Penitentiary Trail

> Respect the inhabitants of the village and their properties.

D north-east end of the car park: at the sign, head north-east along the seaside to an intersection. Enter the undergrowth on the left and reach a fork. On the left, a path heads north. Take it to reach a cemetery.

1 The Guardians and Settlers Cemetery (the graves are marked with shells, two large columnar pines mark the site, no inscriptions appear on the graves): Return to the main route and turn left towards the north-east. The track climbs easily though sparse vegetation,
then, after a steep incline, leads to a platform that overlooks the sea (offering an
unobstructed view over the bay).

2 Viewpoint (GPS: 688 057 – 7 530 030): turn left to
climb the steps carved into the laterite soil. The trail crosses a small dry forest before joining the CR 9. Turn right, heading north, following the edge of the red dirt road. About 75 m further on, at the sign, leave the road to the right to enter the forest by a good marked path. You’ll come to an intersection. Turn right (east). The path leads to another cemetery buried in the forest.

3 Criminals’ cemetery (GPS: 688 049 – 7 530 164; alt. 50 m): return to the intersection and continue north. The path crosses a trench of red earth before descending slowly through the woods towards the bay of Prony (slippery descent in wet weather).

4 Le Traîneau (GPS: 687 999 – 7 530 424): continue straight ahead. When you come into contact with the creek, turn left to reach the village of Prony via a grassy and shaded path (painted sheet metal houses line the path; the ruins are swallowed up by the roots of the banyan trees). You’ll reach the heart of the village.
> Possibility to visit the whole hamlet (water point).

5 Small bridge (GPS: 687 901 – 7 530 586): go back.

4 Le Traîneau: turn left to follow the coast (GR® NC1 trail) and return to the starting car park D.

Texts and photos J.F. Clair

FFrandonnée® grading
* Effort: IBP 11 easy (green)
* Technical difficulty: easy (green)
* Risk: low (green)
* Overall grading: easy (green)

Show less