ADDRESS
Arras, Albert,
Ypres, Normandy
CONTACT
e: info@battlefieldsbycar.com
f: 0701 424 1418
JIM SMITHSON
GUIDE
Jim is a retired deputy headteacher. Jim has had a
passion for all things military since wargaming days
back in the 1970’s. After working over 30 years in
Germany, he was able to retire to a house previously
purchased in France near Arras and take up his
passion on a full-time basis. During a multitude of
visits to the battlefields of France, Belgium and
Germany over 30 years, he has obtained an intimate
knowledge of those areas and now feels it a privilege
to be able to guide others around these most
important pieces of countryside. In addition, Jim is a
writer, his first book being a widely appreciated
volume on the first part of the Battle of Arras in April
1917 called “A Taste of Success”. He is currently
working on a two-volume guide to the whole of the
battles of the Great War in the area around that city
for the same publishers.
KEITH BOWEN
GUIDE
Keith has had over 40 years’ experience working in
International Law Enforcement and started his 4x4
interests in off-road competitions such as Cop-Drive.
He has been a 4x4 instructor for a well-known motor
manufacturer and the Chairman of the Civil Service
Motoring Association 4x4 Group. He is an Associate
Member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides and a
Member of the European Travel Operators
Association. His keen interest in military history saw
him and his son Tim create and deliver the Help for
Heroes 4x4 European Rally; a two week adventure
following the 1944/45 Allied Invasion route through
Europe. The six rallies from 2010-2015, each of 45
vehicles and 120 people, raised over £1 million for
the charity.
WELCOME
BattlefieldsbyCAR specialise in unique
battlefield tours in your own CAR
of Northern France, Normandy and
Belgium
BattlefieldsbyCar offers owners of vehicles
guided tours that are designed to enable small
groups to visit battlefields, iconic cemeteries
and memorials, and access some of the
European battlefields of the First and Second
World Wars. We guide you around the
battlefields, giving you a unique view whilst
receiving commentary over CB radio (don’t
worry, it’s included) from our experienced
Battlefield Guides. Whilst there are numerous
coach-based and other tour operators, we can
give you an alternative view, taking you to
some of the lesser known places. Most tours
are over three or four days and you have a
choice of hotel or camping based. Click on the
button below for details of our tours or the
navigation bar at the top of the page. We look
forward to welcoming you on one of our tours
soon.
OUR TOURS
“One of the best trips I’ve ever been
on” - John Pearson
By selecting one of BattlefieldsbyCar Itineraries
you will be able to gain a better understanding
of the type
of Battlefield tours that we offer. Each guided
tour takes you through a different battle; all
form a moving
journey though these landscapes of
remembrance.
UNIQUE TOURS
We plan our tours to take you to places you
wouldn’t normally go to and areas not visited by
the other battlefield tour companies. Our lead
vehicles are well equipped. Our guides and
drivers have decades of experience of the
battlefields between them - this means we can
give a tour like no other.
A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
We keep groups small, a maximum of five
vehicles, meaning no more than ten or so
participants. If any members of your party have
any relatives that served or are commemorated
in Northern France or Belgium, we will research
using data not available to the general public and
present our findings on a tour - at a relevant
place if possible.
CONSTANT COMMENTARY
We supply you with a CB Radio and our expert
guides give you a running commentary whilst
driving through the battlefields. Our tours include
several stops at cemeteries, memorials and
places of interest where our guides will give talks
on what happened where.
“We are now home and I'm
trying to find the words to
describe the trip - truly
amazing, awesome, fun,
emotional, overwhelming,
wonderful and mind blowing
really does not say it all .....
the most amazing guided
tour we have ever had.”
- Amanda, Dorking
OUR GUIDES
WHY BATTLEFIELDSBYCAR?