What do I Need and How do I Plan?

. The Western Front Way app is the only tool to direct hikers and/or cyclists along the entire length of the first world war trench lines. You can plan your itineraries before you begin and understand the terrain and distances to help you. You can purchase it via Google and Apple Stores. 

– The app encourages users to look at the Front as an entire line that was connected as a whole and not just pockets of battles and narratives. It offers informed audio visual content of what happened in and around where you are as you hike or bike.  It offers human stories from all sides of the conflict. We ask users to rethink the landscape and how it helped form battle plans or how, in some mountain areas, see the lines were only 25meters apart and why this enforced silence on daily life. How were people treated medically in the Vosges versus Verdun. Did the fortresses of Conde and Pompelle make a difference. What unique impact did the Franco-Prussian War have before WWI in the south and how this carried on into WWII. Why were women, art and poetry important and what is the link between a french mutiny and an English nurse? Content is part of the app and at no extra costs.

– We work with our partners to update and refresh annual themes in the app so that you are not purchasing a one-off experience. Each time you return, there may be more to see or experience or a theme to follow. At no extra costs.

– Amenities will be added to the app. Many have been tried and tested and hope that they will provide a good provisions for users*.

– The trails have been split into stages. This means you can plan your adventure according to your time and ability or to take on as a whole. Some stages will show 40km hiking distances. These are often due to the few, or only, accommodation options on offer in these areas.  

– Itineraries will be added to the app. 

*The WFW LTd, nor Western Front Way, take responsibility or liability for the recommended providers; providers are suggested recommendations. The WFW Ltd, nor Western Front Way, are in contractual or agreement obligations with the providers we recommend and we strongly advise third party users to research their own amenities. The WFW Ltd, or Western Front Way, is not liable for any changes, costs or amendments to the amenities by the providers that are listed on our app or website.

The WFW app which will be released in full in Spring 2023 has a section for amenities and accommodation along the route. We encourage people to do their own research but the team have inspected many of our recommended accommodations and restaurants for your convenience. Each hotel will have received a pack with information about the WFW and will have the logo in their windows.

In France, there can be long distances between hotels along the trails. You can find alternative accommodation in Gîtes de France, chambres d’hotes, or at well kept municipal campsites

Wild camping / bivouac is not prohibited but is tolerated and you must respect certain regulations – Le camping sauvage . Bivouacking is generally understood to mean a one-night stop, in respect to leaving no trace, and is implicitly authorised between the hours of 7 p.m and 9 a.m and is subject rules in coastal areas, listed natural sites and historic monuments. Making an open fire when wild camping in dry/and or wooded areas in France in summer is strictly forbidden. You must seek the owner’s permission if you camp on private land.

*The WFW LTd, nor Western Front Way, take responsibility or liability for the recommended providers; providers are suggested recommendations. The WFW Ltd, nor Western Front Way, are in contractual or agreement obligations with the providers we recommend and we strongly advise third party users to research their own amenities. The WFW Ltd, or Western Front Way, is not liable for any changes, costs or amendments to the amenities by the providers that are listed on our app or website.

**The WFW Ltd, nor the Western Front Way, take any responsibility, and are not liable, for third party users who choose to wild camp/bivouac. We strongly advise all third party users to be absolutely clear about local rules and regulations on wild camping/bivouac, to research what is and what is not permitted in the different areas, and never place themselves, others and the natural environment in any harm, danger or mismanagement. 

1000 km or 621 miles. We have developed a hike trail and a bike trail of similar lengths. Our app splits the route into manageable stages so users can determine the terrain and distances.

From the south: access is via Basel Airport and a direct train to Porrentruy (CH). Opposite the station you will find the Hotel de la Gare. We recommend you spend the night here and take the 14mins regional train from Porrentruy to Bonfol, where the trail begins from outside the station directing you to Kilometre Zero. 

From the north: the trail begins in the coastal town of Nieuwpoort (BE). Access to Nieuwpoort from (Paris – ) Brussels to Ostend and then a regional tram to Nieuwpoort. 

All stages along the route try to incorporate access to a major train station so that convenient returns to and from your adventures can be accessed if you are not doing the WFW in its entirety.  There are some areas where there are very little amenities and accommodation and could require users to walk up to 40km per day. The more people begin to use the trails, the more local providers see the need for increased amenities. 

It depends on the fitness and timescale of the users.

Hiking – Based on a walk of 15 miles a day – a standard long distance walk day. 15 miles a day is 41 days. Or 24km a day. The stages along the route are split into approximately 100km per stage. There are some areas where there are very little amenities and accommodation and could require users to walk up to 40km per day if they specifically wanted hotel to hotel. The more people begin to use the trails, the more local providers see the need for increased amenities. 

Biking – The stages are set so that it is possible to accomplish the trail in 7 days biking with an average of 125km per day but you may wish to take rest days and explore local places. The Vosges and Alsace region is mountainous. 

In the amenities section in FAQ you will find more information on alternative accommodation. 

Yes. Our partners, AF3V, have developed the biking trail. The terrain is not suitable for road bikes. You will want to have a bike that can take rugged terrain. There are bike shops along the way but they are infrequent and we recommend you to be self sufficient. The following sites advise of bicycles on public transport.

SNCB Belgium

Le Shuttle

Eurostar

SNCF

Our maps show the main centres the trails pass, more information can be found within the plaque to plaque page. We direct users to use Western Front Way app which provides users with gps tracked trails. It can be purchased through the Google and Apple Stores from Spring 2023 with a fully updated version in April 2023.

The lasting legacy of one soldier who wanted peace from the trenches during the war was written about in 1915. The greatest possible legacy of conflict is lasting and stable peace and education. Our pathway offers the chance to reflect on the cost of instability and conflict, the value of peace and the brave men and women who, in their small part, changed the course of history.

Our logo: A cornflower (blue) the remembrance flower of France; a daisy (white/yellow) the remembrance flower of Belgium; the Forget Me Not (purple), the remembrance flower of Germany and the Poppy (red) the remembrance flower of Britain and the Commonwealth.

Im Jahr 1915 schrieb, Alexander Douglas Gillespie, ein Soldat in den Schützengräben über ein bleibendes Erbe des Friedens. Als er aus den Schützengräben zu seinem Schulleiter nach Hause schrieb, sprach er zuerst von diesem Weg des Friedens, oder über Sacra, wie er es nannte. Er wurde kurz nach dem Schreiben dieses Briefes im Jahr 1915 in einem Angriff auf feindliche Linien getötet. Er war der letzte Offizier, der stehen blieb, aber sein Körper wurde nie geborgen. Er ist unter diesem Text abgebildet.

Tourism offices, museums and the Mairie’s have placed plaques on their buildings. This is so users can recognise areas that are involved. All the major centres on the map have received the plaques. If you are an organisation or a Mairie and would like one please email info@thewesternfrontway.com and we can organise a plaque delivery.

Where are they up? It is up to the communes and centres to place the plaques but in the main they are on tourist offices, Mairies (town halls), and museums.

Yes, Belgium use NGI maps, France use IGN. The IGN Grande Guerre 1914-1918 is particularly good. 

Bitte teilen Sie Ihre Geschichten über unsere Social-Media-Kanäle. Wir sind eine Gemeinschaft, die sich aufeinander verlässt, sodass je mehr Sie teilen, desto besser wird die Erfahrung für andere.

The work of the WFW will continue to develop in order to provide consistent increase to user and provider experiences. We will continue to update and refresh the app with annual stories, links to events, ease of travel, itineraries and with all our partners to highlight what this part of the world means to modern day. The process of marking the trails has begun and we will continue to work with our partners on the ground to finalise this.