Reviews and Testimonials D-Day Tours of Normandy

We (thankfully) booked Malcolm for a one-day American Sector tour. Our daughter is learning WWII history in school and we wanted her to learn from an expert. And indeed, she did and we cannot thank Alison and Malcolm enough for our day together.

First, we communicated with Alison via email in preparation for our visit. Always clear and concise, I felt confident we’d be in good hands. With a SMS the day prior, we confirmed pick-up time and location. And sure enough, about 15 minutes early, Malcolm pinged me upon his arrival to our Bayeux hotel. Great! Alison helped arrange all the background info (tour, pick-up time/location, lunch, payment, etc.). We were in good hands.

Second, the tour. It was an absolutely packed day but at a pace that did not feel rushed whatsoever. At each stop (Omaha beach x2, American Cemetery, Pont du Hoc, Brecourt Manor, Utah Beach, St Mere-Elise), Malcolm shared insights as a master story-teller – focusing on my daughter to help bring those days to life. And sure enough, multiple times post-tour she has said “Well Malcolm said….” which brings a smile to our faces. His stories were insightful, and his knowledge deep. With a mix of materials, maps, and stories we were enthralled across the 8+ hours.

We also accepted the offer of a lunch package – which was the right choice for us. Malcolm knew a spot in the region where we enjoyed an Alison-made picnic. We enjoyed sitting outside and continuing to hear about the Allies advance while enjoying delicious food.

And finally, our only regret was not getting a group photo with Malcolm! I highly recommend using these services. The entire day was wonderful and we felt very comfortable across the entire day.

Thank you Alison and Malcolm. We truly appreciate you sharing your love and insights with us. This day will be long-lasting in our memories.

An absolutely amazing tour that exceeded our expectations, Four of us did the three day British emphasis tour and it gave us everything we wanted. One of the party was ex forces and the other three are all amateur military history enthusiasts. Malcolm the tour guide first of all established our interest and clearly adjusted the days to suit. I am sure this would be equally good for people with less back ground information. The tour is a battlefield tour and not just a visit to the beaches, where we followed the allies landing from these beaches inland and saw many of the key areas where battles were fought. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and could answer all of our questions as well as providing a great booklet and brought maps so we could follow where we were and look at things through the eyes of the allies and Germans
We also paid for lunches which were superb and I would heartily recommend these, and not only were they extremely good but it also meant time was not wasted looking for a food outlet
This is a tour for a small group and having seen the coaches turn up and people being rushed through the sites, I would thoroughly recommend looking at this tour rather than the larger ones

We just finished up a three-day (US centric) tour with Malcom in August 2024. By far the best tour that I have ever taken. Malcolm is hands down the best Normandy tour guide out there. His knowledge and professionalism are second to none. His story telling of the events of that day definitely brought out the human side of D-DAY. From the time he picked us up at our B&B in the morning, until he dropped us off at night, I was happily gleaning all the vast knowledge that Malcom had of the events and facts of D-DAY. He goes above and beyond what you would expect or even get with a large tour group just being carted around.

Many times, I would mention something I knew of, or had a question about, and the next thing I knew … we were pulling up to the spot (and it wasn’t even on the tour)! We chose to partake in the offered picnic lunches that his wife provides as well, and it made the experience that much more memorable. If you are not partaking in Malcom’s services, you are setting yourself up for a subpar tour experience in my opinion!

What a wonderful day we had touring the D-Day region with Malcolm! He is everything you want in a guide, or person for that matter. He is extremely knowledgeable and informative, able to not just show you the sights, but paint word pictures that place you at the scene. Malcom loves history, and it shows. Above all, he was kind, warm and caring, and forever attentive to any requests. If you are looking for a memorable experience for your bucket list trip, then Malcolm is your man!

I have traveled a fair amount and enjoyed many quality tours. I also have a bachelor’s degree in history, and have been fortunate enough to have studied under many gifted professors. That stated, Malcolm is the best guide and history teacher I have ever experienced.

Malcolm has the gift of taking complicated scenarios and breaking them down into understandable, digestible pieces. In a matter of minutes he was able to thoroughly convey the situation in Europe in June of 1944, and the various factors leading up to the invasion. He then spent time sharing stories of individuals participating in D-Day, while standing on the very spots where those heroes stood.
We opted for the picnic lunch, which was thoughtfully prepared by his wife and was quite delicious.
It is difficult to find words to adequately express the gratitude we feel having someone as interesting, personable, and professional as Malcolm accompanying us on our first visit to Normandy. I encourage others to seek out his services, as you will absolutely not be disappointed.
Thank you, Malcolm. We look forward to returning in the future!

