The best way to study a battlefield is to walk across it. You get a feel for the ground, appreciate the importance of a low ridge or an apparently insignificant re-entrant and gain an understanding which studying maps cannot give.

Our walks tours have been popular for many years; for the second year Professor Richard Holmes CBE will accompany your walks across the 1916 Somme battlefield, pausing to discuss the actions of many British battalions from 1st July, through the summer attacks and counter attacks to the final days of the autumn. Following the huge success of last year, when many people were disappointed not to get a place on the tour, we will be repeating the tour this year and adding a second tour which will cover different battle areas.

July 1st, the opening day of the battle of the Somme has a special place in British memories and feelings about the Great War. It was the first major British offensive on the Western Front; the huge volunteer armies were in France and hopes were high, at home and in the trenches. We will look at some of the actions along the 14 miles of the British front line; the diversionary attack at Gommecourt, the varied fortunes of the Pals Battalions from disaster in the north to success in the south. The enormous casualties of the first day (more than 57,000) shattered the hopes of a quick victory, but as the summer wore on the balance shifted. Innovative tactics such as night attacks, the lifting barrage, the first use of tanks, above all the fighting qualities and endurance of the British and Colonial troops inflicted such high casualties on the Germans that their High Command ordered the construction of a defensive line, to which they would withdraw in the winter of 1916-17.

WALKING WITH HOLTS
Our first Walking tour of the Somme battlefields was run in 1994, as an experiment – a very successful one! There has been a Somme Walks tour every year since then and usually one to a different area as well, including the Salient, 1918, Champagne, Normandy, The Hindenburg Line and Flanders. This year we are, as requested, introducing a new tour – around Arras and repeating our Normandy Walks. The 1914 Walks will now be included in 2011, together with an Old Front Line tour, walking from Serre to the Somme and following the line as closely as possible.

The aim of the tours is to get you off the roads, onto some of the tracks, away from the traffic and with time to check your maps and get a real feel for the ground. The background will be explained on the coach before we arrive and there will short talks throughout the walk. They are usually 5 – 7km and you need only be reasonably fit and come with good walking shoes/boots, an effective rain jacket plus suncream and a hat. There is no rush and for once, straggling is not frowned on! Those who reach the next stand will find plenty to talk about as the slower walkers catch up.

If you haven’t walked the battlefields before, come with us this year and see if you like it.

Part 1 – ITINERARY
Day 1 (Monday): Depart Victoria Coach Station London 08:45. Dover – Calais ferry. Drive south to the Somme battlefield. Walk 1 The diversionary attack at Gommecourt, 1st July 1916. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel du Golf, Arras (3 night stay).
Day 2: Walk 2 From Serre, along the Redan Ridge to the Sunken Road at Beaumont Hamel. Group lunch in Auchonvillers.
Walk 3 Newfoundland Park, Brocks Benefit and the Leipzig Salient and redoubt at Thiepval. Dinner in our hotel.
Day 3: Walk 4 Mametz Wood to Bazentin le Petit. Picnic lunch. Walk 5 From Crucifix Carner to High Wood and Flers, where tanks were first used in September 1916.
Day 4: Walk 6 Walk from Contalmaison to the Ancre Valley, through Pozieres and Courcelette. Lunch break in Arras. Calais – Dover ferry. Arrive approx 18:45 Dover 20:30 London.