Follow in the footsteps of Heroes
On our In The Footsteps®
Battle of Waterloo
Anniversary Small Group Tour
17 — 21 June 2021
5-Days / 4-Nights
Your In The Footsteps® Battle of Waterloo Anniversary Tour will combine attending
renactments and other commemorative activiy with touring the battlefield. You will get to visit the
most significant sites of the Waterloo Campaign that took place over the period of 16 to 18 June
1815 where your battlefield historian will tell you about the battle and recount some of the true
stories behind the events that took place.
You will hear about the acts of valour performed by the soldiers that took part and remember the
fallen who gave their lives in the fighting. You will sample one of the most important events of the
19th Century, an event that shaped Europe and defined modern civilisation.
Join us for our In The Footsteps® Battle of Waterloo Anniversary Tour.
Wednesday, 16 June 2021: Check In
Travel to your hotel under your own arrangements and check in.
Thursday, 17 June 2021: Ligny and Quatre Bras
Your tour begins when your battlefield historian collects you from the hotel reception at 09:00
hrs.
We start at the mill at Fleurus where Napoleon set up his headquarters on 16 June 1815. Here we
discuss the prelude to the Battle of Ligny before moving to the forward edge of Fleurus overlooking
the ground between the French and Prussian Forces to discuss their dispositions and the initial
phases of the battle. Dropping down into Saint-Amand we look at the battle that developed to the
west of Ligny between General Vandamme's French III Army Corps and General Ziethen's
Prussian I Army Corps before continuing into Ligny. In Ligny we stop at La Ferme d'En Haut where
we discuss the battle in the centre before visiting the Centre General Gérrad (Battle of Ligny
Museum), which was a farm that had served as a hospital after the battle. From the Centre General
Gérrad we drive to Bussy Windmill where Field Marshal Blücher set up his headquarters.
Here we discuss the finale of the battle, the Prussian withdrawal and Napoleon's lost
chance.
From Bussy Windmill we take a break for lunch.
In the afternoon we concentrate on the Battle at Quatre Bras. We discuss the events that took place
at Quatre Bras on 16th June 1815 when Marshal Ney's French were checked and held by the Prince
of Orange's Anglo-Dutch forces. This will include a tour of some of the battlefield sites
including: Piraumont Farm, Gemioncourt Farm, the Bois de Bossu, the crossroads and the monument
dedicated to the Duke of Brunswick.
Our visit to Quatre Bras concludes our first day on the battlefield and we return to your hotel at
approximately 17:30 hrs.
Friday, 18 June 2021 — Commemorative Activity Day
(See Commemoration Notice)
The second day of your tour begins when your battlefield historian collects you from the hotel
reception at 09:00 hrs.
We start the day at Le Caillou Farmhouse, which was where Napoleon spent the night of 17 June 1815
before the main battle. Here you will have the opportunity to look around the museum and nearby
reenactor camp sites to get a flavour of the events taking place.
From La Caillou we take a break for lunch.
In the afternoon we head over to the Château d'Hougoumont where you will have the
opportunity to look around the museum and nearby reenactor camp sites to soak up more of the
commemorative atmosphere.
Throughout the day you will have the opportunity to watch the reenactors as they play out scenes and
cameos of the fighting that took place on 18 June 1815.
Our visit to the Château d'Hougoumont concludes our second day on the battlefield and we
return
to your hotel at approximately 17:30 hrs.
Saturday, 19 June 2021 — La Belle Alliance, Hougoumont and Wellington's Ridge
The third day of your tour begins when your battlefield historian collects you from the hotel
reception at 09:00 hrs.
We begin at La Belle Alliance to get Napoleon's view of the battlefield and discuss the
dispositions of the two opposing Armies. From La Belle Alliance we drive to the area where
Lieutenant General (GdC) Count Honoré Charles Michel Joseph Reille's French II Army Corps
was deployed facing the British right and the Château d'Hougoumont to get the French
perspective of the battlefield. We then continue on to the recently restored Hougoumont site where
we discuss the defence by the British and the Battle that developed on the British right wing.
From Hougoumont we take a break for lunch.
Following lunch we visit the new Visitor's Centre, climb the Butte du Lion to get a bird's
eye view of the battlefield and see the excellent 360 Panorama before walking the short distance to
overlook the battlefield and discuss the advance by the French I Army Corps commanded by Lieutenant
General Jean Baptiste Drouet, Count d'Erlon. After discussing the advance and subsequent charge
by the British Heavy Cavalry we take a gentle walk to the site of the Mercer Memorial where we
discuss the role played by Captain Mercer's Battery during the charge of the French Cavalry.
