Riding with the Mt St Michel in the background, France
France > Normandy

The Remembrance Trail

On this historical horseback trail discover the secret Normandy of the Vikings, medieval abbeys and the deeply moving landing beaches and cemetaries of the Second World War. Follow horseback trails through the heart of the Selle français region whilst staying in luxury accommodation.
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Trail Riding
7 days/ 4 days riding -
From £0
  • Normandy on horseback
    On horseback in Normandy
  • Normandy remembrance horse trail ride, france
    Remembrance trail in Normandy
  • On horseback in Normandy, France
    The Normandy beaches and D-Day landings
  • The Remembrance Trail
    Haras de St Lo in Normandy
  • Trail riding in Normandy
    Explore beautiful Cathedrals on this trail ride
  • Trail riding in Normandy
    Riding along the Normandy beaches in France
  • Normandy and horses, France
    Taking a break at lunchtime
  • Normandy, Mount St Michel
    Mount St Michel, Normandy
  • Normandy, Mount St Michel
    The beautiful Mount St Michel bay
  • Beautiful house in Normandy, France
    One of the many small chateaux and manor houses of Normandy

Itinerary

Highlights

- Visit the landing beaches in Arromanches and Omaha
- Experience the wonder of Mont Saint Michel
- Trail riding with luxurious accommodation and fine dining en-route
- Stay in a chateau, manor house and a hotel on the coast
- A spectacular ride with an experienced and knowledgeable guide
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  • Day 1 1: Arrive in Bayeux

    Arrive at Château de Bellefontaine near Bayeux, in the afternoon. The nearest train station is Bayeux. A taxi will be pre-booked to collect you from the station and take you to Château de Bellefontaine (payable locally).

    Alternatively you may prefer to self-drive, in which case check in starts at 4.00 pm.

    This evening you will have dinner and a briefing with your guide to discuss the plan for the week ahead.

  • Day 2 2: Coleville – Omaha Beach - 4 hours

    After breakfast you will ride for approximately two hours through the hilly landscape of Normandy and along the cliff of Omaha beach.

    The afternoon is a beach ride (tide-dependent) and a visit of the American military cemetery. A gourmet dinner awaits in the evening!

    Overnight at Hotel La Marine*** at Port en Bessin.

  • Day 3 3: Omaha Beach – Arromanches - 4 hours

    After breakfast, ride alongside the cliffs and see the famous sights from the Second World War, or the beach (depending on the tide) as you travel through the beautiful countryside surrounding Arromanches and the famous Mulberry harbour.

    Dinner and overnight at Hotel la Marine in Arromanches.

  • Day 4 4: Arromanches – Ryes – Creully - 4h30 hours riding

    Following the sea, you will set out to explore more of the hilly landscape of Normandy. You will stop for lunch in a traditional restaurant in Ryes, with time to visit a medieval church.

    In the afternoon, you will ride to the old city of Creully with a visit to the local chateau, from where the BBC broadcast news of the battle in 1944.

    Dinner and overnight at Hostellerie Saint Martin.

  • Day 5 5: Visit of Bayeux and Saint Lo - No riding

    This morning, give your horses a rest and enjoy a visit to Bayeux cathedral and the famous 11th Century Bayeux tapestry.

    Transfer to 'Haras de Saint Lo', the home of the famous Selle Français breed. Visit the stud and there may be a clinic with a French show jumping rider. In the afternoon ride along the river and through the countryside to Agneaux. You will then be transferred by car to Manor du Brion, a historic manor house in Mont Saint Michel Bay.

  • Day 6 6: Mont Saint Michel - 4 hours

    Today you will ride in Mont Saint Michel Bay or to Mont Saint Michel itself depending on the tide. Either a picnic lunch will be taken en route or lunch will be in an local creperie.
    Overnight in Brion manor.

  • Day 7 7: Departure from Avranches

    After breakfast, you are free to visit Le Mont-Saint-Michel.

    You will be transferred to the train station at Avranches (payable locally), where you can catch your train to Paris.

Dates & prices

Price details

No departure for this destination. Please contact our travel advisers for more information.
- Flights or transportation to your destination (international/domestic) are not included, but can be booked on request - please contact us for rates.     

- Rates are per person, based on two riders sharing a twin or double room during the ride. 

- Groups are composed of a minimum of 5 riders and a maximum of 10 international riders, plus guides. Please note: the ride will also confirm for fewer riders on payment of a supplement. Once the group has reached 5 people, we will remove this supplement from your invoice and refund you if you have already paid it.
If 4 people in the group: approx. €150/£135/$180 per person
If 3 people in the group: approx. €300/£275/$350 per person
If 2 people in the group: approx. €700/£640/$575 per person

- Transfers are not included and payable locally. Arrival is in Bayeux (approx. €10) and departure to Avranches SNCF stations (approx. €30). These are taxi transfers, pre-arranged but payable directly to the driver.

- If you sign up to the ride as a solo rider and there are no other riders likely to share your room, you will be charged a single room supplement of approx. €595/£520/$580. You will then be reimbursed if a sharer is found for you at a later date. 

- Rider weight limit: 95 kg / 210 lbs / 14.9 st.
Please Note
The itinerary may be modified at anytime for security reasons, meteorological or events beyond our control such as blocked roads, rivers in flood, drought, strikes and local holidays. Equus Journeys, our local partners and their local guides will always strive to find the best solution and will alter the itinerary as needed.
The names of the hotels and accommodation are given for information only and depending on availability, they may be modified without notice and replaced by another of a similar standard.

