OUR NETWORK
Levison Wood is a Sunday Times best-selling author and photographer who led expeditions and been sent on assignments in over 100 countries. He has published eight best-selling books and produced six critically acclaimed documentaries which have been seen by millions around the world. He has walked 8000 miles along the Nile, the Himalayas and Central America, circumnavigated the Arabian Peninsula, and trekked across Botswana with a herd of wild Elephants. Levison is an Officer in the British Army having served in the Parachute Regiment for 13 years. Levison is an elected Fellow of both the Royal Geographical Society and the Explorers Club in New York. Levison will help promote the Western Front Way as a walk, and its values of commemoration, education and well being.
LEVISON WOOD
AMBASSADOR‘Passing on the history of the First World War has been done in poetry, and stories, in music and museums, and in plays and films. But here is a new way, to my mind the most beautiful way, most significant way, the creation of a path of peace, The Western Front Way.
An inspired idea, originally proposed in a letter from the Front by one of those who died in that war. It was that No Mans Land, where so many millions had died on all sides, should be transformed into a path of peace, stretching from the Swiss Border all the way to the English Channel, some 1000 km.
We will all be able to see that a landscape so utterly destroyed has recovered, that where there was enmity there is now friendship, and that we can walk there now in peace.’
SIR MICHAEL MORPURGO
AMBASSADOROldest son of a Cavalry Officer and born into a military family. In his youth, a counsellor in summer camps in Germany, then counsellor in Baltimore for YMCA day camps.
25 years organizing horseback pack trips with parallel activities for handicapped young adults. Mostrecently, 15 years as a member of a road safety NPO organization and driving instructor.
Arrived in Lorraine/Meuthe et Moselle/Badonviller in 2017. Électeurs in March 2020 at both local and community level and a member of several tourist and local Commissions.
Proud to be an Ambassador of WFW.
RÉGIS CHOMEL
AMBASSADOR / Représentant pour la Meurthe-et-Moselle (54) et Les Vosges (88)Peter Fiennes worked at Time Out for 25 years, where he wrote, edited and oversaw the creation of hundreds of guidebooks, including their award-winning city guides. He is the author of the critically acclaimed ‘Oak and Ash and Thorn: the ancient woods and new forests of Britain’ and ‘Footnotes: a journey round Britain in the company of great writers’. His first book was ’To War with God: the army chaplain who lost his faith’ and told the story of his grandfather, Monty Guilford, who worked as a chaplain on the Western Front. His latest is ‘A Thing of Beauty: Travels in Mythical and Modern Greece’ and will be out in October 2021.
Peter lives in south London and is captivated by the ambition and vision of the Western Front Way and cannot wait to walk its length.
PETER FIENNES
AMBASSADORLevison Wood is a Sunday Times best-selling author and photographer who led expeditions and been sent on assignments in over 100 countries. He has published eight best-selling books and produced six critically acclaimed documentaries which have been seen by millions around the world.
He has walked 8000 miles along the Nile, the Himalayas and Central America, circumnavigated the Arabian Peninsula, and trekked across Botswana with a herd of wild Elephants. Levison is an Officer in the British Army having served in the Parachute Regiment for 13 years. Levison is an elected Fellow of both the Royal Geographical Society and the Explorers Club in New York.
Levison will help promote the Western Front Way as a walk, and its values of commemoration, education and well being.
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LEVISON WOOD
AMBASSADOR.
“I have been fascinated with the Great War ever since I was handed my great grandfather and namesakes Great War Mons star as a 20 year old. The medal also served as a mental focusing tool during the later stages of my playing days with England.
During the Centenary I was honoured to have the role of Great War commemorations ambassador for the RFU. Where I had numerous roles most notably helping produce the rose and poppy films, on the impact the Great War had on rugby and its community.
I was also a part of establishing a permanent memorial “the rose and poppy gates” at Twickenham for the English fallen of both wars, as well as a pilgrimage to pay my respects to the 22 England Rugby internationals who lost their lives in the Great War.
It is a huge pleasure to be asked to be an ambassador for the Great Western Way. I am passionate about this brilliant project, and its focus engages new generations by promoting Peace, wellbeing and the importance of remembrance.”
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LEWIS MOODY
AMBASSADOR‘Passing on the history of the First World War has been done in poetry, and stories, in music and museums, and in plays and films. But here is a new way, to my mind the most beautiful way, most significant way, the creation of a path of peace, The Western Front Way.
An inspired idea, originally proposed in a letter from the Front by one of those who died in that war. It was that No Mans Land, where so many millions had died on all sides, should be transformed into a path of peace, stretching from the Swiss Border all the way to the English Channel, some 1000km.
