Le Mans - arrive Cherbourg 08-June, what to do?

[S2996]

Hello!

This section of the forum has been extremely helpful (/a bad influence) in planning for my virgin outing to Le Mans. We're travelling into Cherbourg on Weds 07-June but are not actually booked to arrive to Le Mans (PH camping, of course) until the Thursday. This gives me a day to play with so thought I would put it out to the experts!

Will probably head to Sainte-Mère-Église and check out Utah Beach and thought the Andaines Forest would be a nice area to head to for the night but I'm very much open to suggestions on this? Should I head down the West coast of the peninsula to Mont St Michel then cut back across East?

Nice roads, scenery, and grub, are very much the main aim.

Any ideas welcomed and thanks in advance

Edited by S2996 on Sunday 7th May 12:51

[LawrieC]

Isn't the 8 June a Thursday?

The D Day sites and prettier towns are worth a look, plus there are the Friday events like St Saturnin, and the need to set up camp, and buy food, now you can't take it with you.

[S2996]

Yep you’re right, that should be Weds 7th so just updated main post - thanks for spotting!

I’ll be heading to the campsite Thursday AM so this is for the Weds/Weds night. Booked for GBW with PistonHeads on the Friday but that’s a good point on picking up some supplies en route, thanks.

[LawrieC]

On your way back from GBW you go past an enormous Auchan Supermarket and there's always Carrefour. There are other things happening on Friday, but I haven't got to grips with them yet, but even the road parts of the circuit are closed due to the side shows, so unless you're a fan of racing 911s its time

[RL17]

LM second day of practice and hyperpole on Thursday from 3pm - good to see from stands (open for GA access bar 17/18)/start finish straight area at some point as it's rammed on Saturday.

Getting to supermarkets just out of town on way can be easier if you have room/time.

Getting back from CBW through Arnage and the tunnel/bridge under Porsche curves to/past the BSJ roundabout could be a major PIA this year (and on Thursday too).

[S2996]

Excellent, that's really helpful - thanks both

With the assistance of PH/google/a Michelin road map, I've come up with a rough route:

N13 to Sainte-Mere-Eglise (stop off Utah), continue N13 to Carentan, then on to Saint-Lo (D974/D971/D29/D900). D999 then D47 to Barenton, D907 to Domfront. Down to Pre-en-Pail-Saint-Samson (D976/D176). D204/D121/D149/D112 to Saint-Leonard-des-Bois. Onto Fresnay-sur-Sarthe (D112/D15), then finally D388 to Le Mans...

Just need to fine tune and find somewhere to stay on the Weds night, thinking Fresnay-Sur-Sarth area to allow a quick escape to Le Mans first thing Thursday - any critiques/recommendations welcomed

[MrC986]

You will enjoy a last good night of a decent bed somewhere in a hotel or Air BnB on the Wednesday night & then can travel down at leisure on the Thursday morning. We will be coming down from Cherbourg having been on the Wednesday overnight ferry so you may have saved me some time looking at the map!! I suspect your suggested route will see a few fellow LM travellers but not as many as if you'd done the scenic route down from Caen.

We are also staying with Brian & the 1st Tickets team at PH Bleu Nord btw so look out for a Cayman in the pre-erected tent section - I would expect us to arrive just after lunch

[S2996]

Booked a gite about a hour away, so that’s sorted. Be nice to bump into some fellow travellers so hope route works out alright.
Will look out from the erect-your-own tent section

[ellroy]

Honfleur is well worth a visit for lunch by the harbour.

[TonySim]

The Utah beach landing museum is well worth a visit if you are in the area.

[Byker28i]

Has Cherbourg still got the aqaurium with the amazing huge tanks, plus a nuclear submarine you can walk around?

[S2996]

Ace, thanks all - appears the aquarium and sub are still open so I will bear that in mind as sounds interesting! Honfleur I think will be a bit out of the way although am sailing back from Caen so will make a note of that.

3 weeks to go!!

[early_911]

www.dday-experience.com/en/ . . . this place is great