MARKET GARDEN Trail - Route One
A Route Too Far?
This route marks South Kesteven's role in the Airborne landings in the Netherlands during Operation MARKET GARDEN in September 1944. South Kesteven was the home to units of the British 1st Airborne Division and the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade. They would attempt to secure bridges over the Neder Rijn river at Arnhem for units of the advancing British Second Army. Around 13,600 troops from the British Division and Polish Brigade landed in the Netherlands but only around 5,200 escaped after the fighting.
Route One
This is a tour around the base locations of the British parachute units that flew into Arnhem on 17 September 1944 and their departure airfields.
The route starts at the Grantham Museum; elements of 1st Airlanding Anti-tank Battery, Royal Artillery, and 2nd (Oban) Airlanding Anti-tank Battery, Royal Artillery, were based in the town.
The route passes through Syston, whose Old Hall was the Headquarters of the British 1st Parachute Brigade in 1944-45, Fulbeck (Headquarters of the British First Airborne Division) and heads to Grimsthorpe Castle (Headquarters of the British 1st Parachute Battalion in 1944-45).
Pass Stoke Rochford Hall - Headquarters of the British 2nd Parachute Battalion - and Hungerton Hall, base of 'C' Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion.
The route passes close to two airfields from where British paratroopers flew to Arnhem on 17 September 1944: Barkston Heath (61st Troop Carrier Group, USAAF) and Saltby (314th Troop Carrier Group, USAAF), as well as close to Fulbeck airfield (440th Troop Carrier Group, USAAF) and Folkingham airfield (313th Troop Carrier Group), from where elements of the US 82nd Airborne Division flew to Nijmegen.
See also the splendour of Culverthorpe Hall, base of the 16th Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps.
Find café stops at Fulbeck Craft Centre, Bottesford, Belvoir Castle, Buckminster (The Silver Apple), and Grimsthorpe Castle.
The route starts at the Grantham Museum; elements of 1st Airlanding Anti-tank Battery, Royal Artillery, and 2nd (Oban) Airlanding Anti-tank Battery, Royal Artillery, were based in the town.
The route passes through Syston, whose Old Hall was the Headquarters of the British 1st Parachute Brigade in 1944-45, Fulbeck (Headquarters of the British First Airborne Division) and heads to Grimsthorpe Castle (Headquarters of the British 1st Parachute Battalion in 1944-45).
Pass Stoke Rochford Hall - Headquarters of the British 2nd Parachute Battalion - and Hungerton Hall, base of 'C' Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion.
The route passes close to two airfields from where British paratroopers flew to Arnhem on 17 September 1944: Barkston Heath (61st Troop Carrier Group, USAAF) and Saltby (314th Troop Carrier Group, USAAF), as well as close to Fulbeck airfield (440th Troop Carrier Group, USAAF) and Folkingham airfield (313th Troop Carrier Group), from where elements of the US 82nd Airborne Division flew to Nijmegen.
See also the splendour of Culverthorpe Hall, base of the 16th Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps.
Find café stops at Fulbeck Craft Centre, Bottesford, Belvoir Castle, Buckminster (The Silver Apple), and Grimsthorpe Castle.
Stop en route at Fulbeck Craft Centre
Little Jack's Café at the Little Jack's Farm and Garden Centre, Bottesford
Silver Apple in Buckminster has something for everyone
Grimsthorpe Castle
Image
More trails
