If you are planning a Ypres trip to visit Flanders Fields and the World War 1 battlefields, you will no doubt want to arm yourself with information before your visit. Walking Ypres, is a fantastic resource that comes highly recommended, not just by myself, but by tour guides too!
Liv recently took a school trip to visit the battlefields at Ypres and found it a handy guide to learn more about the area and what happened before arriving.
Written by Paul Reed and published by Pen & Sword books, the easy to follow guide, covering 296 pages, features different walks around Ypres, with information relevant to specific walks around the battlefields.
Why was the battle of Ypres so important?
Ypres, is a town in the Belgian province of West Flanders, where the bloodiest battles were fought during World War 1. A million soldiers were wounded, missing or killed in action during these hard fought battles.
The poignant poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ by John McCrae came to symbolize the sacrifices of all who were fighting in the First World War and is one of the most famous wartime poems ever written.
Surrounded by the Ypres Salient battlefields, you will find many cemeteries, memorials and war museums that honour the battles that unfolded in the area during World War I.
Visiting the Ypres battlefields is a very unique and breathtaking experience. The vastness of the battlefields, the trenches, and the ruined buildings are all still visible more than 100 years after the battles took place. Many buildings were destroyed during the fighting, with the city rebuilt respecting the past and history.
What can you expect from the Walking Ypres Battlefield Guide?
Featuring a selection of 14 walks around the battlefields, the book starts with the Ypres Town Walk (3.9 mile walk). Though, the handy contents table at the front of the book enables you to dip in and out depending on which walk you choose.
Being able to follow your own itinerary and use the book in any order makes it very handy! The paperback version is a great size to pop in your bag, though a Kindle version is available too.
The book features many amazing images and illustrations, alongside mentions of those who played a part in the Great War.
The 14 walks around the Ypres battlefields featured in the book:
- Ypres Town Walk
- Menin Gate – Hellfire Corner – Potijze Walk
- Yser Canal Walk – Ypres to Boesinghe
- Sanctuary Wood – Hooge – Bellewaarde Ridge Walk
- Zillebeke Walk
- The Bluff – Hill 60 Walk
- Langemarck Walk
- Passchendaele Walk
- Behind The Lines Walk – Brandhoek – Vlamertinghe
- Poperinghe Town Walk
- Locre – Kemmel Walk
- ‘Whitesheet’ Walk
- Messines Ridge Walk
- ‘Plugstreet Wood’ Walk
Best time to visit Ypres, Belgium
It seems that July is the best month to visit Ypres. With average temperatures around 23 degrees celsius, it will be pleasant for walking around the Battlefields.
Liv visited in early May and it rained every day of their 4 day visit, as you can see from the images above. To get the most out of such a humbling experience, definitely choose the time of your visit carefully!
About the author
Author Paul Reed is a leading military historian, specialising in the two world wars. Paul has been a regular visitor of European battlefields for more than thirty years and lived on the Somme for over a decade.
He has worked as a researcher and battlefield guide, and is the author of several books on the Great War. He also regularly contributes to television programmes, such as Timewatch, Meet the Ancestors and Who Do You Think You Are? and was historical consultant to BBC1’s My Family At War.
Where to buy a copy of Walking Ypres
You can purchase Walking Ypres directly from publisher Pen and Sword books in paperback form here. The resource guide is currently priced at £11.99 which is unbelievable value for the book. A Kindle version is also available, though I would highly recommend purchasing the paperback version to dip in and out of.
Pen and Sword also feature the full catalogue of books written by Paul Reed for further title from the military historian.
Final thoughts
The walking guide is an essential travellng companion for anyone who is eager to explore them either on foot, by bike or by car.
Walking Ypres brings the visitor not only to the places where the armies clashed but to the landscape of monuments, cemeteries and villages that make the Ypres battlefields among the most memorable sites of the Great War.
Even if you are not planning a walking trip to Ypres soon, the book is such a fantastic resource for history lovers. I am very jealous of Liv’s trip, something I wish I could have gone on too… though there is still time! The effects of WW1 live on in our every day lives and we should never forget the sacrifices made.
For further reading, check out the amazing story of the mines at the Battle of Messines. It really was a turning point of the war and the site of the largest explosion of the pre-atomic age. It was even reported the explosion was heard in London and as far as Dublin!