So I would like to thank you both for making the day absolutely perfect in every way and it totally exceeded our expectations.

I just thought I would drop you a little note to thank Malcolm for the fabulous day we had with him on Saturday, the one day tour he took us on was perfect in every way and his enthusiasm for the subject is portrayed in the way he delivers the lectures/talks at the various locations he took us to, we ended up feeling that we were actually there on D Day so much is his passion for the subject, bearing in mind he has most probably delivered the same talks numerous times, but you could not tell. The numerous locations he took us to where perfect and I know we would never have found most of them and as such we would have missed some important locations/events that happened in the areas on D day.

I would like to thank yourself for the lovely picnic lunches that you provided, they were just the right amount of food and a perfect mix of foods, and the location Malcolm took us to have our food was excellent.

So I would like to thank you both for making the day absolutely perfect in every way and it totally exceeded our expectations.

Engrossing, informative, and intimate D-Day tour with a true expert on the subject!

If you are looking for an engrossing, informative, and intimate D-Day tour that you will remember for years to come, look no further.

Working out scheduling and meeting arrangements with Allison and Malcom was a breeze. When the day came, it was everything my partner and I could have wanted in an eight-hour tour. Malcolm’s understanding of the scope of the Day of Days (and the days beyond), is astonishing, and he is able to present his knowledge in a way that is wholly digestible and easy to understand. He expertly relays the macro and the micro of the European Theater of War through interweaving facts, statistics, and data, with amazing personal stories of individual persons or groups. This gave my partner and I an appreciation of both the broader global consequences of WWII, as well as the most important side – the war at the human level.

Malcolm’s tours are a gem, and I would happily go back to schedule a week long sojourn with Malcolm across Normandy. If you are looking for a fantastic Normandy tour, this is it.
He was even nice enough to stop at a local store so my partner and I could grab more power outlet adapters!

Thanks for the lovely day, Malcolm!

It’s barely a week since we returned home to the states from a wonderfully memorable trip, of which you and Malcolm were such a big part.

I think that by now, Malcolm might have mentioned to you what I had revealed to him in the last few moments of our tour – I am a Private Tour Guide in New York.

Of course I did not want to reveal that info prior to or during our tour with Malcolm, because I knew it could make a fellow guide just a wee bit uncomfortable about being judged.

Malcolm was a masterful tour guide and mad our tour of the D-Day Beaches and the Normandy area so much more remarkable, revealing, but most importantly – moving.

The best tour guides, have a real knack for relating stories that bring history alive and Malcolm has the passion and the interest in the subject that make the D-day experience with him something very special.

…I wanted to thank you for being so accommodating at the last minute (twice)… Thanks for offering to put us up at your property and then eventually changing our private tour date that allowed us to catch a ride to Mont St. Michel.

Also, your lunch box you prepared for our tour day was delicious – in particular the ham and cheese baguette, and the wonderful homemade apple cake dessert – loved it. Good job !

Malcolm, like me, has found later in life, what he is truly built to do – relate incredibly important history that changed the world (in a very positive way) and show where it all happened.

Absolutely mezmerizing!

From first contact to after the trip concluded Malcolm and his wife Allison treated us like family. Arriving in Bayeaux and seeing massive tour buses and large vans loading dozens of tourists it was refreshing seeing Malcolm standing alone and escorting us to his SUV.
He prepares a folder for each tour and provides visual aides to reproduce the soldiers first hand accounts. Books and Hollywood do nothing to bring out the TRUTH and personal visceral feelings one encounters as you step in the footsteps of history. See and feel the bombed out bunkers, craters and turn off your phone/camera, place yourself upon those sites and just close your eyes.
Malcolm is not just a guide but a story teller. He is so passionate about this subject. We talked the entire time. He took the time for personal interaction with both my 30 yo and 16 yo son along with my wife and myself. No one felt excluded. Halfway through the tours, his wife Allison provided a nice homemade picnic (optional and recommended) included sandwiches, quiche, fruit, wine and waters in a nice farming area away from the tour groups. Luckily we arrived with very low crowds and never saw more than 10-20 people at any of the sites.
He truly is private and allows you to customize the tour, but follow his recommendations. You won’t be disappointed. If you want to see gift shops, this isn’t the guy for you!
We just got home to the US and I can not stop watching war documentaries. I feel I have a much better understanding and can honestly say, “Hey, I saw that”!
Thank you Malcolm and Allison.

Came to France to do the Normandy tour. Learned more from Malcolm in two days than I did in ten years at school. The accommodation was excellent and we recommend the old railway cycling track as an outdoor activity. We were privileged to avail of Alison’s cooking – and it is to be highly recommended. Both Alison and Malcolm were the perfect hosts and we can’t forget little Archie & Hendley (the dog and cat!).

