Tour Summary
This is a tour of the British sector, mainly intended as an overview of events, rather than a detailed visit for enthusiasts. It is nicely paced and includes two museums to better explain the events and make it suitable for people of all levels of interest. I can offer more detailed bespoke tours of the British sector - please contact me for more information. Please note - all museums visited are at your own expense.

Itinerary (Morning)
This tour starts where elements of the British 9th Parachute Battalion landed. We examine the overall Allied plan and look at the difficulties of the Airborne drop. Then we travel to Merville Battery. The assault on Merville Battery is regarded as one of the most daring and audacious attacks mounted on D-Day. Under strength and with few heavy weapons an assault party breached the minefield and barbed wire and attacked the battery. Now an outstanding museum, you will walk around the site and see the preserved bunkers and relive the action by watching the amazing immersive light/video show (right). The museum is also home to a preserved C47 and several artillery pieces.

From Merville we move through more drop zones to near Chateau St Côme an area of heavy fighting by the British Airborne troops and the veteran 51st Highland Division against determined German troops and armour. There are some fine monuments here and great views across the Orne valley towards Sword Beach. We consider the importance of high ground and the largely forgotten nature of the east flank throughout June and July 1944. We then head to Breville, a village that was very nearly wiped off the face of the earth during the terrible fighting that took place. Our next stop is the beautiful British and Commonwealth Cemetery at Ranville where I will share several poignant stories about the men buried there.

We then move to Pegasus Bridge and arguably the most famous British action of June 6th. Gliders carrying specially trained assault troops of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Infantry landed here. The force needing to seize and hold the vital crossings over the Orne Canal and Rivers. We look at the landings, the assault, and efforts by the Germans to counter-attack and retake the bridges.

Now we head to Ouistreham on Sword Beach for a quick snack lunch.

We then turn our attention to the landings on Sword Beach and look at several of the memorials and bunkers along the coast. Despite the reputation of Omaha Beach, Sword had by far the greatest number of German fortifications overlooking the beach and also the threat of German armour a few miles inland. We also consider the importance of the Commando Brigade and their role to speed up to Pegasus Bridge and relieve the Glider forces there.

Now we head inland via the very route taken by the British Commandos through Colleville. We stop for a visit to the fearsome German defensive position codenamed by the Allies - Hillman. No visit to Normandy is complete without seeing this amazing site. We consider the German weaponry and cover the various infantry, engineer and armoured assaults on the position during D-Day.

Itinerary (Afternoon)
The drive from Sword to Gold Beach takes us past Juno Beach where we may stop for a photo stop - time-permitting. At Gold Beach, we stop to tell the story of CSM Stan Hollis of the 6th Battalion Green Howards. He was the only person to receive the Victoria Cross medal for gallantry on D-Day and indeed was recommended twice. We trace his steps from the sand dunes to the site of the pillbox he took out in a solo charge and on past the Mont Fleury gun battery - his unit's key objective. From there we continue to Arromanches where we visit the landings museum there - especially to learn about the artificial "Mulberry" harbours. This picturesque beachfront town has book and souvenir shops and lovely ice-cream and crepe vendors.

Our final stop of the day is at Longues sur Mer a formidable gun battery to the north of Bayeux. After looking at the the guns and casemates we return to Bayeux.