VF Canterbury to Arras

[Doogman]

Hello: A friend and I are considering walking the first bit of the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Arras in summer 2017. We would also be spending a few days touring WW1 battlefields. The plan would be to continue walking the route in sections over the next few years. While there seems to be a reasonable amount of information on the Italian sections of the VF, there is much less on these opening sections. Has anybody done this recently? Is it a good route in terms of scenery? Is there a lot of road walking? Busy roads? Any information you have on the actual trail would be great. Thanks in advance!

 

[mspath]

BobM a veteran member of the Forum has written a great deal re walking from Canterbury. See more here for his blog and helpful tips --
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-canterbury-besancon-section-of-the-vf.15178/

For additional info Google the two terms Canterbury and Arras.

Happy research!

 

[Doogman]

Thanks very much! I will check into that.

 

[newfydog]

Not a bad route but tough finding food and accomodation, even on a bike. Plan well. Consider camping.

 

[Bradypus]

There is a very active Facebook group for VF walkers - past, present and future. Well worth joining and asking there. I took an alternative route mainly along canals until Besançon so sadly am not much help to you on this one.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/19899007360?ref=bookmarks&soft=bookmarks

 

[domigee]

Hello: A friend and I are considering walking the first bit of the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Arras in summer 2017. We would also be spending a few days touring WW1 battlefields. The plan would be to continue walking the route in sections over the next few years. While there seems to be a reasonable amount of information on the Italian sections of the VF, there is much less on these opening sections. Has anybody done this recently? Is it a good route in terms of scenery? Is there a lot of road walking? Busy roads? Any information you have on the actual trail would be great. Thanks in advance!

Hi Doogman!
I walked that section of the VF from Canterbury to Arras in July 2014. I used the Alison Raju Cicerone guide and took a tent.
When you book accommodation, always ask if they can provide food or if there is a shop or somewhere to eat nearby, otherwise you'll go without. Oh and make sure they know you are walking, otherwise they may direct you to a restaurant in the nearest town which is miles away!

I'll pass on one tip that served me well: if you run out of water, look for a cemetary, there will always be a tap with drinking water available...

 

[Doogman]

Thanks to everyone that has responded. I will keep researching it.

 

[Doogman]

Thanks again to everyone that responded and provided some advice on this thread last year. I am off to the UK on Friday night and will start the walk from Canterbury on Wednesday. Unfortunately I will be on my own, as my regular walking buddy recently had heart surgery, so he is not in much condition at this point to carry a backpack for long distances. I will report back when I am done to try to keep the information on the Forum current. Safe travels to everyone this summer!

 

[jsalt]

Hi Doogman, I am so looking forward to hearing all about it. Are you taking a tent? I’ve written off the VF through France, as I cannot carry a tent, and I couldn’t possibly afford hotels every night. Hope it goes well.
Jill

 

[Doogman]

Hi Doogman, I am so looking forward to hearing all about it. Are you taking a tent? I’ve written off the VF through France, as I cannot carry a tent, and I couldn’t possibly afford hotels every night. Hope it goes well.
Jill

Hi: Thanks! I will be staying in hotels and B&Bs. It seems that accommodation is fairly sparse along this part of the route so a tent would be a good idea for a longer trip. But I have not used a tent for quite a while. I think those days are over for me.

 

[Jotown]

Hi
I've only just seen this thread ...
I did the VF last year , along the established route...
And didn't camp ( although I did sleep on the floor of a church !!)
Which guidebooks are you using ?
- I used Lightfoot guides , which had route info and accommodation details in them, also Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome had an accommodation guide/ details ..

First tip ... get a 'day return' ticket on the ferry... its cheaper than a 'single' !!

Secondly campsites regularly have 'pilgrim accomodation' available at very reduced rates..although you'll still find it expensive compared to Portugal/Spain

Check for local associations who can help with accommodations , particularly across Northern France- I was passed along like a parcel !!

Good tip to always check that an evening meal/ breakfast is available - when you book anywhere ... otherwise you'll go hungry ( I did !!)

As for viewing the battlefields ... perfect , you walk through them !!

If there's anywhere in particular you struggle with, just send a message and I'll tell you where I stayed

 

[Doogman]

Hi Jotown: Thanks for your message. I have the Cicerone guidebook and I have the route outlined on MAPS.ME, so that should hopefully be sufficient to get me to my destination each day. Since it is a relatively short trip (11 days of walking), and since accommodation seems sparse, I have pre-booked my accommodation each night. I'll try to prepare a summary once I get back to let everyone know how it went. That must have been quite a journey going all the way to Rome. I would like to do that, but it will have to be in sections.

 

[Jotown]

You're well organised then !!

Enjoy , safe travels Bonne Chemin !!

 

[Seabeggar]

Camping might still be an option, modern super light weight gear, tent, sleeping bag & mat can be under 2.5kg. With a small stove and pan + a few clothes you should be able to reduce a pack to 6-8kg. Obviuosly depends on season. Such gear is more pricey, but opens up the options. When I am out on a trip my pack for several days camping ( inc. food) weighs less than some folks day packs.