Following the success of our recent Loop of Flanders trip, we are pleased to offer a 2nd adventure which combines wonderful cycling and sites of historical significance.

For 2027 we are heading to the Normandy beaches of Sword and Juno, followed by a trip to the historical Rouen.

Following our morning Ferry trip to Dieppe, we begin on the rugged Alabaster Coast in Fécamp, a dramatic fishing port framed by towering chalk cliffs where fierce Viking history meets the sweet, secret herbal alchemy of Bénédictine liqueur.

On day 2 we head south across the Seine, the atmosphere shifts instantly to the glamorous, Belle Époque elegance of Deauville, where high-society Paris comes to play along its legendary 1920s wooden boardwalk (Les Planches), pristine beaches, and prestigious horse racing tracks

After 2 nights in Deauville (see below for day 3 info), we head inland along the winding river brings you to Rouen, the historic capital of the region—a sweeping open-air museum of medieval half-timbered houses, haunting Joan of Arc history, and the dizzying, intricate Gothic spires of the cathedral famously painted by Claude Monet. Together, they form a perfect trifecta of rugged maritime grit, high-class coastal luxury, and deep, artistic heritage.

WW2 History

As part of this trip we will visit Sword and Juno beach.

Situated side-by-side on the historic Normandy coastline, Sword Beach and Juno Beach represent two of the vital Commonwealth lifelines of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.

On the easternmost flank, Sword Beach was the objective of the British 3rd Infantry Division, backed by brave French commandos, who braved heavily fortified sea walls and a fierce German panzer counterattack to push inland toward the crucial city of Caen.

Just to the west lay Juno Beach, the designated sector for the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. Facing a brutally exposed beachfront riddled with hidden shoals and devastating German machine-gun crossfire, the Canadians suffered harrowing initial casualties but fought with staggering speed, pushing deeper into enemy territory on D-Day than any other Allied force. Today, the peaceful sands of Sword are marked by quiet monuments and Union Jacks, while Juno is anchored by the striking, modern Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles-sur-Mer, serving as lasting testaments to the immense sacrifice and coordination of British, Canadian, and French liberators.