Why this ride
145 km from Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue to Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, about 2 h 40 of riding. It goes by way of Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc and back through Utah Beach.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Les tours-observatoires de Tatihou et de l and Pointe du Hoc
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 145 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 2 h 40
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Les tours-observatoires de Tatihou et de l
On the eastern shore of the Cotentin peninsula, in Normandy, the little port of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue looks out at a low island called Tatihou, and on the island and on the headland of La Hougue stand two stout stone towers designed by Vauban, the military engineer of Louis XIV. They belong to the group of Vauban fortifications that UNESCO inscribed in 2008, and they are among the least known of the twelve sites.
Read the complete Les tours-observatoires de Tatihou et de l write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Les tours-observatoires de Tatihou et de l is where the day begins. Next is Utah Beach.
2. Utah Beach
Low dunes, a wide grey-gold beach and a sky that seems to go on forever: the westernmost of the D-Day landing beaches looks peaceful today. On 6 June 1944, troops of the US 4th Infantry Division came ashore here, on the eastern coast of the Cotentin peninsula, after paratroopers had dropped inland during the night. A current pushed the first landing craft south of their intended sector, onto a less defended stretch of sand, and Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr., walking the beach with a cane, decided to start the war from right there. Casualties at Utah were far lower than at Omaha, a few kilometres to the east.
Read the complete Utah Beach write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Utah Beach comes up about 30 km into the recorded legs. Next is Pointe du Hoc.
3. Pointe du Hoc
Pointe du Hoc is a headland of grey cliffs, about thirty metres high, between Omaha and Utah beaches on the Normandy coast, and it is one of the most moving places on the whole D-Day shore. On the morning of 6 June 1944, some two hundred and twenty-five US Army Rangers under Lieutenant Colonel James Rudder came in by landing craft, fired grappling hooks and rope ladders up the cliff, and climbed under fire to take a German battery thought to threaten both beaches. They found the guns had been moved inland, tracked them down and disabled them, then held the position for two days against counterattacks. Fewer than a hundred were still able to fight when they were relieved.
Read the complete Pointe du Hoc write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 73 km into the recorded legs you reach Pointe du Hoc. Next is back through Utah Beach.
4. back through Utah Beach
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Utah Beach write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Utah Beach, late in the day. Next is Les tours-observatoires de Tatihou et de l.
5. Les tours-observatoires de Tatihou et de l
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Les tours-observatoires de Tatihou et de l write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Back at Les tours-observatoires de Tatihou et de l. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Les tours-observatoires de Tatihou et de l to Utah Beach
Les tours-observatoires de Tatihou et de l → Utah Beach is 30 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Utah Beach to Pointe du Hoc
Utah Beach → Pointe du Hoc is 43 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Pointe du Hoc to back through Utah Beach
Pointe du Hoc → back through Utah Beach is 42 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Utah Beach to Les tours-observatoires de Tatihou et de l
back through Utah Beach → Les tours-observatoires de Tatihou et de l is 30 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.