World War 2 beaches visiting ideas ? (1 Viewer)

[Katies-travels]

Visiting on 5th March few days, I know its a bit early but never done aires etc before any ideas where to stay Routes etc would be most appreciated

 

[Tea Bag]

Hi.
" Vicarious books Dover",sell "All Aires of France" books,along with loads of books with information about Aires in other countries. Plus,ACSI . books with hundreds of discounted sites all over Europe ., Another idea,a chap connected with coach tours suggested to a question on a post.go into your travel agent,and get a "Coach Holiday" brochure on "WW2 Beaches/landings",sorted. .Even has the tour mapped out.
There will be more first hand information given,we have called in at various ones on our travels and in most cases,there is parking overnight,as long as you respect the areas.
Tea Bag

 

[namwaldog]

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[Rob Turner]

Arromanches-Les-Bains is worth a visit and the aire is a 2 minute walk from the Landing beach.
Good Museums and loads of history.

 

[MR. FUSION]

Apart from the usual stuff Make sure you go to see the mulberries and the museum, you can even get into one at low tide. The German ossuary nr Mont St Michael is also worth a visit to see the contrast between what happened to German soldiers remains after the war and allied soldiers ......Germans basically shovelled into mass graves. If you get interested in war history I recommend the eagles nest/Berghoff and the wolf's lair (northern Poland) and Peenemunde (baltic coast) Both have Aires nearby!

 

[MR. FUSION]

Apart from the usual stuff Make sure you go to see the mulberries and the museum, you can even get into one at low tide. The German ossuary nr Mont St Michael is also worth a visit to see the contrast between what happened to German soldiers remains after the war and allied soldiers ......Germans basically shovelled into mass graves. If you get interested in war history I recommend the eagles nest/Berghoff and the wolf's lair (northern Poland) and Peenemunde (baltic coast) all have Aires nearby!

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[John de Manche]

The aire at Ouisterham is right on the beach next to the ferry terminal. This is Sword Beach and there are two museums within walking distance of the aire.
If you are going in March you will probably get in the aire at Arromanches OK.
We have found that parking a MH in Arromanches can be very difficult at busy times.
We usually head out of the town towards Courselles-s-mer and park at the 360 degree cinema. From there it is a short walk back into the town, but quite steep on the return.
As well as the beaches themselves Pegasus Bridge, Merville Battery, and Pointe du Hoc are well worth a visit.
As @Tea Bag says, get the Aires book or campercontact app and do some research before you go. When you get to one place you will find brochures for others.

 

[Tea Bag]

If your nearby,the "Cupola,near Wissants ? ?spelling and the "Blockhouse" near Epperlecces ? spelling again. Two rocket bases,if you are visiting the two,you can get a reduced price for the two at either one.
The Cupola ?,makes you realize just how close the germans were to alter the outcome.
Tea Bag

 

[grumps147]

As well as suggestions above:-

Saints-Maire-Eglise, a no facility aire on car/bus park right in centre, USA airborne museum. Both major cemeteries for UK at Bayeux, and USA at Coleville sur mer, are worth visiting for contrasting styles.
At Coleville if the tide is out walk out to edge of sea, turn around and walk back inland, imagining all the anti tank obstacles on the way and the fire coming down as in the a Saving Private a Ryan film. Hard to imagine what all on all the initial beach landings had to face.
Pegasus, Merville and Point du Hoc as mentioned above all illustrate differing aspects of the landings.

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[Electraglide]

There is a free aire at Juno Beach, open until Easter I think.

 

[Badknee]

Arromanches-Les-Bains is worth a visit and the aire is a 2 minute walk from the Landing beach.
Good Museums and loads of history.

We went a couple or three years ago, brilliant place steeped in WWll history but quite sad too.

 

[wingman]

Utah Beach is well worth a visit. There is a large Campsite (Camping Utah Beach) though I'm not sure if it's open in March. There is an Aire near the campsite and another parking area right on the beach road. Failing that, you can park in the museum car park (grass).

The museum and memorials to the Americans are modern and very moving. There is also a small plaque dedicated to the yanks who died at Slapton Sands, here in the UK whilst training for D-Day. Some of the beach entrances are named after American soldiers.

There is also a local village (Sainte-Marie-du-Mont) which is interesting. You can do a free tour by following numbered wall-plaques which tell the story of the first fire-fight on D-Day within the village.

Sainte-Mère-Église (made famous among other things for the parachutist caught on the church spire) is a short drive away from Utah Beach. There is a car park with toilets there.

Hope that helps
James

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[PeteH]

Great Idea!!. Now I only have to persuade "err indoors" that France is not just for driving through on way to the Sun!.

Pete