Price includes

Support Team

Coaching by certificated staff, all visits and shows

Logistics

1 horse equipped with saddle and bridle per rider

Inland transport

All inland transfers for horses and riders described in the itinerary

Accommodation

All nights in a double room in a château B&B

Meals

Full board from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on the final day. All dinners are gourmet and accompanied by wine

Price doesn't include

Meals

Beverages and personal extras

Transport

International transportation
Train station transfers

Extras

Tips to the local team
Small group supplement. See above for price details

Insurance

Cancellation and travel insurance are not included. Please note that insurance is mandatory. We recommend taking out an insurance policy as soon as your trip is booked in case of cancellation.

Optional

Accommodation

Single room supplement
We are currently updating our dates and prices they will be online soon. If you want details of this holiday, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Equestrian info

Horses

Ride forward going, well mannered and reliable horses that are good in traffic. They are various breeds but many are Selle Francais crosses. fine, sure footed and used to the terrain. Weight limit 15 stones 9lbs - 100kgs.
They are ridden in English tack and all have saddlebags to keep your sun tan cream, glasses etc.

Guide & local team

Your guide is Anne-France, a very professional guides who has been running trail rides in France for a long time!

Minimum riding ability

Minimum riding ability

You should be a confident rider, in control of a horse at walk, trot and canter in the open. There are long hours in the saddle.

Pace

There are some long canters along the beach if the tide allows. There will be trotting and cantering along the way whenever the terrain allows.

Tacking ability and participation

You will tack and untack your horse and also feed and water it.

Trip conditions and Requested experience

There are some long hours in the saddle so you must be riding fit.

A previous riding holiday over several days is a plus, but not a requirement.

Equestrian equipment

English tack.

We recommend our riders to wear a helmet to the correct standard and you should bring your own to ensure a proper fit

Travel info

Comfort

You will overnight in wonderful châteaux, a grand manor house and a coastal hotel. All have a combination of great charm and comfort. Enjoy gourmet picnics of local delicacies and fine dining each evening.

Meals

All gourmet meals with wine

Climate

Due to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and the northern latitude, the climate in Normandy is usually mild and temperate. The summer until September are pleasant with mild temperatures.

Rainfall can be significant all year round, including in the summer.

Tips

Tips are not compulsory and remain at your own discretion.

Packing list

Head
- Equus Journeys strongly recommend that you wear a riding helmet and that you take your own to ensure a correct fit.
- Sunhat for when not riding
- Sunglasses - with a cord attached so they don't fly off when riding
- Buff or bandana for protecting your neck and face from the sun and dust

Upper body
- Thermals in case of cold weather
- Long sleeved shirts to provide protection from the sun
- T-shirts
- Lightweight fleece or jumper
- Warm polar fleece or equivalent
- Waterproof jacket - rain can be difficult to predict and it's better to be prepared.

Legs
- Lightweight, comfortable riding trousers or jodhpurs - we recommend riding in them at home before taking them on holiday to ensure they don't rub
- Waterproof over trousers
- Casual clothes for the evenings (jeans or walking trousers)

Hands and Feet
- Comfortable riding boots. We recommend short boots with half chaps but you may wish to take long chaps or long boots.
- Lightweight shoes for the evenings
- Several pairs of socks
- Gloves - your hands are particularly exposed to the sun, wind or rain whilst riding

Nightwear
- Pyjamas etc

Our Recommendations
- Backpacks cannot be worn whilst riding. We recommend a small bumbag or a waistcoat with pockets so that you can carry small items with you during the day (camera, sunscreen, lipbalm etc)
- We recommend travelling in your riding boots and carrying your hat and some riding clothes in your hand luggage - then if your luggage goes astray you are still able to ride!

Other useful items
- Swimsuit - there may be possible occasions to swim
- Small backpack for accessing items required during the day (carried by support crew)
- Camera and high capacity memory card. Spare battery
- Bumbag for carrying your camera and small items whilst riding
- Water bottle (2 litres or 2 x 1 litre)
- Ear plugs (for light sleepers)

In your luggage
- Any liquids, such as shampoo, moisturiser, deodorant unless they are less than 100ml and all bottles can fit in a small, clear, plastic ziplock bag.
- Swiss army knife or equivalent

In your hand luggage
- Any valuables, such as your camera, ipod, ipad etc.
- Your riding hat

Medical kit
- Sunscreen and lip balm - should be high factor
- Insect repellent
- Any medication you regularly take
- Blister plasters in case of any rubs
- Antiseptic cream, plasters, aspirin, anti-histamine, insect-bite salve etc...
- Spare prescription glasses/contact lenses
- Eye drops
- Imodium or similar anti-diarrhoea medication
- Re-hydration sachets
- Antiseptic wipes
- Handwash gel

General information
- We recommend taking any valuables, such as your camera, iPod, iPad, medicines and glasses etc. in your hand luggage. Travelling in your riding boots and carrying your hat and some riding clothes is highly recommended - then if your luggage goes astray you are still able to ride!
- We recommend taking a copy of your passport and insurance documents with you in case you lose your originals

Sustainable tourism

  1. Travel light. It's a little known fact, but the lighter you pack, the better for the environment as heavy bags will produce higher emissions (when flying a plane or driving a car!).
  2. Reduce plastic waste. Take your favorite reusable bottle with you. Avoid single-use bags, cups, or straws.
  3. Preserve nature. Always take your rubbish with you during the ride and recycle them. Leave all the flowers or plants as you found them, and never get too close when observing wildlife. Make sure to use eco-friendly products such as body wash or laundry detergent (if camping) to protect both your skin and the environment.
  4. Choose your experiences carefully. Respect animal life by not participating in any activities that abuse wild animals (shows, elephant rides, etc.).
  5. Support local populations. Buy local handicrafts, be respectful of customs, and learn about the culture of local communities.
  6. Share! Raise awareness among your family and friends about sustainable tourism.

For more information please see this page.