Somme Battlefield Tours Ltd Wimborne Dorset BH21 1EJ Tel: +44 (0) 7776 195773 or +44 (0) 1202 840520info@battlefield-tours.comUK Registered Company Number 03326835
ASelf-Drivetourwhereyouexplorethebattlefieldsin thesafetyandcomfortofyourvehicle,atyourownpace andabletostopwheneveryoupleasetoinvestigate whatevercatchesyoureye,isperhapstheonlywayto trulyexplorethebattlefieldsoftheGreatWar.Most importantlyofall,youwillalwayshaveouracclaimed Self-Driveguideatyourfingertipstotakeyouona journeytounravalandrevealthehistoryandlegacyof Great War beneath your feet.Weareoneofthelongest-standingcompaniesspecialisingin small-grouptourstotheSommeandYpresbattlefields.Having takenover300groupsontourstothebattlefieldsofWW1,we havenowtransferredthatexpertisetoaSelf-Driveformatsothat youcanexplorethesebattlefieldsonyourownorwithfamilyor friends,withoutbeingtiedtoacoachtour.Unsure?Maybesee what travellers said when they returned!Inanut-shellyouchosewhenyouwishtotravelandforhow long.Youtakeyourcarandwearrangeyourhotel accommodation,LeShuttleChanneltunnelcrossingand,most importantlyofall,weprovideyouwithouracclaimedself-drive Sommeand/orYpresbattlefieldguides-your‘windowtothe past’,includingallthedirections,mapsetcyou’llneed.No other self-drive guides have so much detail and are so easy to follow!Wecanalsoarrangefora1:1personalguidetomeetyouatyour hoteltotakeyou,andjustyou,toalmostanyWW1battlefieldon the northern Western Front of France and Belgium.
It’sonlywhenyoureceiveourguideSelf-Driveguidepack thatyourealisejusthowdifferentandhowdetailedourself-driveguidesare(acommentwereceivetimeaftertime-see our Trust Pilot reviews and personal testimonials). Frommypersonalexperience,visitingthebattlefieldsofthe GreatWarisquiteamovingexperience,anexperiencebest appreciatedinthecompanyofclosefriendsorfamily(oralone), withoutanyrestrictionssuchastherigidtimetableofacoach tourdictatingthepace.Itcanbequitefrustratingtoseethe battlefieldspassingbeforeyoureyeswithoutbeingabletostop whereverandwheneveryouwanttostop,andtoexplorewhere youwanttoexplore.Thefreedomtotrulycomprehendthe impactofthebattlefieldsatyourownpace,equippedwithyour owndetailed‘thenandnow’guide(s),iswhatIalwayssetoutto achieve, and perhaps what today sets our tours apart.Ratherthanmeclutterupthispage(asItendtodo…),please followthemenulinksatthetop(left)ofthepagetofindout moreabouttheSelf-Drivetourswespecialiseinorganising,so thatyoujust‘packandgo’leavingustomakeallthe arrangementsandtoprovideyouwiththebestSelf-Driveguide available.Thank you for visiting our website which we designed and built ourselves, so it’s completely free of all the annoying tracking ‘cookies’, adverts and other nonsense which bedevil us today.James Power 2026James & Annette Power andSomme Battlefield Tours Ltd (Established 1996)A UK Registered Limited Company No: 03326835James Power is an Associate Member of the Guild of Battlefield Guidesand Western Front Association
The only company to be awarded ‘Best Battlefield Tour’
From Diane Kenwood Editor Women's WeeklyItwasaprofoundlymovingand fascinatingtrip,which,thanksto yourstunninglydetailedand thoroughorganisationwent without a hitch. . .Yourattentiontodetailis astonishing...Youreallydid bringeverylocationtolifeinthe mostfantasticway.(Ilovedyour personalremarksdottedthrough thecommentary).Itwasso marvelloustobeabletodo everythingatourownpaceand spendhoweverlong,orshort,a timeaswechoseattheplaces we stopped. Thankyousomuchfor everything-foryourhelpinthe earlystagessortingoutwhatthe bestitineraryandapproach wouldbe,fororganisingallthe bookingsandforthebrilliant supportpacks.Ihaveraved aboutyourcompanytoeveryone I'vespokentosincemyreturn (andwilldefinitelywriteaboutit inthemagazine)andIknowat leastonepersonwho'sdefinitely goingtobookthroughyouasa result.Ihopeyougetinundated with bookings!
