Bouconville-Laon

Red and white markings of^{the GR®®145}and the Greenway

(S) From Lac des Moines, continue along the^GR®®145heading north-west. At the far end of the lake, turn left (north-west) to cross the Bois de Liesse. Ignoring the side paths, stay on this small forest track until you reach the barrier at the edge of the woods.

(1) Turn right (north-east) onto the footpath which, at the edge of the woods, heads north-west along the edge of the woods, then heads north to the small wooden bridge over the River Ailette.

(2) Continue along the path heading west-north-west, skirting the Ailette lake on your left as you pass through the woods. Keep heading in this direction, ignoring the side paths, until you reach the greenway car park. Follow the path to the signpost at the junction with the tarmac road.

(3) Turn right to enter the village of Neuville-sur-Ailette via Rue du Lac (one-way street). Walk past Saint-Julien Church on your right and continue north-west to begin a steep climb. Climb up to the junction with the^GR®®142at the top of the hill.

Red and white markings for^{the GR®®145}and^GR®®142

(4) Turn left on the descent and continue until you reach the path running parallel to the D19.

(5) Turn right and head north-west to the greenway car park.

(6) Walk along the left-hand side of the car park and continue along the grassy path until you reach the bend in the tarmac cycle path.

(7) Turn right and enter the woods, emerging in front of a footbridge over Lake D'Ailette.

(8) Take the footbridge that zigzags across the lake, passing under the D19. At the end of the footbridge, let the greenway continue straight ahead whilst you turn right and head towards the D19. Turn left onto the D19 and continue to a crossroads.

(9) Turn right towards Bièvres on the D88. Stay on this road until you reach the two isolated oak trees just before a Fork in the road.

(10) Turn left onto the gently ascending grassy path, running along the edge of the Bois les Épinettes on your left. After the edge of the woods, continue across the fields to the crossroads.

(11) Head north-east to begin a climb and continue to the junction with the D905.

(12) Turn left onto Rue de Laon to enter the village of Martigny-Courpierre. Pass in front of Saint-Martin’s Church, then, at the right-hand bend, head straight on along the grassy path to rejoin the D905 a little further on, in front of the Martigny-Courpierre exit sign.

(13) Continue north-west to the Stop sign at the junction with the D90, at the top of the hill, the highest point of the stage.

(14) Cross carefully and continue straight ahead to begin a descent along the stony path through the fields to the junction with the D967.

(15) Cross carefully and continue straight ahead on the stony path that starts to the left of a solitary old oak tree. Continue across the fields heading north-west until you reach the junction with the^GR®®12Aat the edge of the woods.

Red and white markings for^{the GR®®145},^GR®®142and^GR®®12A

(16) Continue down the hill, taking the small tarmac road on the right at the Fork in the road, and carry on until you reach the signpost at the entrance to the village of Bruyères-et-Montbérault.

(17) Turn left onto the D967 to cross the village and continue to the roundabout.

Red and white signposting for the^GR®®145and^GR®®142

(18) Follow signs for Cheret and the town centre along Rue Porte de Reims. At the roundabout, stay on the route towards the town centre. Refreshments available at a Vival supermarket. Walk past the town hall, then Notre-Dame Church. After the church, follow signs for Lac de l’Ailette along Rue Porte de Laon. At the roundabout, follow signs for Laon and continue to a fork in the road.

(19) Turn right towards the stadium on Chemin du Bois Brûlé. Pass the O2 canal in the municipality of Laon and continue to the junction just past house number 6.

(20) Turn slightly right to walk alongside the stadium on your left, then follow the edge of the Bois Brûlé before heading into the woods. Continue until you reach a Fork in the road.

(21) Turn left (north-west), then, at the junction with Chemin des Pâtures de la Moncelle, head north and continue to the crossroads at the edge of the woods.

(22) Continue north-west, following the edge of the woods on your right, then crossing the cultivated fields. Carry on to the T-junction.

(23) Turn left towards the south-west, then north-west after a bend to follow the Ru de Polton. Continue to the junction with Chemin de l’Hippodrome.

(24) First turn left then right to continue along the grassy path running alongside the Ru de Polton on your right. Continue to the junction with Rue Arsène Houssaye at the entrance to Laon.

(25) Head right, cross the two bridges over the Ardon and follow signs for Laon Centre. Refreshments available on the street. Walk along Rue Arsène Houssaye until you pass the N2 bridge.

(26) At the crossroads, turn left towards Soissons along Rue des Églantines, which becomes Avenue Georges Pompidou after the pharmacy. Continue to the roundabout in front of the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie.

(27) Opposite, follow signs for the hospital and the campsite along Rue Romanette. Walk past the Carrefour Laon shopping centre and continue to a small church. Temporarily leave the^GR®®145, which branches off to the right, and carry on straight ahead to the Stop sign at the junction with the D5.

No signposting

(28) Turn right onto Avenue Jean Monnet, following signs for the campsite. Stay on this avenue until you reach the roundabout.

(29) Take the second exit towards the campsite. Continue along Allée de la Chênaie until you reach the entrance to Camping de la Chênaie (E).

Refreshments available at: Bruyères-et-Montbérault (18) at a Vival supermarket, in Laon (25)
Campsite: Camping de la Chênaie. Tel: 0323233863 http://www.camping-aisne.fr/
Hike undertaken by the author on 17 May 2024.

From (2) to (8) Lac d'Ailette.
(3) Neuville-sur-Ailette.
(18) Bruyères-et-Montbérault.
(29) Laon, with its Notre Dame Cathedral, citadel and Museum of Art and Archaeology.