Dieppe Bay Town

Dieppe Bay is a small village on the northern coast of St Kitts, named by French settlers, with a beach of black volcanic sand and a reef running offshore that takes the force out of the Atlantic swell and leaves the water inside it usable. Mount Liamuiga rises directly behind. The village is quiet, largely bypassed by tourism, and the old Golden Lemon hotel there was for years the island's best known.

History

French Huguenots from Dieppe, seeking a safe haven, founded the first settlement here in 1538, the oldest European town in the Eastern Caribbean, but it lasted only two weeks, and French settlers under Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc founded it again in 1625. Dieppe was the capital of the French part of the parish, and its port, sheltered by the reef, lost its trade after Basseterre became the capital in 1723 (Wikipedia, Dieppe Bay Town).

What to look for

• The black sand - volcanic beach on the island's northern coast.
• The offshore reef - the barrier taking the force out of the Atlantic swell.
• Mount Liamuiga - the volcano rising directly behind the village.
• The quiet - a north coast settlement outside the tourist circuit.

When to go

December to April is the dry season. The Atlantic side is rougher than the Caribbean coast year round. Weekends bring local visitors.

Practical notes

Facilities are minimal and there is little for visitors beyond the beach. Swimming outside the reef is not safe. Black sand gets very hot in the middle of the day.

Nearby

Black Rocks is east, and Brimstone Hill is southwest.

Key facts