A Near Run Thing

A Near Run Thing

The Waterloo Anniversary Tour

Military History and Battlefield Tours

14th - 17th June 2024
(4 Days)

Expert Historian : Major General Ashley Truluck CB CBE BA

Tour price: £1,595

Sold out - use the button below to be put on the waiting list

click here to register

A Near Run Thing

The Waterloo Anniversary Tour

Military History and Battlefield Tours

Your Holiday Essentials

14th - 17th June 2024
(4 Days)

4-star hotels, meals as indicated,

drinks with dinner, all entrance fees,

tour manager and expert historian

throughout, all internal travel,

optional travel from UK.

Activity Level: 2

Expert Historian: Major General Ashley Truluck CB CBE BA

Prices:

Standard price: : £1,325

Incl. travel from UK: £1,595
Room sole occupancy supplement: £150
Non-refundable deposit: £275

Sold out

Use the button below to be put on the waiting list

click here to register your interest

Interested in this tour but not ready to book? Register your interest using the link below and we will keep you updated on the progress of the tour.

click here to register your interest

Tour Introduction

Our ever popular Classic Waterloo Anniversary tour covers the battles of Ligny, Quatre Bras and especially Waterloo itself – and takes place over the annual anniversary weekend when there will likely be re-enactors dressed in period uniform on the battlefields. We will be staying in historic Waterloo town, home to Wellington’s Headquarters.

Your tour guide will be General Ashley Truluck, who has made a particular study of Wellington and lived near Waterloo for several years. 

Background

The Waterloo Campaign in June 1815 ensured relative peace in Western Europe for the next fifty years. It was the first time that the two greatest commanders of the era, Napoleon and Wellington, met each other in battle and it was to be the last campaign for both of them. It was also the last campaign for grand old Marshal Blucher whose Prussian Army, having been trounced at Ligny, nevertheless arrived in the nick of time to tip the scales in the Allies’ favour as Wellington’s ‘infamous army’, already tested at Quatre Bras, hung on grimly to the ridge at Waterloo.

Highlights

  • With leading historian Maj Gen Ashley Truluck
  • Visit the spectacular Grand Place in Brussels
  • See the building where Wellington planned the battle and wrote his famous Waterloo despatch
  • Walk through the hotly-contested village of Ligny
  • View Napoleon’s windmill at Fleurus
  • Stand on the crossroads at Quatre Bras
  • Spend a whole day on the battlefield of Waterloo
  • The fortified farmhouse of La Haye Sainte
  • Walk the route of the advance of the Imperial Guard and its defeat by Wellington’s elite Guards and Light Troops
  • Visit the Waterloo Visitor Centre which includes the Lion Mound viewing platform, the Waterloo Panorama

What's Included

  • Return Standard Premier Eurostar from London (optional)
  • 4 Star Hotel
  • Buffet breakfast each morning
  • Dinner parties hosted by your expert historian and tour manager
  • Two drinks i,e wine or beer at each dinner and a welcome drink on first evening
  • Dedicated Tour Manager
  • Entrance fees for sites included in itinerary
  • Modern, comfortable, air-conditioned coach
  • Tour information booklet
  • Access to the Cultural Experience app
  • Helpful and friendly travel advice
  • The company of like-minded travelers

"Ashley's friendly approach, passion and light-hearted but in-depth commentaries made the tour special and the battles come alive."

Itinerary

Day 1 – Brussels

We travel by Eurostar arriving in Brussels in time to visit the spectacular Grand Place, with its awesome gold-painted Guildhalls and Town Hall, and drive via the Rue Royal to see where Wellington was based and the Royal Park where his troops assembled. Then on to Waterloo town to visit the building where he planned the battle and wrote his famous Waterloo despatch. Check-in to our comfortable Waterloo hotel, our base for the tour. (D)

Day 2 - Ligny & Quatre Bras

At Ligny we see where Napoleon’s right wing clashed with the Prussians on 16 June 1815. We view Napoleon’s windmill at Fleurus, walk through the hotly contested village of Ligny and travel up to Blucher’s command post on the Prussian ridge to get a wonderful panorama of the battlefield and discuss how he managed to slip Napoleon’s trap and retreat to Wavre. After a light lunch we stand on the crossroads at Quatre Bras where Wellington halted the advance of the left wing of Napoleon’s army and then follow his skilful withdrawal to the defensive position at Waterloo. (B,D)

Day 3 – Waterloo

Today we spend the whole day on the battlefield of Waterloo, starting at Hougoumont – key to Wellington’s critical right flank. Then to the centre of the Allied ridge to see where Napoleon’s infantry columns were seen off by the British cavalry counterattack and walk down to the fortified farmhouse of La Haye Sainte to hear the story of its heroic, but doomed, defence. After lunch we see where French cavalry attacks were brought to a halt by Wellington’s resolute infantry squares. In picturesque Plancenoit village we see where the Prussians fell on Napoleon’s right flank. Finally, we walk the route of the advance of the Imperial Guard and its defeat by Wellington’s elite Guards and Light Troops. An epic day! (B,D)

Day 4 – The Museums

We complete our anniversary weekend with a visit to the new Waterloo Visitor Centre which includes the Lion Mound viewing platform, the Waterloo Panorama, and the excellent Museum and Audio Visual display. Return to Brussels for our return Eurostar journey to London. (B)

Recommended Reading List

Major General Ashley Truluck CB CBE BA

Major General Ashley Truluck CB CBE BA

Ashley Truluck is a History graduate with a life-long fascination for Military History. As a soldier, he served worldwide with the Gurkhas, in Communications and Intelligence, with Army Aviation and on the General Staff, retiring as a Major General. Throughout that time he led battlefield studies – a passion he has carried over into his second career. He is now Chairman of the Army Society for Historical Research and leads a number of popular tours to Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain and Malta.

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Your Holiday Essentials

14th - 17th June 2024
(4 Days)

4-star hotels, meals as indicated,

drinks with dinner, all entrance fees,

tour manager and expert historian

throughout, all internal travel,

optional travel from UK.

Activity Level: 2

Expert Historian: Major General Ashley Truluck CB CBE BA

Prices:

Standard price: : £1,325

Incl. travel from UK: £1,595
Room sole occupancy supplement: £150
Non-refundable deposit: £275

Sold out

Use the button below to be put on the waiting list

click here to register your interest

Interested in this tour but not ready to book? Register your interest using the link below and we will keep you updated on the progress of the tour.

click here to register your interest

Tour Review

Take a look at some independent reviews of this tour by previous participants here

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