Anyone got any good day trip ideas France or Belgian

OK_Sauce

The WWI battlefields and town of Ypres (now called Ieper) are an hour from Calais. Well worth a visit.

Tarry

Thank you, my father would find that interesting

MrSmartprice

OK_Sauce wrote: »

The WWI battlefields and town of Ypres (now called Ieper) are an hour from Calais. Well worth a visit.

Ieper is simply the Belgian name, Ypres is the French. It is certainly worth a visit to see the Menin Gate, preferably as part of visits to several of the towns in the area. Albert has an underground museum of WWI. Arras is a really pleasant town too, with a fantastic underground tour, the ancient tunnels were used as an HQ in WWI. Nearby is Vimy Ridge with its huge memorial near the battlefield, where there are more tunnels. The Canadians look after the place and conduct tours for free.

This part of France is fascinating, we did all this part about 3 years ago. It inspired us to go to more Somme battlefields at Thiepval, Beaumont Hamel and area the following time, which also happens to be an excellent gastronomic region ariound Roye and Peronne.

Voyager2002

Tarry, you don't say where you or your father live. I have assumed that you are within easy distance of a channel port such as Dover or Portsmouth: if you live in the north, trains and Eurostar, or flying, are your only sensible options.

If you consider flying, one Ryanair destination that I would love to visit is Dinard, near to St Malo. Avoid the major cities since you would waste too much time getting into town from the airport.

Tarry

I can quite easily get to Dover (by car, or bus as my local bus route goes all the way to Dover), Ashford (Eurostar) or Newhaven as I'm in easy reach of the ports Good point of living down here

mrtg0525

Indeed it is - Eurotunnel is about 15 minutes from my front door . Obviously I'm paying for the fares with Tesco Clubcard vouchers...

If your father is interested in WWI stuff, Arras might be worth a visit. The British Army built a whole underground city in exisiting quarries under the town in (IIRC) 1917 and they've only been rediscovered recently. Parts of it are now accessible as a museum.

Tarry

That sounds interesting, I think he'd like that He watches tv programmes on that sort of thing anyway.

I need to talk to him though, but I used here for ideas as I know you guys all know about travel and cheaply

OK_Sauce

MrSmartprice wrote: »

Ieper is simply the Belgian name, Ypres is the French.

As it's in the Flemish speaking part of Belgium, on maps and local signs, it's called Ieper. HTH

ossie

At Arques near Saint Omer there is a glass factory with a factory shop which sells items for about 20% below normal French shop prices.


Zone industrielle, R.N.43 avenue du General de Gaulle,
62510 ARQUES
[SIZE=+1]Directions:[/SIZE] Take "Arques" exit from A26 autoroute. Follow signs to: "Accueil visites".
[SIZE=+1]Guide to opening hours:
[/SIZE]OPEN Monday-Sat 0900-1730; CLOSED: Sundays and holidays.

Tarry

Thank you for suggestions