Forthetimebeingweverymuchregretthatweareunabletoshipourself-driveguidematerialtotheUnitedStates,NewZealandand Australiaduetodelaysbeingexperiencedasaresultallofcustomsprocedures.Wehavehadseveralinstanceswhereourguidematerial hastakenoverthreemonthstobereceivedbyclients,whichisunacceptable.Wearealsomindfuloftheproceduresandchallengesthe US/Australian customs authorities have to address in providing the crucial service they provide. WemayhoweverbeabletoshipyourguidematerialdirecttoyourfirsthotelifintheUKorYpresortheSomme,butthissolutionmaynot allowyoutimetopre-readyourmaterialtoformulateyourtravelexpectations.PleasealsoseeourYpresandSommeitinerariessosee whether they fit the agenda you have in mind.
Country Life"If you're fiercely independent, you could do no better than to sign up for the highly acclaimed self-guided tours provided by James Power. His painstakingly researched itineraries are the work of a master logistician"
The Sunday TelegraphThe only Self-Drive company to be nominated ‘Best Battlefield Tour’
“After spending 6 days touring the battle sites in Belgium and northern France, we cannot praise Battlefield Tours 'package' highly enough - immense detail but easy to follow and customise [with] superb little photo illustrations for the navigator’s assistance. . .The package James provides is truly outstanding and beyond what we could have expected for its detail but practical guidance. . . A really nice chap, providing a brilliant service - what more could you ask for?” Stuart & Sue Greengrass May 2024
Please click the below poppy to hear one of the most moving readings of Col John McCrae’s 1915 poem‘In Flanders Fields’
Above - some example pages…the battlefields revealed!Below - location Somme & Ypres and drive times.(click images to enlarge - see our self-drive tour page for more details)
Welcome to Somme & Ypres Battlefield Tours LtdExplore the battlefields at your own pace with our acclaimed
Self-Drive tours to the Somme and Ypres battlefieldsof theGreat War 1914-1918
TestimonialsBelow are just some of our testimonials - click here to see them all - and our most recentTrust Pilotreviews!
2026 marks our 30th year arranging bespoke personal tours to the battlefields of the Great War 1914-1918
TospeedupyourjourneythroughtheLeShuttleChanneltunnelcartransportserviceterminals,you mustsupplyyourpassengerinformationtoEurotunnelbeforeyoutravel,usingtheAdvance PassengerInformation(API)linktobefoundintheconfirmationemailsenttoyoudirectby Eurotunnel when you booked your tour with us.If you have trouble submitting your API, please contact us so that we can arrange for LeShuttle to send you a fresh confirmation email as the API link can only be activated once and may expire if not used.Itisthereforeadvisabletohaveeveryone’sfullnamesandpassportdetailstohandwhenyou submit your API. Your API may also be submitted by phone on LeShuttle’s helpline on 0330 1233207.Here are some helpful links:•Click here to submit your Advanced Passenger Information (‘API’)•Click here for the latest travel and departures updates•Click herefor help getting to the LeShuttle terminals (Folkestone and Calais)•Click herefor what happens when you arrive at LeShuttle terminals (and FAQs)•Click hereto register in advance for Duty Free shopping at the LeShuttle terminals (you must register in advance)•First time travelling with LeShuttle ? Click here for a helpful video following arrival and crossing procedures
CLIENTS TRAVELLING BY LeShuttle(formerly known as Eurotunnel Le Shuttle) Submitting your Advanced Passenger Information and other helpful advice
Welcome to Somme & Ypres Battlefield Tours LtdExplore the battlefields at your own pace with our acclaimed.Self-Drive tours to theSomme and Ypres battlefieldsof theGreat War1914-1918(click a poppy…)
It’sonlywhenyoureceiveourguideSelf-Driveguide packthatyourealisejusthowdifferentandhowdetailed ourself-driveguidesare(acommentwereceivetime aftertime-seeourTrustPilotreviewsandpersonal testimonials. Frommypersonalexperience,visitingthebattlefieldsofthe GreatWarisquiteamovingexperience,anexperiencebest appreciatedinthecompanyofclosefriendsorfamily(or alone),withoutanyrestrictionssuchastherigidtimetable ofacoachtourdictatingthepace.Itcanbequite frustratingtoseethebattlefieldspassingbeforeyoureyes withoutbeingabletostopwhereverandwheneveryou wanttostop,andtoexplorewhereyouwanttoexplore. Thefreedomtotrulycomprehendtheimpactofthe battlefieldsatyourownpace,equippedwithyourown detailed‘thenandnow’guide(s),iswhatIalwayssetoutto achieve, and perhaps what today sets our tours apart.Ratherthanmeclutterupthispage(asItendtodo…), pleasefollowthemenulinksatthetop(left)ofthepageto findoutmoreabouttheSelf-Drivetourswespecialisein organising,sothatyoujust‘packandgo’leavingusto makeallthearrangementsandtoprovideyouwiththebest Self-Drive guide available.Thank you for visiting our website which we designed and built ourselves so it’s completely free of all the tracking ‘cookies’, adverts and other nonsense.James Power2026Somme Battlefield Tours Ltd (Established 1996)James Power is an Associate Member of the Guild of Battlefield Guidesand Western Front Association
