Le Chemin des Anglais

Duration: 2h30 one way, Difficulty: easy.

The trail starts from La Possession. When in La Possession, head for the Route de La Montagne (RD 41). At the traffic circle near the 4-lane road, you’ll see the dedicated parking area on the opposite side. This hike is accessible to a wide public.

This is a pedestrian route linking downtown La Possession to the Saint-Bernard district in the heights of Saint-Denis, via Grande Chaloupe. The path was laid out in 1730 to facilitate the passage of ox carts between La Possession and Saint-Denis. Work to pave the road in basalt stone was completed in 1775.

In 1810, during the war between France and England in the Indian Ocean, the latter prevailed at the Battle of Plateau de la Redoute on July 8, 1810. English troops landed at La Grande Chaloupe. More than 3,000 soldiers took the paved road between La Grande Chaloupe and the Plateau de la Redoute to reach the capital.

Between La Possession and La Grande Chaloupe, the path skirts the impressive cliffs overlooking the coastal road, offering superb views of the coastline and the immensity of the Indian Ocean. The walk begins with a steep 150 m ascent before quickly reaching the top of the cliff.