British Sector
Private Group 1 Day Tour Sword Beach

Experience one of our small group or private tours of the British Sector and surrounding areas. We have two different itineraries for you to choose from or you can visit both by Normandy Coastline taking one of our Two Day Tours available Here.

Select either one of our itineraries or let us design one specific for you. Whatever you choose you can rest assured that you will have a fascinating Tour.

All our Tours are undertaken in comfortable and modern transport with complimentary Soft drinks and Water are available throughout the day.

Our Tours are designed to allow a lunch break which can either be taken at a convenient local restaurant or cafe OR we can supply a delicious picnic lunch at a small additional cost, details at checkout.

Itinerary 1

We start the day at Arromanches to look at the story of the Mulberry Harbour, the artificial port that was key to Allied success and we consider a specific problem for the Allies, the need for deep water harbour.

There is an opportunity to visit the Arromanches 360-degree cinema entry fee 6.49€

We then move on to Sword Beach where we look at the units involved in this sector of the invasion. This was as the Eastern most point of the invasion out of 5 landing areas. (But did you know there was a potential 6^th landing beach?)

This sector involved troops from the British 3^rd Division and elements of British & French Commandos. All of this we will consider in more detail on this part of the tour.

Our third stop of the day is at Merville Battery we Learn about the 9^th Parachute Battalion lead by Lt. Col. Terence Otway, with 600 troops in 8 Horsa Gliders, supported by Sappers from 591^st (Antrim) Parachute Squadron. Discover why only 150 troops were able to mount the assault.

This was a German strong point overlooking Sword Beach and posing a threat to invasion troops in this area. Entry to the site Adult 9.50 Euros.

After the Merville Battery and lunch, we visit the iconic Pegasus Bridge. We walk the area around Pegasus Bridge and see where the glider borne troops landed in one of the first actions on D Day.

We then spend time in the excellent Pegasus Memorial Museum – 8.90€ entry fee. There is then an opportunity to have tea\coffee in the Gondrée Café, originally owned by Thérèse and George Gondrée, the first house to be liberated in 1944.

Our last stop of the day will then be the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Banneville-La-Campagne, which is a short 15-minute drive from Pegasus Bridge.

We conclude the tour with then opportunity to remember the huge sacrifice made by allied forces during the Normandy invasion and associated campaign.

The Cemetery contains the graves of many soldiers killed during the Normandy campaign. Of the 2,566 soldiers in this cemetery there are 2,059 British dead, 76 Canadians, 2 Australians, 3 New Zealanders and 90 unidentified soldiers. There are also 323 German graves.

The churchyard next to the cemetery contains 47 Commonwealth graves, one of which is unidentified and 1 German grave.

Graves include:

Lt. Douglas Forsyth Alexander – Staffordshire Yeomanry Royal Armoured Corp. [23]

L\Sgt Angus Armstrong – 12^th Bn. Para Regt. (10^th Bn. Green Howards) [34]

Sgt George Cook – 6^th Bn. North Staffordshire Regt. [37]

Approximate Timings

0830-0900 - Pick Up

0910-0950 - Arromanches Mulberry Harbour

1030-1130 - Sword Beach

1200 - 1240 - Merville Battery

1250 - 1350 - Merville - Franceville - Plage - LUNCH

1400 - 1500 - Pegasus Bridge

1520 - 1620 - Raneville-Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery

Timings are approximate and indicative dependent upon the morning pick-up point. However, because we offer a personalized service there is flexibility built into the tour day.

Tours end around 16.30 - 17.30, possibly onwards depending upon unforeseen delays.

** PLEASE NOTE THAT TIMES ARE INDICATIVE AND MAY CHANGE. ****

View Itinerary 2 British Sector

We cannot accept liability relating to changes to timings due factors beyond our control, for example traffic disruption.

Because we offer a personalized tour, within practical reasons we are able to modify the overall timings of the day, for example if you wish to spend more time at a specific location.

If you would like a more personalised Tour then please contact us Here and we will be pleased to arrange this for you.

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Location

This tour covers an area from Sword beach, Ouisterham, Caen & Ranville, scene of the famous battle for Pegasus Bridge. However, it was also a key area in which the French Resistance operated.

On June 6^th 1944 87 prisoners were executed by the Gestapo in the courtyard of Caen prison. We deal with the French involvement on D-Day (both French Commandos & French Resistance) on a separate tour.

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Tour Guide

General Information:

Because we understand that sometimes there are traffic delays, our pickup time is between 08.30 (8.30am) and 09.00 (9am). Although any start time beyond 09.00 (9am) means that we are eating into our tour time.

If you and your group have not arrived by 09.30 (9.30am) and have not notified us by telephone of the reason for not arriving, we reserve the right to cancel the tour and you may forfeit your payment depending upon the reason for not being able to attend the tour.

Our pick-up points are;

Free from Bayeux Railway Station, for those staying locally or travelling from Paris or other regions outside Landing Craft Normandy. Additional cost from:

Ouisterham Ferry Terminal, the Ibis Styles Hotel, which is just a 2-minute walk from the ferry.
Your hotel accommodation within the upper Normandy region, this being locations north of Villers-Bocage.

Our tours finish at approximately 17.30\18.00 (6.00\6.30 pm), and it is worth remembering that, in the middle of winter in Normandy it gets dark around 17.00 (5.00 pm)

Our half day tours commence at 08.30 (8.30am) and end at 12.30.

Please be prepared:

Longues-sur-mer Battery2 Please be aware that we will be visiting locations where the terrain may be uneven under foot, so sturdy, comfortable & suitable footwear is essential.

Where an individual has mobility difficulties, we will make every effort to accommodate and support access at all locations where safe & practicable to do so.

In addition, be mindful of the prevailing weather conditions and wear clothing suitable for the time of year.

Museums:

Any museum entry fees will be payable unless a prior arrangement\offer by D Day Overlord Tours has been agreed.

D Day Overlord Tours accepts no liability for unscheduled or unexpected museum closures, which are beyond our control.

British Sector Private Group 1 Day Tour Sword Beach

Itinerary 1

Approximate Timings

Location

Tour Guide

British Sector
Private Group 1 Day Tour Sword Beach