Somme Battlefield Tours Ltd Wimborne Dorset BH21 1EJ +44 (0) 7776 195773 or +44 (0) 1202 840520info@battlefield-tours.comUK Company Number 03326835
ASelf-Drivetourwhereyouexplorethebattlefieldsin thesafetyandcomfortofyourvehicle,atyourownpace andabletostopwheneveryoupleasetoinvestigate whatevercatchesyoureye,isperhapstheonlywayto trulyexplorethebattlefieldsoftheGreatWar.Most importantlyofall,youwillalwayshaveouracclaimed Self-Driveguideatyourfingertipstotakeyouona journeytounravalandrevealthehistoryandlegacyof Great War beneath your feet.Weareoneofthelongest-standingcompaniesspecialisingin small-grouptourstotheSommeandYpresbattlefields.Having takenover300groupsontourstothebattlefieldsofWW1we havenowtransferredthatexpertisetoaSelf-Driveformatso thatyoucanexplorethesebattlefieldsonyourownorwith familyorfriends,withoutbeingtiedtoacoachtour.Unsure? Maybe see what travellers said when they returned!Inanut-shellyouchosewhenyouwishtotravelandforhow long.Youtakeyourcarandwearrangeyourhotel accommodation,Channelcrossing(LeShuttle)and,most importantlyofall,weprovideyouwithouracclaimedself-drive Sommeand/orYpresbattlefieldguides-your‘windowtothe past’,includingallthedirections,mapsetcyou’llneed.No other self-drive guides have so much detail and are so easy to follow!Wecanalsoarrangefora1:1personalguidetomeet youatyourhoteltotakeyou,andjustyou,toalmostanyWW1 battlefieldonthenorthernWesternFrontofFranceand Belgium.
We recommend and include LeShuttle (formerly known as Eurotunnel Le Shuttle)the fastest and easiest way to cross the Channel!
CLIENTS TRAVELLING BY LeShuttle(Formerly knownas Eurotunnel Le Shuttle)Submitting your Advanced Passenger Information and other helpful adviceTospeedupyourjourneythroughtheEurotunnel terminals,youmustsupplyyourpassengerinformation toEurotunnelbeforeyoutravel,usingtheAdvance PassengerInformation(API)linktobefoundinthe confirmationemailsenttoyoudirectbyEurotunnelwhen you booked your tour with us.If you have trouble submitting your API, please contact us so that we can arrange for Eurotunnel to send you a fresh confirmation email as the API link can only be activated once and may expire if not used.Itis thereforeadvisabletohaveeveryone’sfullnamesand passportdetailstohandwhenyousubmityourAPI.YourAPImayalsobesubmittedbyphoneon Eurotunnel’s helpline 0330 1233207.Here are some helpful links:•Click here to submit your Advanced Passenger Information (‘API’)•Click here for the latest travel and departures updates•Click herefor help getting to the LeShuttle terminals (Folkestone and Calais)•Click herefor what happens when you arrive at LeShuttle terminals (and FAQs)•Click hereto register in advance for Duty Free shopping at the LeShuttleterminals (you must register in advance)•First time travelling with LeShuttle? Click here for a helpful video following arrival and crossing procedures
Forthetimebeingweverymuchregretthatweareunabletoshipour self-driveguidematerialtotheUnitedStatesandAustraliaduetodelays beingexperiencedasaresultofcustomsprocedures.Wehavehad severalinstanceswhereourguidematerialhastakenovertwomonthsto bereceivedbyclients,whichisunacceptable.Wearealsomindfulofthe proceduresandchallengestheUS/Australiancustomsauthoritieshaveto address in providing the crucial service they provide. Wemayhoweverbeabletoshipyourguidematerialdirecttoyourfirst hotelifintheUKorYpresortheSomme,butthissolutionmaynotallow youtimetopre-readyourmaterialtoformulateyourtravelexpectations. PleasealsoseeourYpresandSommeitinerariessoseewhetherthesefit the agenda you have in mind.
Above - some example pages…the battlefields revealed!Below - location Somme & Ypres and drive times.(click images to enlarge - see our self-drive tour page for more details)
2026 marks our 30th year arranging bespoke, individually-taylored tours to the Soome & Ypres battlefields of the Great War 1914-1918