Somme Battlefield Tours was launched in 1996 by myself as a non-profit making venture with a view to taking small groups on unhurried conducted tours of the Great War battlefields. I have, however, always avoided the temptation to expand the 'business' beyond the reach and scope of my personal involvement.

At the heart of my tours is a belief that we may wish to spend a few minutes of our lives to try to understand what it must have been like for those who were there.  The focus of the all the tours is therefore very much one of reflection on the humanitarian dimensions of what took place during the Somme Ypres and Verdun battles by visiting some of the most tragic and poignant places on the battlefields today. 

The tours available fall into two types, depending on whether you wish to travel under your own steam with a self-drive briefing 'pack' (including Channel crossing, hotel etc), or as part a small conducted tour. 

Conducted Tours

A very important feature of the conducted tours is that group sizes are kept very small (between 6 and 10). This policy may not be the most cost efficient way to run a tour company, as larger coach parties generate the necessary income and keep prices down - so why such small groups? 

The answer is clear to anyone who has been part of a large group - it takes time to get on and off large coaches, a large coach can not negotiate small tracks etc, you are just one voice amongst many in a large group, and most importantly of all, your opportunity to ask questions and discuss matters with the guide (if there is one) is limited.  In fairness, larger tour groups allow for economies of scale and can offer good value for money. 

Smaller groups on the other hand soon become a group of friends who can at all times interact with the tour guide (me!) and each other. We use smaller, friendlier, hotels situated right in the heart of Ypres and Albert (Somme), as opposed to the larger hotels some distance away from the battlefields.  We can also chat about this and that as we drive along or walk the battlefield - or over our meals, as we all sit together at one table. In a nut shell, the tour becomes more of an 'adventure'.

There are two types of conducted tour, both fully inclusive (full board, with 2-3 course lunches), as well as free snacks/tea/coffee etc at all times. The first is spread over three days taking in both Ypres and the Somme battlefields, the second spending slightly longer just focusing on the Somme battle.  The former is a good way to get a taste of the two main battlefields, the latter is more suited to studying the Somme battlefield in greater depth.

Private Tours
Somme Battlefield Tours Ltd is also happy to arrange private tours for groups of 6 - 12. If you are a group of friends/relatives wishing to visit the battlefields of the Great War then contact us and we can put together your own 'tailor made' tour (and itinerary) at a time of your choosing.

Self-Drive Tours
Self-Drive tours are available for the Somme, Ypres and Verdun battlefields. For the Somme battlefield there is our unique Self-Drive guide. Please see the appropriate link above for more details. Self-Drive guided tours to Ypres and Verdun include a 255-page colour guide book and map (Ypres) and/or copy of one of the best books ever written about Verdun.

'Birdsong' by Sebastian Faulks
Somme Battlefield Tours Ltd was closely involved in the making of the 2001 BBC TV documentary on Sebastian Faulks and his acclaimed novel 'Birdsong'(see BBC link bottom of page). We have also been involved in the making of the forthcoming motion picture of the book (see 'testimonials' above).  We are therefore pleased to be able to include visits to many of the places mentioned in the Book in our battlefield tours.