Nid d'Aigle (Belle Vue) hike

What it is

Nid d'Aigle, also called Belle Vue or Eagle's Nest, is the highest point on La Digue at 333 metres. The summit looks over the island to Praslin, Félicité, Grande and Petite Soeur and Marianne.

How to do it

The footpath starts beside the Belle Vue restaurant, where a board explains the route. Reaching the restaurant is the first stage: SeyVillas describes the road up as relatively steep and suggests a taxi from La Passe to Belle Vue if you want to skip it. From the board the path climbs natural steps to a first viewpoint, then continues through palm forest and over boulders to the summit. SeyVillas describes the surface as palm forest paths with plenty of roots, natural steps, a flat granite plateau and a ladder.

How long

SeyVillas times the climb at about 45 minutes including photo stops and the descent at about 30 minutes. From the top, a path partly covered in red earth leads on to the Roche Baie viewpoint and some overgrown house ruins; you then return the same way to the summit and back down.

What you might see

SeyVillas mentions the endemic palmiste palm along the path, giant millipedes up to 30 cm long, snails and, with luck, Seychelles swiftlets near the summit.

Food and drink

The Belle Vue Cafe, listed with the Seychelles Tourism Board, serves Creole food and local fruit juices at lunch and dinner and arranges transfers on request.

Tips

Start early in the day. SeyVillas describes minimal shade in one guide and about half the route shaded in another, so plan for sun. Wear hiking shoes or other sturdy footwear rather than flip-flops, and carry at least two litres of water per person, insect repellent, sunscreen and a hat.