In the Marne Valley, starting from Damery

The route starts on the banks of the Marne in Damery, where you can park (Rue du Coche).

(S/E) Head in the opposite direction to the bridge and follow Rue Alfred Révolte, then turn left onto Rue Paul Douce. At the roundabout, go straight ahead towards Fleury-la-Rivière. Just before the cemetery, turn left. At the corner by the electricity substation, turn right, following the^GR® markings (red and white). Continue in the same direction (north) until the paths form a T-junction: here, turn right.

(1) At the Calvary crossroads, turn left, go past the hairpin bend and continue to the crossroads where you enter the woods. Head towards Reuil, taking the single-track path to the left. You’ll pass through the woods, then through a cleared area beneath the high-voltage power line, and then back into the woods. When you reach a crossroads, with the Ferme d’Harnotay in sight, leave the^GR® (which is poorly maintained on this section) and take the small tarmac road opposite that descends towards Venteuil.

(2) At the football pitch, turn right onto the path that leads through the vineyards and follow it to the cemetery.

Walk along the top of the cemetery, turn left until you reach Rue de Grands Jardins, where you turn right. After 20 metres, turn right again and you’ll reach Boulevard Saint-Michel.

(3) Follow it to the right; it then becomes Rue de la Potière. You’ll reach Grand Rue (D1), which you take to the right. Cross the hamlet of Tincourt, staying on Grand Rue whilst veering slightly to the left.

(4) At the last houses, turn right onto the small road that leads through the vineyards towards Villers-sous-Châtillon. Stay on this road until you reach the crossroads (road and paths).

(5) Turn left towards Reuil. Walk through the village of Reuil via Rue des Vignes, then take Grande Rue on the right and Rue du Pont on the left. Before the bridge, turn right onto Rue du Chemin Vert and head to the picnic area on the banks of the Marne.

(6). Take the path on the right and follow the Marne to Port à Binson (^GR®14, red and white markings).

(7) Once in Port à Binson, cross the bridge over the Marne and continue straight ahead. Before the chemist’s, turn right, pass the post office and turn left into Rue de la Fontaine. Cross the main road (D3) and head straight ahead into Rue du Docteur Rémy. This leads through the vineyards to a crossroads with five branches.

(8) Take the small tarmac road on the left. At the end of this, turn slightly left onto the dirt track that runs above the vineyards. Cross the D36 and continue straight ahead onto the small road. Walk alongside the vineyards on your left, then pass between two fields, and you’ll arrive back at the corner of a vineyard.

(9) Follow the path on the left which runs between the vineyards and the pastures, then continue straight ahead through the vineyards.

(10) At the three-way junction, follow the path on the right, which is more or less tarmac-surfaced, to the entrance to the village of Oeuilly and the D222. Turn right towards the village, then continue straight on towards the retirement home (signposted). Walk up through the village along Rue Jean Jaurès, passing the Croix d'Or fountain, then the War Memorial.

(11). Continue along Rue du Huit Mai. On leaving the village, do not continue towards the retirement home, but turn right towards La Cense Carrée. Follow the small tarmac road that climbs through the woods to the crossroads, where you will see the farm “La Cense Carrée”.

(12) Turn 60° to the left onto the dirt track that forms the boundary between the woods and the farm’s pastures. ''Please note: in this area, the^GR® route has been altered; the one shown on the 1:25,000 map is no longer up to date. Do not follow it.
'' Follow this path to a crossroads at the edge of the woods.

(13) Continue left along the narrow path that descends steeply through the woods. You’ll reach a wider path (^GR®14), which you take by turning right and continue in the same direction. When you see the houses, turn right. You’ll arrive at the Lune viewpoint.

(14) Continue towards the village of Boursault. Enter via Rue Dom Pérignon, turn left onto Rue des Écoles, then right onto Rue de la Duchesse d’Uzes. Pass the church, then the restaurant and the wash house.

(15) After the entrance to Boursault Castle, continue along the road and turn left towards Villemongeois. Take the first right, pass the wash house and rejoin the D222, which you cross to walk 50m to the left, then take the vineyard path to the right, almost directly opposite. Stay on this path through the vineyards until you reach a T-junction, where you turn left. Follow the sunken lane down to the main road (D3). Once on the road, turn right and follow it until you reach the corner of the restaurant.

(16). Cross at the traffic lights and head towards Damery after crossing the level crossing. Follow the avenue of plane trees on the right-hand side, along the small path that runs parallel to the road.

As you approach Damery, cross the bridge and return to the starting point (S/E).

Drinking fountains in Oeuilly and Boursault. Water point in Reuil at the water sports centre.

Picnic areas in Damery, Reuil, Port à Binson, Oeuilly and Boursault.

Water sports centres in Reuil and Port à Binson.

Restaurants in Damery, Port à Binson, Boursault and La Chaussée de Damery.

Food shops in Damery, Port à Binson and Boursault.

Champagne producers in all the villages along the route.

Boursault Castle (private property)