Gold and beyond.....
Please note this schedule involves a fair amount of walking, not all of it on flat ground. If you have any mobility concerns, please advise at the time of booking.
Gold Beach, westernmost of the three British Second Army beaches and sector of the only Victoria Cross awarded for actions on D-Day.
CSM Stanley Hollis, veteran of the French and North African campaigns was the recipient and you'll see where he landed and the locations of the two actions for which he was awarded the VC.*
The German defences around the former preventorium in Asnelles proved to be some of the toughest faced during the invasion. You'll see the surviving bunkers and learn of the efforts to subdue them.
The impressive remains of the Mulberry Harbour remind us of the incredible effort which went into ensuring the success of the invasion and subsequent campaign.
The Marine-Küsten-Batterie in Longues sur Mer is situated between Gold Beach and Omaha and was able to shell both. The concrete bunkers are impressive, perhaps more so the surviving 15cm guns, the last of the coastal artillery weapons facing the Allies which are still in situ.
In one of the most impressive yet overlooked achievements of D-Day, Royal Marines of 47 Commando reached the outskirts of Port en Bessin. You'll see the locations of two remarkable actions in the taking of the town itself.
*One of the sites which CSM Hollis helped overcome was the Mont Fleury battery which is very close to the new British Memorial in Ver sur Mer. At the time of writing, the memorial is nearing completion. For now, it is still possible to visit it but access may be restricted once it it enters the very final stages of construction and on or near the date of whatever opening ceremony is scheduled.