World War II Heritage Tour

5.0 (2 reviews) 8 hours Private tour

out of 5

2 reviews

5.0

World War II Heritage Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Best way to see Kingswear and Dartmoth — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

"Probably the most militarised county in WWII", some 1.5 million GI's were stationed in the county of Devon. The north and south coasts of Devon were used extensively to both house the GI's and enable them to practice amphibious landings before the Normandy landings. This includes the notorious Slapton sands, one of the US military's darkest secrets of WWII. Focussing on the south coast, in addition to Slapton we'll visit Plymouth, where some 36,000 GI's departed. Plymouth is said to be the most bombed city in WWII (per sq mile) more than London and Coventry and is still the largest naval dockyard in Western Europe. Down the coast the picturesque coastal town of Dartmouth is home to two stunningly preserved castles at the mouth of the River Dart as well as Britannia Naval College, home to US naval command and where Queen Elizabeth first set eyes on the Duke of Edinburgh. Finally Brixham, now Englands' biggest fishing port with some of the best preserved naval gun batteries of WWII.

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At a glance

Duration: 8 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–6
Guide: English
Operated by: DEVON&MOOR walking and driving tours

Ages: Adults (12–90 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Chilled water
Included: Private transportation
Included: All Fees and Taxes
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning: Air-conditioned vehicle
Included: driver/guide

Not included

Not included: A table is booked for lunch, however choice of food and the cost is guest responsibility

Itinerary

Plymouth

1 h 15 min

Devons' biggest city and still home to Western Europes' biggest naval dockyard.
Dartmouth Castle

15 min

Perched majestically on the mouth of the River Dart, Dartmouth Castle was conceived in Medieval times and continued its development right up to WWII when howitzers were introduced to help defend the mouth of this strategic entity. For castle lovers, you can go on tour around the castle and we can re-model the rest of the day
Slapton Sands

45 min

A unique experience awaits you with the fresh water ley on one side (largest example in the UK) and the stunning Slapton sands (beach) on the other. The sea (on the beach side) and the ley are separated by a thin beachy causeway which provides the base for the tarmac road. With its future under threat from the winter storms, this beautiful location is a must see.
Torcross

30 min

Home to one of the most famous war memorials of WWII, Torcross village at the western end of Slapton Sands is the resting place for the Sherman tank that took local hero Ken Small 20 years to extract form the sea bed of Start Bay and now pays homage to the hundreds of Americans that died out in the bay. Wether you have an interest in World War II or not its difficult not to be moved by this tragic story and one mans' quest to ensure it was never forgotton.
Dartmouth

30 min

This beautiful coastal town is without one of Devons' gems.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Le Meridien Manor House
The Woodforde
The White Hart Hotel
Travel Lodge Torquay
The Grange Court Hotel
Premier Inn Plymouth City Centre (derry's Cross) Hotel
Oyo Plymouth Central
Soar Mill Cove Hotel
Hotel Elizabeth
Bedford Hotel
Mount Pleasant Hotel
Hotel Riviera

and 238 more pickup points

Included in your fee is collection and drop off at your accommodation within a 30 mile radius of Brixham. Additional premium travel charge is agreed at £1.50 a mile. This fee is agreed before the tour and paid separately securely over the phone, cash on the day or by secure mobile device on the day. If the travel premium charge cannot be agreed, then you are entitled to cancel the tour with a full refund.

Your tour vehicle is a luxury 7 x seater Mercedes V220 and recognisable by its colour (pebble grey) and the decals on the side of the vehicle. I will send you a photo of the vehicle before the tour. I will be recognisable as I will be dressed in smart chinos and top with company logo on.

Please note, the locations above are only samples, we will pick up in most places in Devon

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

If you cancel	You get back
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Service animals allowed
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reasonable fitness levels and the desire to walk short distances will ensure you get the most out of this tour