BATTLEFIELD TOURS with In the footsteps

Battlefield tours: A modern link with the past

It's a sobering experience, to say the least, even driving through the north of France on a regular basis and passing by the numerous memorial sites dedicated to the fallen soldiers during the devastation of the two World Wars. Even these days, leaving Amiens on the D1029 and passing by the intersecting D23 and the location of the Australian National Villers-Bretonneux Memorial is a powerful experience, no matter where you come from.

The flat panorama that greets the eye throughout the Somme or the Pas-de-Calais departments of France acts as a gentle reminder of the destruction that once was, however the Canadian National Vimy Memorial site near Arras, commemorating the Battle of Vimy Ridge, is one of the few chances a visitor to the Western Front has to see the preserved trench lines of the battlefield.

With the former battlefields of France being easily accessible from the French capital, it's feasible to base your stay in hotels in Paris and travel out to see the rest of the countryside from there. However, while the high speed train network in France is ideal for Parisians looking to cross the country of a weekend to get beachside in a matter of hours, travelling shorter distances often leaves a lot to be desired. Renting a car leaves you wondering where to turn next, as small French villages can often be a maze.

Leave the experts in the driver's seat and consider taking a tour to pay your well-deserved respects whilst following in the footsteps of these fine young soldiers.

From tailor-made tours of northwestern Europe, through to hotels in Edinburgh or car rentals in London, you'll get the best deal online. Trust your travels to the experts, and really go places!