We will all be able to see that a landscape so utterly destroyed has recovered, that where there was enmity there is now friendship, and that we can walk there now in peace.’
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SIR MICHAEL MORPURGO
AMBASSADORPeter Fiennes worked at Time Out for 25 years, where he wrote, edited and oversaw the creation of hundreds of guidebooks, including their award-winning city guides. He is the author of the critically acclaimed ‘Oak and Ash and Thorn: the ancient woods and new forests of Britain’ and ‘Footnotes: a journey round Britain in the company of great writers’. His first book was ’To War with God: the army chaplain who lost his faith’ and told the story of his grandfather, Monty Guilford, who worked as a chaplain on the Western Front. His latest is ‘A Thing of Beauty: Travels in Mythical and Modern Greece’ and will be out in October 2021.
Peter lives in south London and is captivated by the ambition and vision of the Western Front Way and cannot wait to walk its length.
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PETER FIENNES
AMBASSADOR“Today Ypres makes every effort to recall and preserve the memory of the many war victims. Visit Ypres is both honoured and enthusiast to be a partner of the Via Sacra Western Front Way.”
YPRES
PARTNER“All comes together in Nieuwpoort, the terminus or starting point of The Western Front Way – Via Sacra“
NIEUWPOORT
PARTNER“Our rich history can be found throughout the whole town and our many charming villages, as well in the Yser Tower Museum and the Trench of Death Museum. Diksmuide is honoured to be a partner of the Via Sacra Western Front Way”
DIKSMUIDE
PARTNER“The Western Front Way provides a unique experience for the user to walk/cycle to witness firsthand the battle scars left from a war fought over a century ago, travel the footsteps of those who sacrificed so much for our peace, and to commit us to never forget.”
VIMY RIDGE
PARTNER“This via sacra project is one of the most creative and moving on the western front, it will develop a new way to visit and discover the battlefields and also remember that all gave some and some gave all. Lest we forget”
SOMME
PARTNER“At the heart of the Somme Battlefields, the Historial, Museum of the Great War presents the full magnitude of the First World War in two museums at Péronne and Thiepval.”
Historial de la Grande Guerre – Peronne
PARTNER“Albert, at the heart of the Somme is a centre for international remembrance and an incomparable place to visit. Throughout Le Pays du Coqeulicot you can find Western Front plaques in place.”
Le Pays du Coquelicot
PARTNER“At the very start, or at the very end of the Western Front Way, Pfetterhouse is immaculate, welcoming and proudly marked with plaques”
Pfetterhouse
PARTNERLaunchpad of so many Western Front Way travellers as they journey on foot and by bicycle
Arras
PARTNEROur key centre of engagement and success in stages 3 & 4
Badonviller
PARTNERPinon
PARTNERNew Hill 70
PARTNERThe Western Front Way is not just a route. It’s a route with a story, a meaning, a statement. Facilitating, usings and spreading great routes like the Western Front Way, full of content in any meaning of the word is exactly what RouteYou is all about.
Route You
PARTNERFor 100 years The Royal British Legion has been standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Armed Forces Community, growing and evolving to meet their changing needs. It’s thanks to fundraising during the Poppy Appeal and throughout the year that The Royal British Legion continues to fight for them, campaign for them, and re-member their unique contribution.
British Legion
AffilateLA GORGUE (France) – For nearly 600 years, Beaupré hosted a Cistercian abbey founded in 1220. During the Great War, Beaupré served as a British air base located about 10 km from the Front. The association A.B.E.S.S. brings this place to life and maintains the memory of the men who have been there. La Gorgue has three British military cemeteries where several airmen rest, most of them having a direct relationship with Beaupré.
To find out more: @beaupresurlalys (free access)
Abbaye de Beaupré
Affilate“Cycling the Western Front Way is a profoundly moving experience; a stark reminder of our interconnected histories and an inspiration for our shared future.”
Stephen Farrrant
supporter“The Western Front Way is steeped in dramatic human stories which serve to remind us how fragile and beautiful peace is”
Beth Salt
supporter“The scenery! Sometimes, I’d just stop and stare. The sunsets and the sunrises; cornfields that seemed to go on forever, woodland paths where I’d chop my way through the nettles with my staff.”
Alan Rutter
supporter“A beautiful walking path that unites us whilst we remember the sacrifices of the past”
Tess Tidmarsh
supporterThe Western Front Way welcomes all donations however small. Your generosity will help us to waymark the path in the coming months.