From the Mercer Memorial we head to La Haye Sainte where we discuss the defence by the King's
German Legion.
This concludes our third day touring and we return to your hotel at approximately 17:30 hrs.
Sunday, 20 June 2021 — Plancenoit and the defeat of Old Guard
The fourth day of your tour begins when your battlefield historian collects you from the hotel
reception at 09:00 hrs.
We begin by heading back to the battlefield where we turn our attention to the arrival of the
Prussians and the effect that they had on the battle. We discuss their appearance on the battlefield
and the desperate fighting that took place, initially between the Prussians and Lieutenant General
Lobau's French VI Army Corps and later the Battalions of the French Young Guard, for the control
of Plancenoit.
From Plancenoit we take a break for lunch.
In the afternoon we then return once more to La Belle Alliance close to the centre of the
battlefield and Napoleons vantage point. Here we discuss the advance of the Old Guard against
Wellington's British and Napoleon's subsequent flight from the battlefield.
This concludes day and we return you to your hotel for approximately 17:30 hrs.
Monday, 20 June 2021 — Wellington Museum, St Joseph's Church, Drop Off and Onward Journey
This morning you check out of your hotel. Your final day begins when your battlefield historian
collects you from reception at 09:00 hrs.
We begin with a visit the Wellington Museum and St Joseph's Church in Waterloo before spending
the remainder of the morning summing up and reviewing the Battle of Waterloo on the
battlefield.
After lunch we head off to drop you off at our agreed drop-off point where your battlefield
historian will bid you farewell.
Commemoration Notice
Details of the events taking place during the weekend are still to be published. Once the events available are known, we will select the most appropriate event to match the customers in each party and the itinerary may have to be switched around to suit. The event we attend may not be the 'official event' attended by heads of state as those events are usually ticketed and each individual has to apply for tickets.
Please note: Itineraries are subject to change due to operational reasons. Any changes will be advised closer to the time of departure.
The cost of your tour
The cost of our In The Footsteps® Battle of Waterloo Anniversary Tour is
£1,350.00 per person.
A deposit of £300.00 per person is payable on booking. The balacne of £1,050 per person
will be payable 8 weeks prior to your tour (22 April 2021).
A supplement of £140.00 GBP applies where single occupancy is required.
Price per person based upon a minimum of 4 people and a maximum of 7 per tour vehicle. Please
note the tour will not go ahead if the minimum number do not book..
If you prefer a private tour for just two people there will be a supplement of £880.00 GBP
per person, sharing the same room (double or twin subject to availability). If single
accommodation is required an additional supplement of £140.00 GBP will apply.
Booking indicates your acceptance of our Tour Terms and Conditions.
What your tour includes
- Full Services of a Battlefield Historian/Guide throughout the tour.
- Visits to all locations listed in the itinerary.
- Pick up and drop off at one of our set location.
- 3 star hotel accommodation in Dunkirk.
- Breakfast for 4 days.
- Museum entrance fees.
- Full administration and booking service.
- 24 hour on call UK Duty Manager Service throughout your tour.
What your tour does not include
- Lunches and evening meals.
- Drinks.
- Travel insurance.
- Personal expenses.
Accommodation
Your accommodation for your tour will in one of our 3 star partner hotels.
You will be told in which hotel you will be accommodated prior to booking your tour, please make
sure you are happy with it as changes may not be possible after booking.
Battlefield Historian/Guide
Your Battlefield Historian/Guide is an established member of our team and is experienced in
leading tours to the battlefields of the Second World War.
The Battlefield Historian/Guide will meet you daily at your hotel reception prior to departure.
Financial Protection
Your money is safe. We are members ot the TTA and all monies paid to us are held in a trust account and cannot be drawn down by us until the tour is over.
Why travel with In The Footsteps?
- We have over 16 years experience in designing and operating Private Battlefield Tours, Battlefield Studies and Staff Rides.
- Our team of battlefield historians and guides are selected for their experience, depth of knowledge, enthusiasm and ability to tell the story in an entertaining and engaging way. The majority are accredited members of the prestigious Guild of Battlefield Guides. This means they endeavour to maintain high levels of good practice commensurate with the Guild's ethos.
- We operate a full booking, planning and design service.
- Office is open 24-hours a day whilst the tour is operating.
- Combined Employers and Public Liability Insurance (a copy can be supplied upon request).
Enquire About Your In The Footsteps® Battle of Waterloo Anniversary Tour Today
If you are interested in this tour please contact us on enquiries@inthefootsteps.com or click on the button below which will take you to our Enquiry Form. Either way, please tell us which tour you are interested in, when you would like to go and how many people there are in your party. You will receive a reply within 24 hours.
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Page last updated: 16 July 2021.