchendaele museum in Zonnebeke is well worth a visit.
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Penfold
- Posts: 223
- Joined: 30 Jan 2007, 3:07pm
- Location: Black Country in the heart of England (Gods country)
- Contact:
Simon,
Dont know if you have visited the battle fields before or if you now much of the layout of the area.
Forgive me if you are already well clued up re Ypes etc.
If not, why not book a local guide.
I can't recommend Iain McHenry highly enough, the man is a walking encyclopedia on the area and its battlegrounds. He's a Brit who lives in Ypres. I have used his services there and on the Somme.
He charges around £120 per day but those days are to suit you. Start and finish when you like. If one day is all you want from him thats fine.
He has a website you can contact him though here:
http://www.trenchmaptours.com/
Believe me you will not find better. (no, I'm not on the payroll)
Dont know if you have visited the battle fields before or if you now much of the layout of the area.
Forgive me if you are already well clued up re Ypes etc.
If not, why not book a local guide.
I can't recommend Iain McHenry highly enough, the man is a walking encyclopedia on the area and its battlegrounds. He's a Brit who lives in Ypres. I have used his services there and on the Somme.
He charges around £120 per day but those days are to suit you. Start and finish when you like. If one day is all you want from him thats fine.
He has a website you can contact him though here:
http://www.trenchmaptours.com/
Believe me you will not find better. (no, I'm not on the payroll)
I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything,
I still believe that people are really good at heart.
- Anne Frank
There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is England.
- Winston Churchill
I still believe that people are really good at heart.
- Anne Frank
There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is England.
- Winston Churchill
In May we are finishing our short tour of Belgium by riding from Ypres to Calais. A local CTC member has recommended Poperinge/St Omer/Calais. You can cycle through a lovely part of the Marais National Park on the Calais to St Omer canal cycle path. St Omer is an old historic town and from there to Poperinge looks superb cycling along any number of quiet country lanes.
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Penfold
- Posts: 223
- Joined: 30 Jan 2007, 3:07pm
- Location: Black Country in the heart of England (Gods country)
- Contact:
If you are staying in Poperinge try this place;
TALBOT HOUSE (TOC H), Gasthuisstraat 43, 8970 Poperinge: Beautiful 18th century house used extensively by thousands of allied soldiers during WW1. Rooms available today for self catering accommodation at an unbeatable price. Described as a living museum, the house is located about 250 meters from the town square of Poperinghe (10 miles west of Ypres). It really is THE place to stay for the battlefield tourist. The rooms are simple and clean. The attic contains a chapel. Please visit the Talbot House website below. Contact: 0032 (0) 57 33 32 28. Web – www.talbothouse.be
Perhaps the most famous refuge for all ranks of soldiers on the salient during WW1. Home then to the Rev Tubby Clayton and mentioned in Harry Patch's book
I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything,
I still believe that people are really good at heart.
- Anne Frank
There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is England.
- Winston Churchill
I still believe that people are really good at heart.
- Anne Frank
There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is England.
- Winston Churchill
Calais to Ypres
Thanks to everyone who has contributed.Yes I have been to Ypres quite a few times previously.Usually my trips to France have been by car with wife and children in tow or by motorcycle on a whistle stop go fast everywhere tour. What I would really like to do this time is travel by backroads at bicycle pace and see the things I have missed.I've studied the maps and I just wanted to make sure that canal roads don't suddenly stop in the middle of nowhere , and that there are bridges in the right place to get you across.Thanks again to everyone
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fietslogies
- Posts: 114
- Joined: 14 Aug 2007, 9:55pm
- Location: Belgium
- Contact:
Cycling around Ypres
Some of my maps on the web could be quite useful :
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Ie ... Nieuwpoort
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Be ... em-Eeklo-G
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bo ... ark-Staden
Cheers,
Fietslogies
30 more routes through Belgium using towpaths and abandoned railway tracks : http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/by/fietslogies
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Ie ... Nieuwpoort
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Be ... em-Eeklo-G
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bo ... ark-Staden
Cheers,
Fietslogies
30 more routes through Belgium using towpaths and abandoned railway tracks : http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/by/fietslogies