Our special trip starts with a local departure for the Channel crossing via the Eurotunnel or cross Channel ferry to France. From here we make our way to Holland and our hotel – the 3* Hotel Gieling at Duiven. All rooms are well appointed and features include a bar and restaurant.
For more information on Hotel Gieling CLICK HERE
During your stay we have INCLUDED visits as follows:
- The Arnhem Airborne Museum. Located in the old Hartenstein Hotel the building was there in 1944 and used as the 1st Airborne’s Divisions Headquarters. It is now a museum and will set the scene before travelling out to some of the landing grounds at Ginkel Heath and Wolfheze. Before lunch see one of the original Arnhem Memorials. In the afternoon look at the bitter fighting at the Oosterbeek perimeter – the infamous ‘Cauldron’. We see Oosterbeek War Cemetery: visit Oosterbeek church; see positions held by the Border Regiment and follow the story of the ‘Lonsdale Force’ before visiting the house where General Urquhart hid during the battle
- Arnhem bridge and the island. The battle of Arnhem bridge is one of the most memorable moments of ‘Operation Market Garden’. See where the fighting took place around the bridge. In the afternoon we visit Jonkerbos War Cemetery before examining events of the ‘Island’. In 1944 / 45 looking at the fighting around de Laar Farm and following the so called ‘Driel Dash’. American airborne troops held the island after the battle and we will see their Memorial as well as a battle scarred building where men from the Hampshire Regiment fought in October 1944
- Reichswald Forest and the Rhineland. Following on from the period of static fighting during the winter of 1944 / 45 we begin today at the National Liberation Museum at Groesbeek to help set the scene for the battles of 1945. Visit Groesbeek War Cemetery before looking at the fighting in Reichswald Forest, seeing the War Cemetery there – the largest British Second World War Cemetery in Europe with more than 7,000 graves. In the afternoon look at the advance of the Rhineland examining the fighting at Xanten, Goch and Hochwald Gap before seeing where the Rhine crossings took place between Rees and Wesel. We end the day in the area where the 6th (Airborne) Division landed during ‘Operation Varsity’
On day 5 we start our journey home, arriving back later on.