Thank you so much for the excellent 2 day tour. It was a great experience. I had expected to see bunkers, guns, tanks, and so forth, as we did. But I had no idea that we would be treated to the many anecdotes and stories you tell so well, like that of the extraordinary bravery and skill of the glider pilots that made it possible to seize Pegasus Bridge. Or the stories of John Steele at Sainte-Mere-Eglise, of Lt. Richard Winters and Easy Company at Brecourt, of Lt. Col. Robert Cole, and others. Your extensive knowledge of the heroic exploits of the men that made D-Day a success is remarkable. That fund of knowledge combined with your passion to tell their stories made for extraordinary experience for Matt and for me, an experience that surpassed even our greatest expectations. So thank you. And a hearty thank you to Alison too for the delightful lunches. I feel very fortunate to have had you as a guide and would recommend you to anyone who wants to understand the events of D-Day.

What a wonderful day we had with you! Your knowledge was incredible and your enthusiasm was contagious. And your willingness to go at our pace displayed a level of customer service from which others could well learn. We all agreed that the day was extremely informative and enjoyable, and that we would gladly do it again with you as our guide. As Glenna (aka Grandma) said yesterday as we were re-living our day with you, “anyone who is doing a D-Day tour needs to use Malcolm”. I don’t think there is any higher praise than from an 89-yr old woman whose husband served in the war and who lived it herself. Thanks you so very much for you knowledge, enthusiasm and kindness. If you and your wife ever come to the States and decide to pass through St. Louis, Missouri, we would be happy to host you. Best wishes in your endeavors and thanks again!

Although we were pretty ignorant about the D-Day Invasion and had no personal connection to that part of WW2, it was a subject that interested us. So we did a detour from Cape Town, South Africa, via Normandy en route to see our family. We spent three nights with Alison and Malcolm Clough in their lovely home in the country and Malcolm was our personal guide for 2 full days.

Malcolm’s incredible knowledge of the Invasion and his passion for the subject brought history alive for us. We stood at inland battle sites, had the drama of capturing bridges played out, visited all five beaches heard amazing stories of heroes – some of whom survived and some of whom sadly died in active service during the Invasion. At the end of each day we visited a war cemetery which was emotional and very sobering. Our days were long but relaxed and totally absorbing.

Alison provided a delicious picnic each day and Malcolm always found the perfect place to enjoy it. We found this so much nicer that sitting in a restaurant and ‘wasting time’. There was so much to hear and see. I “found” Malcolm on the website and we reckon we hit Number One. Thank you Malcolm for imparting your knowledge in such a relaxed manner and so patiently. We were enthralled and give you a 5 Star rating. Alison, thank for our lovely studio accommodation, all the goodies in the fridge and your delicious meals. We loved it all and felt very much at home with you.

Of all the things we saw and did during our adventures, two stand out. One was kayaking in the Shetlands and the other was the time we spent with you in Normandy. I looked forward to every day we were in your care, and you two and Peter did a marvelous job. The accommodations were first class, the food was great, and most of all your companionship was the key to a truly wonderful experience. Such good care you took with us to insure we had a good time. Malcolm meeting us at the ferry. Alison’s cooking. Peter being Peter. What fun we had! I couldn’t help but feel, as I looked at the other tour groups being herded along, that no one was getting the quality experience that we were having. Malcolm and Peter’s knowledge of the events and locations was superb (I like to think I know a little about them myself), and brought to life so vividly with their narrative and stories that it stirred up emotions and feelings that surprised me with their intensity. And how many of those other people got to retire to such a nice bit of France, and have dinner and conversation with their hosts in their home at the end of the day, and even get to see their wedding pictures? You made us feel special, but I suppose you make everyone that crosses your threshold feel that way.
To get to walk along the beaches, stand on the bluffs, walk through the shell craters and look down from the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc! I will never forget my moments at the American Cemetery. We thank you so much!

“My wife and I have been stationed in Europe with the United States Army for the past three years, and we recently took a vacation to visit Paris and the Normandy Coast. We planned for a single day to visit Normandy and scheduled a tour with D-Day Tours of Normandy, which is owned and operated by Malcolm Clough. Malcolm was waiting for us at the train station and immediately after showing us to his SUV, the tour began. He was more than willing to modify our trip based on our timeline and interests, and his extreme knowledge and personal excitement regarding all aspects of the D-Day invasion made the trip so much more fulfilling for my wife and I. Malcolm was able to take us to every major site on each of the battlefields, to include the American cemetery, all the while supplementing the experience with his extensive historical knowledge. The tour lasted the entire day and included a lunch packed and prepared by his wife Alison, who operates their catering and B&B business. I highly recommend Malcolm and his tours, he was extremely helpful and willing to work with us based on our schedule. He was a fantastic guide, and the only person I would hire to take my family and friends to the D-Day battlefields.”