Tending my parents allotment.
1. Getting an email from ERNIE to say there was some good for me …
2. Logging into my Premium Bond account to find out I’d won £25 !
My dog made me smile today.
The bees on my flowers in the garden
My cats looking after each other in the garden. Cute!
Spending time with the kids.
A great BBQ with some friends.
My dog.
A delicious meal
next door’s cat rolling on the lawn
An unexpected visit from an old school friend
Videos of my daughter having a good time on holiday!
watching my dogs playing
My family
Having a sleep-in made me smile today!
Having a good sleep last night and taking time to relax and enjoy having a leisurely breakfast. Thinking positive about the future.
My football team winning yesterday and are currently top of the league!
My gorgeous cat Wispa. She makes me smile every single day!
Talking to a friendly dog walker today we had a good chat about the weather.
Knowing that my son is recovering from an eye infection
The sun shining
A picture of my grandchildren came up on my Facebook memories.
Pottering in the garden and picking raspberries
nothing yet it is a bit early BUT I am still hoping
My son who makes me smile and happy
Buying some woopsy chicken breasts, 50 per cent off (sad)
Rewatching the trailer to the 1990s Secret Garden and being overcome with a sense of nostalgia!
waking up next to my partner of 16 years
Seeing my mum
Scrubs
Nothing
Speaking to my Daughter on the telephone
Some much needed rain in the garden.
Waking Up, you will as well when your 77 years young.
my next door neighbour’s new puppy “Max”
I’ve received new videos of my 2 yr old nephew talking and dancing!
Seeing this competition and reminding me of the visit I made to my great uncles grave in Belgium in 2017 on the 100 year anniversary of his death.
Ducks arriving in our garden has made me smile today
my cat daisy – she always makes me smile!
being out in the garden
A rainy day spent with family and pets watching films and eating pizza! Simple things
Waking up to sunshine and picking the first tomatoes from the garden
Finishing work for the summer and getting to spend 6 weeks with my little boy x
Getting an invitation to an 80th birthday party. I definitely think that is something to celebrate.
My grandkids always make me smile
My grandchildren. They give me something to smile about every day!
Speaking on a 4 way conversation with my partner to are friends who are sisters.
The koalas on Animal Park
My hubby made me smile today, I sent him shopping!!
A customer brought us an ice cold bottle of water which was so thoughtful.
My daughter giving me a big hug and kiss when I picked her up from her dad’s this evening
My son passing his karate belt
Seeing my friends at work as I had covid last week
Sunshine and friends
My pug dog met up with his sausage dog girlfriend. She’s moved and they don’t often get to see each other. They just snogged and snogged like teenagers.
being outside in the sunshine
Eating homemade burger & chips
Sitting in the beautiful sunshine in my garden
Seeing my daughter singing at her school fayre!
I love appreciating nature and the flowers in my garden
An early morning wake up FaceTime from my best friend x
It made me smile when one of my sons friend has been asking when he’ll be coming back to school as he has been off school sick for a few days and it’s nice he has such nice friends
The glorious sunshine made me smile today, even if I did have to retreat to the shade after a while!
My parents came to visit and we had a good catchup and a laugh 🙂
I went to the local beach at 6 am with the dogs before it got too hot outside.
Neighbour’s cat coming to visit
Family members
My cat has made me smile today. He’s always full of fun.
Not having a tantrum from my 12 year old before she left the house for school this morning!
A blackbird in our garden, who looked like he was drunk.
Finding a squirrels Drey in a tree in our garden! How exciting!
waking up knowing its the weekend tomorrow and its my husbands Saturday off!!
I saw 2 Collored Doves sat on the garden wall, preening each other; they were obviously a couple and looked very happy together.
My first home made lasagne being a success!
My fiance cooking me a lovely meal!
Friends and family!
Watching the sparrows have a mud bath in the garden! They had a whale of a time!
Meeting my friend for a coffee
Spending time with my mum having tea
Butterflies in the garden x
My wonderful husband. He makes me smile every day
Visiting my mum
My old dog is living on borrowed time so watching her enjoying the sun made me smile
An unexpected text from my teenage daughter just asking how I am.
The antics of my 2 cats as they chase their tails in the garden