Tour 55 | Beer & Heritage 2011

Friday 26th August - Monday 29th August 2011 

For the first time on Podge’s Belgian Beer Tours we have managed to book rooms at the very centrally based Hotel Novotel Gent Centrum. Also, for the fifth year running we have managed to secure the expert services of archaeologist and historian Dave Buckley to keep us well informed on this tour. Visits have already been planned to the  Atlantic Wall Open-air Museum on the coast at Raversijde near Ostend where a fortress was built during World War I and rebuilt as a part of German fortifications during World War II. We will pay a visit to the great Duvel Moortgat Brewery for a tour, a complimentary beery gift pack and tasting and we will embark on a special steam train journey on the De Stoomtrein Dendermonde-Puurs line on the Sunday.

Ghent

Friday 26 August

04.15 Pick up at Colchester Lay-by, 34-38 Southway  CO2 7BB. 

04.45 Pick up at the Woolpack, Mildmay Road, Chelmsford.

Pick up at Maidstone Service Area off Junction 8 of the M20.

Pick up at Stop24 J11 M20 near Folkestone.

07.42  Folkestone rail crossing.

09.15   Arrive Calais.

10.30   Stop at Wielrijdersrust, Het Dorstige Hart to enjoy a first drink and pre-arranged lunch at a pleasant canal side location in Wulpen.

13.45   Arrive at the Atlantic Wall Open-air Museum, Ostend, for an audio guided tour* of the unique well preserved complex of coastal gun batteries and connecting galleries dating from both the First and Second World Wars.

16.00   Leave for Ghent.

16.30   Beer stop on the way.

18.30   Arrive at the 3 star Hotel Novotel Gent Centrum located in the historic heart of Ghent.

Atlantic Wall Museum, Raversijde

Saturday 27 August

10.00   Coach leaves hotel for visit to Duvel Moortgat Brewery.

11.00    Arrive at Duvel Moortgat for a tour* of the family owned brewery founded in 1871 and to sample the world famous Duvel and other beers produced by the company.

13.30     Leave Duvel Moortgat Brewery.

14.00    Arrive at De Gulden Cop, Temse, for pre-arranged lunch.

14.45    Leave for journey to Ooidonk Castle.

16.30    Arrive for a tour* of the thirteenth century Ooidonk Castle.  Rebuilt in a Flemish-Spanish style following a fire in the fifteenth century it contains a fine collection of furniture and art work.

18.00    Leave for Ghent and an opportunity to enjoy an evening visiting its historic city buildings and bars.

Ooidonk Castle

Sunday 28 August

10.00    Coach leaves hotel for Baasrode.

10.45    Arrive at the Ship Museum Baasrode

 for a guided tour* of the traditional boatyard and dry dock; a rare survival where Scheldt river system ships, barges and small boats were built.

12.00    Leave Baasrode.

12.30    Arrive at De Bierhoeve at Hamme, for pre-arranged lunch.

15.00    Return to Baasrode for steam train ride to Puurs* with regional beers available on the way.

16.00    Rejoin coach at Puurs.

16.30    Beer stop and opportunity to view Fort 4 Mortsel, built in the 1850s as part of an impressive ring of forts to defend Antwerp.

18.30    Arrive Antwerp centre for an evening in the city.
Ship Museum, Baasrode

Monday 29 August

10.00    Leave Ghent.

10.30    Arrive at Dranken Geers Beer Warehouse in Oostakker for a chance to buy beers to take home.

13.00    Arrive for lunch at Damme, a medieval port established to maintain the sea trade link for Brugge.

15.45     Arrive at Ter Doest Abbey in Lissewege to see the unique monumental thirteenth century Gothic barn and an opportunity to sample the on-site restaurant’s house beer from de Dolle Brouwers at Hof ter Doest Hostellerie.

17.20       Leave for drive to Calais.

18.50        Arrive at Calais.

19.50        Calais Rail Crossing.

Steam Train  - Stoomtrein Dendermonde-Puurs 

 

The price of this four day tour is £380 per person based on sharing a twin or double room, with a single supplement of £94 if you want a room of your own. The Tour price includes the cost of all entrance fees and guided tours around all museums and sites visited on the tour and all items above marked with an asterisk. Also included in the Tour price is coach travel from Colchester or Chelmsford, still and sparkling water available on the coach, hotel breakfasts on Tour and brewery visits and tastings. Arrangements can be made for different joining points on the way from Colchester to Dover/Folkestone or even on the other side of the channel. Personal insurance is not included but is strongly advised, as is carrying the European Health Insurance Card available online, by phone or via the Post Office.