Cycling UK Forum

If you haven't already got a copy, I recommend Major & Mrs Holt's Battlefield Guide to Normandy. ISBN number 0 85052 662-0 was £14.95 Packed with info about museums. monuments even routes to take.
Also useful Normandie tourist office. www.normandy-tourism.org
Try to get a copy of their booklet, Espace Historique de la bataille de Normandie.
It contains a good list of museums.

If you go up to St Mere Eglise look out for a museum called the house at dead man's corner. It's between Carentan ant St mere Eglise.
It was the HQ of the German para's and then captured by E coy 506 PIR of 101st Airbourne. Easy Company of the TV series.
I had the added bonus of meeting two of the vets when I visited. (Bill Guarniere and Babe Hefron)
I also recommend getting a copy of After the Battle magazine covering Normandy.

A fascinating area. My wife and I have toured it on tandem and solo a few times. I don't know whether it's still available but Michelin did a facsimile of a post war map showing all the beaches and attack points and breakouts inland.

Coincidentally my father-in-law had a buddy who died a few years back who was one of the original pre-SAS special service units. He was parachuted solo behind the landing area a fortnight before D-Day with a vague mission of finding out as much as possible and not to get killed too quickly. Tough as old boots.

We are planning a trip in August biking, ideally along a coastal route to see the landing sites.... any tips in relation to route? We will probably be riding for 7 days, maybe more? We are planning on just 'finding' b&bs and campsites as we go... is this a safe plan of action or does anyone know of any major issues that I'm not thinking of haha!

ANY advise for new holiday riders greatly appreciated!

Vicki

Hi Vicki, there is an easily accesible campsite at Ouistreham, it's only a 10 minute ride from the port, the port is cycle friendly and not at all difficult to negotiate. There are many cycle routes around the area. There is loads to see including Pegasus Bridge and many war memorials.

a few years ago I did a circular trip.
From Caen along the coast to Carentan then returned to Caen via Bayeux which was an easy 4 day tour.

I did Cherbourg to Ouistreham last August. I did not book any accomodation as there are plenty of campsites along the way. The ride was a joy from start to finish as no real hills.

Although I kept mainly to the coast with the odd detour (Bayeux is worth a visit even if the signposting is not all it might be in the city centre) the total distance was about 190 miles.

Brian