From the mills to the vineyards in Aigrefeuille-sur-Maine

Park in the cemetery car park. At the start, a sign indicates several walking routes; we created our own circular route.

(S/E) Walk between the two parts of the cemetery, turn left at the junction and head towards Rue de Versailles.

(1) At the junction, take the path on the right and you’ll soon reach a fork.

(2) Turn right, leaving the return path on your left, cross the footbridge over the Maine, then take the path on the left to walk as close as possible to the river: a walk along the water’s edge, with plenty of shade.

(3) Ignore the paths on the right and stay along the riverbank.

(4) Cross a stone bridge over a small tributary of the Maine, continue to the left, then start the climb up to the vineyards. Ignore the first junction and carry on to the next one.

(5) Turn left and follow the path through the vineyards to reach a panoramic viewpoint.

(6) Continue to the left and head back down towards the Maine. Once at the bottom, turn right, staying on the path which continues along the river. Ignore two turn-offs to the right towards La Pépière and you’ll come out onto the D58.

(7) Follow it to the left, walking carefully alongside it: there is no hard shoulder. Cross the bridge over the Maine and carry on until you reach a beautiful property on your left.

(8) Leave the D58 and turn left onto a path that leads through the fields.

(9) At the right-hand bend at Beau Laurier, turn left onto the track that leads back to the banks of the Maine.

(10) Walk alongside the river, taking care to avoid the animals – there is an electric fence. Further on, the path climbs up to the right to reach the hamlet of La Trélitière.

(11) Head left to go back down to the Maine, then head up again on the right. Once at the top, turn left to pass close to the buildings at La Carrière.

(12) Turn left to stay parallel to the Maine and continue straight on until you reach the footbridge junction.

(2) Turn right and follow the outbound route in the opposite direction to return to the cemetery car park (S/E).

At the cemetery car park, toilets are available free of charge and there is a drinking water point.

There is an elevated crossing at the start of the circular route: a footbridge over the River Maine. There is another stone bridge to cross on the route at (4).

(7) On leaving the vineyards, you’ll cross the D58, which has traffic; there are no developed verges.

(11) Take care with dogs; there is an electric fence along the edge of the path

Three old mills are worth seeing along the way.

Information boards are also located along the paths by the River Maine.