DEVILLE-MAISONCELLE FOREST

Planted in the 1950s by the company that ran the Beauport factory, on the limestone hills of Petit-Canal, this 116-hectare forest is now a departmental estate. The ONF is responsible for its preservation. The site offers a lovely looping walk. It's also an opportunity to observe the flora and fauna during a leisurely family walk. It is home to a wide variety of Grande Terre forest species (bois d'Inde, mahoganis, pear trees, campêche, cheese trees, cinnamon, cherry, ti-bonbon, filao, red gum...). A 5 km trail is marked with yellow and blue markers, but these are not always easy to spot. The walk takes the hiker through a variety of zones, including botanical trails, swamps, dry forest, gullies, sugarcane plantations, banana plantations...

Walking shoes are essential. Drinking water and a cell phone are also recommended. The Conseil Départemental provides a mobile application called "KaruExplo" (Android and IOS) for a fun discovery of the forest via riddles on the environment and a virtual treasure hunt in search of animals, various species, plants... Parking is next to the picnic carbet on the RN6 near the Ravine Deville bridge. Allow between 1hr30 and 2hrs' walk for the whole trail, or 30 minutes for the botanical trail alone.