Stephanie and I are finally back from our French trip and write to express our profound appreciation for your company/services last week. Not only did you enlighten us as to the events on the D Day beaches and beyond, but you made us feel we were touring with a kindred spirit.

We have much more of an understanding for the role Steph’s father played in the war, which whilst emotional, especially for Steph, only increases our pride of him – especially having seen the exact places where he fought and some of his friends fell.
It was frighteningly easy to picture him defending the troops with his machine gun in the various woods, fields and ridges on our trip.

This was his story. Having now visited Normandy and the battlegrounds, I can understand why he chose not to tell it. But it was important to Steph and I that it was told, and that his children and grandchildren know what he did. You bought that story to life for us with both facts and understanding, and we thank you.
…
It looked like it was a great deal of work for you, but rest assured every second of it was absorbed by us with great gratitude….

Malcolm and Alison provide an unparalleled experience for a visit to the beaches. His depth of knowledge is extremely impressive. Alison’s culinary skills will cause you to want to return solely for her delicacies. If a competitor offered a free guiding service I would turn them down, and still pay for another visit with Malcolm and Alison.

I’ve been on a number of battlefield tours over the years but none have been as informative or as interesting as yours. It was truly a memorable day and the highlight of my holiday. Your flexibility in accommodating the changing itinerary meant I came away feeling as though I had seen the key sites. You really made the whole experience come alive with your stories and expert knowledge.

It’s barely a week since we returned home to the states from a wonderfully memorable trip, of which you and Malcolm were such a big part.

I think that by now, Malcolm might have mentioned to you what I had revealed to him in the last few moments of our tour – I am a Private Tour Guide in New York.

Of course I did not want to reveal that info prior to or during our tour with Malcolm, because I knew it could make a fellow guide just a wee bit uncomfortable about being judged.

Malcolm was a masterful tour guide and mad our tour of the D-Day Beaches and the Normandy area so much more remarkable, revealing, but most importantly – moving.

The best tour guides, have a real knack for relating stories that bring history alive and Malcolm has the passion and the interest in the subject that make the D-day experience with him something very special.

…I wanted to thank you for being so accommodating at the last minute (twice)… Thanks for offering to put us up at your property and then eventually changing our private tour date that allowed us to catch a ride to Mont St. Michel.

Also, your lunch box you prepared for our tour day was delicious – in particular the ham and cheese baguette, and the wonderful homemade apple cake dessert – loved it. Good job !

Malcolm, like me, has found later in life, what he is truly built to do – relate incredibly important history that changed the world (in a very positive way) and show where it all happened.

Came to France to do the Normandy tour. Learned more from Malcolm in two days than I did in ten years at school. The accommodation was excellent and we recommend the old railway cycling track as an outdoor activity. We were privileged to avail of Alison’s cooking – and it is to be highly recommended. Both Alison and Malcolm were the perfect hosts and we can’t forget little Archie & Hendley (the dog and cat!).

Thank you so much for the excellent 2 day tour. It was a great experience. I had expected to see bunkers, guns, tanks, and so forth, as we did. But I had no idea that we would be treated to the many anecdotes and stories you tell so well, like that of the extraordinary bravery and skill of the glider pilots that made it possible to seize Pegasus Bridge. Or the stories of John Steele at Sainte-Mere-Eglise, of Lt. Richard Winters and Easy Company at Brecourt, of Lt. Col. Robert Cole, and others. Your extensive knowledge of the heroic exploits of the men that made D-Day a success is remarkable. That fund of knowledge combined with your passion to tell their stories made for extraordinary experience for Matt and for me, an experience that surpassed even our greatest expectations. So thank you. And a hearty thank you to Alison too for the delightful lunches. I feel very fortunate to have had you as a guide and would recommend you to anyone who wants to understand the events of D-Day.

What a wonderful day we had with you! Your knowledge was incredible and your enthusiasm was contagious. And your willingness to go at our pace displayed a level of customer service from which others could well learn. We all agreed that the day was extremely informative and enjoyable, and that we would gladly do it again with you as our guide. As Glenna (aka Grandma) said yesterday as we were re-living our day with you, “anyone who is doing a D-Day tour needs to use Malcolm”. I don’t think there is any higher praise than from an 89-yr old woman whose husband served in the war and who lived it herself. Thanks you so very much for you knowledge, enthusiasm and kindness. If you and your wife ever come to the States and decide to pass through St. Louis, Missouri, we would be happy to host you. Best wishes in your endeavors and thanks again!

