Yorkshire Branch WFA Gallipoli Walking Tour

Day 1
Scheduled flights from Manchester to Istanbul. (Clive will meet thegroup on their arrival) Transfer to Gallipoli by coach to the Hotel Grand Anzac in Canakkale.

This is a 5 hour transfer on a fully air-conditioned coach. We will stop off for a short snack/toilet break halfway through the journey. All our transfer coaches have Wifi and complimentary bottled water on board

Day 2
Morning - Kum Kale - seldom visited by visitors to Gallipoli, we will visit the initail French landing areas, their base camp and a number of Turkish battery positions, cemeteries and memorials on the Asian coastline. We also follow in the footsteps of Eric 'Kipper' Robinson VC and the Naval Raiding Parties. We see how he led an audacious assault on the Turkish gun battery at Orkanieh (also known as Achilles' Tomb), a position between Kum Kale and Yeni Shehr on the southern shore of the Dardanelles. The position had resisted previous bombardment from the Royal Navy and a 'commando' style raid was suggested by Roger Keyes, Robinson, an old colleague accepted the task without hesitation. We will see where the parties sheltered landing took place before they came under fire from Turkish sniper fire and end on the site of the battery itself where tangible evidence remains from the action 26 February 1915.
Green Walk - 3/4KM - Along dirt tracks and crossing field boundaries, we encounter tall sharp grass and occasional descents & climbs, undulating ground through out.

Lunch taken at a local café

Afternoon - Helles - Starting atop Achi Baba and its viewing platform we visit Cape Helles including Lancashire Landing and V Beach as well as unhurried time to visit the magnificent Helles memorial to the missing. After visiting to the isolated grave of Lt Colonel Doughty-Wylie VC we explore Morto Bay, scene of the 2/South Wales Borderers landing, the French Cemetery and the old French battlefield cemeteries and memorials near Zimmerman’s Farm.

Day 3
Morning – A boat trip from Gaba Tepe to Anzac Cove offers an unforgettable view of the Anzac Landing areas before we walk from the entrance to Shrapnel Valley onto Russell’s Top - This newly opened pathway, courtesy of the Gallipoli Site Directorate, enables us to walk from the Anzac rear areas up to firing lines in and around the Nek and Baby 700 as never before.
Amber Walk - 3/4KM - Though a short walk, its a fairly continuous climb, it does involve walking along drops and crossing overgrown gullys and animal tracks.

Lunch will be taken at a local cafe

Afternoon - Hill 60 Walk, starting at the cemetery & memorial, this walk covers the perimetre of the Hill 60 sector providing us with a far greater understanding of the topography and nature of the fighting in this sector, locations named West Ham Gully, Carisbrooke Castle, Upton Park & the Broadway leave evidence of the 54th (East Anglian) Division troops that held this area through the autumn of 1915. Rarely visited much evidence of the campaign remains with trenchlines and sangers still very visible during the walk.
Green Walk - 3/4KM - Along dirt tracks and crossing field boundaries, we encounter tall sharp grass and occasional descents & climbs, undulating ground through out.

Day 4
Morning - A beautiful walk in the remote area of North Anzac. Leaving Embarkation Cemetery, we follow the path of Monash’s brigade through the notorious Taylor’s Gap and into Agyhl Dere. From there we ascend onto Damakjelik Spur, passing Australia Valley and Cheshire Ridge, before ending day studying the actions of Hill 60.
Green Walk - 3/4KM - Along dirt tracks and crossing field boundaries, we encounter tall sharp grass and occasional descents & climbs, undulating ground through out.

A Packed Lunch will be taken near to Lala Baba CWGC

Afternoon - Starting at Nibrunesi Points we follow the initial landings of the new Army Troops as they assaulted up Lala Baba and approached the Salt Lakes and beyond. We then explore Scimitar Hill and Green Hill as we look at the last great attack of the Gallipoli Campaign. We end with a visit to Turkish gun lines at Anafarta and a small local museum.

Day 5
Morning – The Krithia Sector- joining up Twelve Tree Copse, the Redoubt and Skew Bridge, our walk charts the front line from June through to the withdrawal. Exploring the Vineyard area we follow the locations held by the 29th, 42nd (East Lancs), 52nd (Lowland) and Royal Naval Division throughout the campaign.
Green/Amber Walk - 3/4KM - Fairly flat ground but does forge the krithia Nullah and the walk is frequently exposed to the sun.

Lunch will be taken at a local cafe

Afternoon - Kiretch Tepe Ridge - A dramatic walk starting at the site of General Stopfords HQ at Suvla, we climb onto the ridge passing Kidney Hill, Jepsons Post and the Pimple before walking onto the Gendarme Memorial. The veiws from Kiretch Tepe are unrivalled and no true understanding of the campaign can be grasped without a thorough study of the Suvla Bay are. Something this strenuous but greatly rewarding walk provide.
Red Walk - Along goat tracks, contour lines and over open broken ground, some parts overgrown, this steady climb with drops either side.

We end our tour with a very special visit to the excellent Suvla Winery.

Day 6 -
Return to Manchester via Istanbul..