UK to Bastogne

[Kenzie]

I am thinking of planning a trip for the wife and I down to Bastogne. Luckily she is into bikes and history so this would be an ideal chance to get some euro miles under the wheels. Thinking of doing it over a weekend, say ride down on a Friday, stay in a hotel for a couple of nights and ride back on the Sunday. Does anyone know any bike friendly hotels in the area? I have found this place which doesn't seem too bad:

http://www.bike-stay.net/belgium/lod...illalouise.php

I am thinking of Eurotunnel to Calais, E40 to just past Liege, E42 to the stop for the night. Bimble round Bastogne then back to the hotel and then back the same way or E25 back to Liege then E40 again.

Any thoughts?

It would be criminal not to visit Ypres if you're going that way, maybe stay there last night, get to the menin gate for around 7.30 ready for the last post at 8pm, the local firemen have been performing this tribute every evening since the 1920's.

http://www.greatwar.co.uk/events/men...t-ceremony.htm

Sounds a nice trip, you will have to tell how it went so I can look at it next year. Cant help you, Girlfriend and I did Northern Spain at Easter, was fantastic if anyone wants details.
ps, got the bikes there by ferry

[Kenzie]

Probably looking at something like this:

[admin]

Originally Posted by Specialone

It would be criminal not to visit Ypres if you're going that way, maybe stay there last night, get to the menin gate for around 7.30 ready for the last post at 8pm, the local firemen have been performing this tribute every evening since the 1920's.

http://www.greatwar.co.uk/events/men...t-ceremony.htm

Ditto. Did it last year. Very moving. Pretty place too.

sent via Pony Express

[Doinitmyway]

Always worth a visit. The roads in the surrounding area's are ok too.


http://www.mnhm.lu/www/usa/index.php

Concur with Chris. As you're so close, Luxembourg (especially Vianden and the military museum in Diekirch - which will also make more sense of the Battle of the Bulge story) is worth a look. Great roads between Bastogne and Vianden if you choose the smaller ones. Alternatively, you could follow the Meuse along to Dinant, which is an interesting place to stay, complete with quirky cathedral and funicular and castle + trappist beers of course! Nice riverside restaurants too.
Oh, there's enough to see and do in and around Bastogne to require more than a few hours - if you want to see it all.

[Luckypants]

Sounds a great trip. I'd stay off the E42 if you can, I did it a couple of years ago and the road surface is not great. Worth it if you really need to get the miles in as we did, but on the bike its better to get on the smaller roads.

We stopped in Namur for the afternoon on that trip and it was very nice, definitely worth a look as you are passing.

[Dipper]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Sounds a great trip. I'd stay off the E42 if you can, I did it a couple of years ago and the road surface is not great. Worth it if you really need to get the miles in as we did, but on the bike its better to get on the smaller roads.

You're not kidding, I rode it last weekend ....as soon as you enter Belgium the pot holes are epic!!!