On the Way of St James between Rilly-la-Montagne and Aÿ-Champagne

Departure is from Rilly-la-Montagne station.

(S) When leaving the station, take the small path on the right (no dogs allowed) that runs along the top of the railway line towards the woods and continue straight ahead.
When you reach the road, follow it to the right, pass in front of the wine press and cross it.

(1) After less than 100 metres, turn left onto Chemin de la Forêt.
From this point, follow the Compostela markers to (11). These are shell-shaped markers or blue and yellow lines. Stay on this path, which winds its way up the hillside.

(2) At the crossroads, take the track opposite. Continue along the same path until you reach the village of Les Haies.

(3) Pass in front of the wash house (no water at the pump) and continue in the same direction. At this point, it is possible to avoid the village and the section on the road by taking the alternative route described below.

(4) Less than a kilometre further on, take Chemin du Champ Pierreux on the right.

(5) At the crossroads, take the dirt track on the left. Continue to the village.

(6) Take Rue de Rilly on the right until you reach Lavoir de Thérèse. Pass to the right of the wash house, then take Rue de l'Étang on the left. You will arrive in front of the community grocery store "Le Cerf à trois pattes", which is open on certain days. Take the street on the left.

(7) In front of the school, turn right onto the D71 with caution. This unpleasant section of road can be avoided by taking the alternative route described below.

(8) Still on the road, you will see the PR® trail on the right-hand side of the old Roman road. Continue along this road for another 300 metres, turning left.

(9) Take a carriage road on the left that enters the wooded area. Stay on this road until the next junction.

(10) At the crossroads, take the track on the right. Continue straight ahead on this path, which passes in front of the pretty Grand Étang (not shown on the OpenStreetMap).

End of Compostela signage

(11) You will arrive at a house. From this point on, there are no more markings. Continue along the path that runs alongside the garden of this house on your right, along the conifer hedge. Continue along this path until you reach a large crossroads, the Poteau Sainton.

(12) Take the second path on the right. This is a downhill road suitable for vehicles. It leads to the vineyards of Aÿ. Continue through the vineyards in the same direction.

(13) At the fork, stay on the path on the right.

(14) When you reach Champagne Ayala, continue straight ahead on Rue Anatole France, then Rue Gambetta.

(15) At Place Henri Martin in front of the town hall, continue almost straight ahead on Rue Jean Jaurès. Cross the roundabout and head straight towards the bridge.

(16) Continue in the same direction until you reach Aÿ station at the end of the avenue (E).

No water at the first wash house we came across, and just a trickle at the second (Lavoir de Thérèse).

Very pleasant picnic area in front of the church in Germaine: tables, drinking water, dry toilets, book box. Please respect this community space.

Café and shops in Aÿ. Two very pleasant terraces on the Place de la Mairie.

Numerous Champagne producers in Aÿ. Champagne by the glass in cafés.

Check the hunting days before you leave on the Parc de la Montagne de Reims website.

Cultural visits are possible in Aÿ.
https://www.ay-champagne.com/visiter/ren, etc.

Café and community grocery store in Germaine: Le Cerf à trois pattes. Open periodically, see their Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/lecerfa3pattes/

(¹) Alternative route to avoid the village of Germaine and the unpleasant stretch of road:

At (3), turn right onto Rue du Docteur Quentin and follow it to the end. Continue in the same direction through the woods, on the path that extends it. When you reach a T-junction on the old Roman road, turn left and walk to (8).
With this alternative route, there are only 300 metres of road between (8) and (9).