Although we were pretty ignorant about the D-Day Invasion and had no personal connection to that part of WW2, it was a subject that interested us. So we did a detour from Cape Town, South Africa, via Normandy en route to see our family. Malcolm was our personal guide for 2 full days.

Malcolm’s incredible knowledge of the Invasion and his passion for the subject brought history alive for us. We stood at inland battle sites, had the drama of capturing bridges played out, visited all five beaches heard amazing stories of heroes – some of whom survived and some of whom sadly died in active service during the Invasion. At the end of each day we visited a war cemetery which was emotional and very sobering. Our days were long but relaxed and totally absorbing.

Alison provided a delicious picnic each day and Malcolm always found the perfect place to enjoy it. We found this so much nicer that sitting in a restaurant and ‘wasting time’. There was so much to hear and see. I “found” Malcolm on the website and we reckon we hit Number One. Thank you Malcolm for imparting your knowledge in such a relaxed manner and so patiently. We were enthralled and give you a 5 Star rating.

Of all the things we saw and did during our adventures, two stand out. One was kayaking in the Shetlands and the other was the time we spent with you in Normandy. I looked forward to every day we were in your care, and you two and Peter did a marvelous job. The accommodations were first class, the food was great, and most of all your companionship was the key to a truly wonderful experience. Such good care you took with us to insure we had a good time. Malcolm meeting us at the ferry. Alison’s cooking. Peter being Peter. What fun we had! I couldn’t help but feel, as I looked at the other tour groups being herded along, that no one was getting the quality experience that we were having. Malcolm and Peter’s knowledge of the events and locations was superb (I like to think I know a little about them myself), and brought to life so vividly with their narrative and stories that it stirred up emotions and feelings that surprised me with their intensity. And how many of those other people got to retire to such a nice bit of France, and have dinner and conversation with their hosts in their home at the end of the day, and even get to see their wedding pictures? You made us feel special, but I suppose you make everyone that crosses your threshold feel that way.
To get to walk along the beaches, stand on the bluffs, walk through the shell craters and look down from the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc! I will never forget my moments at the American Cemetery. We thank you so much!

“My wife and I have been stationed in Europe with the United States Army for the past three years, and we recently took a vacation to visit Paris and the Normandy Coast. We planned for a single day to visit Normandy and scheduled a tour with D-Day Tours of Normandy, which is owned and operated by Malcolm Clough. Malcolm was waiting for us at the train station and immediately after showing us to his SUV, the tour began. He was more than willing to modify our trip based on our timeline and interests, and his extreme knowledge and personal excitement regarding all aspects of the D-Day invasion made the trip so much more fulfilling for my wife and I. Malcolm was able to take us to every major site on each of the battlefields, to include the American cemetery, all the while supplementing the experience with his extensive historical knowledge. The tour lasted the entire day and included a lunch packed and prepared by his wife Alison. I highly recommend Malcolm and his tours, he was extremely helpful and willing to work with us based on our schedule. He was a fantastic guide, and the only person I would hire to take my family and friends to the D-Day battlefields.”

Stephanie and I are finally back from our French trip and write to express our profound appreciation for your company/services last week. Not only did you enlighten us as to the events on the D Day beaches and beyond, but you made us feel we were touring with a kindred spirit.

We have much more of an understanding for the role Steph’s father played in the war, which whilst emotional, especially for Steph, only increases our pride of him – especially having seen the exact places where he fought and some of his friends fell.
It was frighteningly easy to picture him defending the troops with his machine gun in the various woods, fields and ridges on our trip.

This was his story. Having now visited Normandy and the battlegrounds, I can understand why he chose not to tell it. But it was important to Steph and I that it was told, and that his children and grandchildren know what he did. You bought that story to life for us with both facts and understanding, and we thank you.
…
It looked like it was a great deal of work for you, but rest assured every second of it was absorbed by us with great gratitude….

Malcolm and Alison provide an unparalleled experience for a visit to the beaches. His depth of knowledge is extremely impressive. Alison’s culinary skills will cause you to want to return solely for her delicacies. If a competitor offered a free guiding service I would turn them down, and still pay for another visit with Malcolm and Alison.

I’ve been on a number of battlefield tours over the years but none have been as informative or as interesting as yours. It was truly a memorable day and the highlight of my holiday. Your flexibility in accommodating the changing itinerary meant I came away feeling as though I had seen the key sites. You really made the whole experience come alive with your stories and expert knowledge.