Travel

Planning Your Journey

Your journey by coach and ship begins and ends at your school. Clearly the further north you are based the longer the journey time. As we are based in Scotland we assume an overnight coach journey to one of the channel ports as the most common arrangement.

Particularly on The World War I Battlefields Experience it is possible to begin the first day of the programme immediately after the overnight journey. However, we recommend that you give students a half-day in Bruges during which to relax first. They are refreshed and receptive to learn the following day.

Both excursions finish with shopping time – at Cité Europe hypermarket in Calais or at Hérouville in Caen.

Your Coach

Travel with Mercat Tours International

For over twenty years Mercat Tours International has used the services of Bibby’s of Ingleton, a coach company of more than fifty years’ standing. In addition to their outstanding safety record, Bibby’s supplies drivers whose commitment to providing your students with a quality battlefield experience matches our own. The partnership of guide and driver is integral to the success of a Mercat Tours International tour.

All coaches have the following features:

  • Luxury air-conditioning
  • DVD and audio-tape facilities
  • Reclining seats
  • Safety belts
  • Speed limiter
  • Toilet

Your Crossing

You have a choice of crossing. The one you choose depends on where your school is located and what your budget is.

The most comfortable, but most expensive journey is the Rosyth to Zeebrugge crossing. The cheapest is one of the Channel crossings, but it does entail considerably more time on the coach. Sharing the comforts of the Rosyth sailing, but shorter and less expensive, is the ferry from Hull to Zeebrugge.

Breakfast, dinner, packed lunches and single/double cabins can be arranged to suit all budgets.