Visiting the Falkland Islands
Discussion
During the course of next year I am planning a first trip to the Falklands, yes really!
The planned trip is to visit for only about a week to 10 days and to do some proper walking, fishing and of course to visit some of the battle sites and memorials.
I’ve done some reading on the official website and know that we can use an RAF flight to get there via Ascension Island. The RAF take a handful of paying civilian passengers on a Tristar and then you get a small connecting twin engine prop driven plane from the RAF base to Port Stanley.
There are a couple of hotels and a few watering and fuel stations to replenish the hungry adventurers and apparently is overall rather similar to a remote Scottish fishing village.
Beyond this these basic facts, what I would like to know is has anybody done anything similar or indeed been there with the armed forces?
Are we utterly barking mad?
Advice and thoughts would be most welcome
The planned trip is to visit for only about a week to 10 days and to do some proper walking, fishing and of course to visit some of the battle sites and memorials.
I’ve done some reading on the official website and know that we can use an RAF flight to get there via Ascension Island. The RAF take a handful of paying civilian passengers on a Tristar and then you get a small connecting twin engine prop driven plane from the RAF base to Port Stanley.
There are a couple of hotels and a few watering and fuel stations to replenish the hungry adventurers and apparently is overall rather similar to a remote Scottish fishing village.
Beyond this these basic facts, what I would like to know is has anybody done anything similar or indeed been there with the armed forces?
Are we utterly barking mad?
Advice and thoughts would be most welcome
I worked there for about 18 months as a Civil Engineer on the airbase construction.
The scenery is quite spectacular , some very good hiking and ( these days ) fishing , its VERY windy too, but rains less than Scotland. It is superb for penguin , bird and wildlife spotting if you like that sort of thing. I really enjoyed my time there.
Any specifics you need to know ?
edit : there is now a road from Mt Pleasant to Stanley. I'll get some maps out later ....to help jog my memory re. best places to visit around the islands.
>> Edited by alfaman on Wednesday 7th December 14:03
>> Edited by alfaman on Wednesday 7th December 14:11
The scenery is quite spectacular , some very good hiking and ( these days ) fishing , its VERY windy too, but rains less than Scotland. It is superb for penguin , bird and wildlife spotting if you like that sort of thing. I really enjoyed my time there.
Any specifics you need to know ?
edit : there is now a road from Mt Pleasant to Stanley. I'll get some maps out later ....to help jog my memory re. best places to visit around the islands.
>> Edited by alfaman on Wednesday 7th December 14:03
>> Edited by alfaman on Wednesday 7th December 14:11
Dad was posted there for 18 months and said it is the most desolate place he has ever visited. Mind you this was when I was an ickle baby! He wanted to send me back some fluffy toys etc but there was NOTHING whatsoever to buy, so he ended up sending drawings of garfield and penguins made of thermal compound. Apparently lots of the men ended up making penguins out of thermal compound as there was so little to do ;p
I was stationed there in '90 so lovingly crafted by Alfaman,
First have you check to see how much the RAF will charge for the flight
Along the road from Mount Pleasant Airport is/was a hotel called the Great British Hotel
it was built there as apparently this would of been close to where the airfield was going to be,
Around Stanley, there are some of the battle sites that happened at the end of the conflict
like Two Sisters also the wreck of the SS Britania (I think) where the SAS would hide and carry out
Recon or raids from at night, other sites to see Moody Brook where the original Marine base was*, Goverment House
around the back of Stanley Airfield is a huge colony of Penguins (Note: bring a nose peg).
Traveling and staying around the Islands, flying is the best way to get between settlements but before you go down
there try and set up accomodation in the different settlements as when I was down there were no hotels/B&B's you
just lodged with a family.
My tip on where to go, Sealion Island. Nothing happend there during the conflict but they wild life you can see
is fantastic, depending on the time of year Sealions, Elephant Seals, 5 or 6 kinds of Penguins.
*Interesting note about Moody Brook, the normal detachment of Marines at that point was 30 men when Argies attacked
the Marines where actually on a change over, so double the amount of Marines who promptly buggered off into the
mountains, so the Argies though it was game over only to find out what a P.I.T.A 60 Marines can be.
First have you check to see how much the RAF will charge for the flight
Along the road from Mount Pleasant Airport is/was a hotel called the Great British Hotel
it was built there as apparently this would of been close to where the airfield was going to be,
Around Stanley, there are some of the battle sites that happened at the end of the conflict
like Two Sisters also the wreck of the SS Britania (I think) where the SAS would hide and carry out
Recon or raids from at night, other sites to see Moody Brook where the original Marine base was*, Goverment House
around the back of Stanley Airfield is a huge colony of Penguins (Note: bring a nose peg).
Traveling and staying around the Islands, flying is the best way to get between settlements but before you go down
there try and set up accomodation in the different settlements as when I was down there were no hotels/B&B's you
just lodged with a family.
My tip on where to go, Sealion Island. Nothing happend there during the conflict but they wild life you can see
is fantastic, depending on the time of year Sealions, Elephant Seals, 5 or 6 kinds of Penguins.
*Interesting note about Moody Brook, the normal detachment of Marines at that point was 30 men when Argies attacked
the Marines where actually on a change over, so double the amount of Marines who promptly buggered off into the
mountains, so the Argies though it was game over only to find out what a P.I.T.A 60 Marines can be.
Many thanks for the replies folks, proof once again that there is no job too big or too small for the Pistonhead collective.
I’ll know the hotel costs of course but once there is it very expensive? Food & booze for example as there aren’t that many places to go. Two of the other chaps coming with us a very much on a budget and wanted me to do a research on what‘s what and how much to bring to keep them tided over for 7 to 10 days.
Communications, we all take the mobile for granted but I am guessing there will be no mobile network of any sort? Not a problem of course as the wife’s family are from Nova Scotia and having spent time there earlier in the year it was an absolute blessing to not keep being hunted down.
Any sources of local contacts would be most welcome of course, I gather there are only about 2000 inhabitants but it would be good to meet up with a few and get a true feel for what life is like and was like 23 years ago.
I see that flying is the best option from getting about over slightly longer distances but that the Land Rover is still the preferred choice otherwise. Again, I’m not expecting to be able to hire one but a pointer towards a guide would be handy of course.
No doubt more things will come to mind but many thanks indeed for all your help so far
PS
The RAF return flights are about the same as the new stainless steel exhaust for the DeTomaso, I will leave it to you as to which is the better value!!!
The RAF flight has the added advantage of being able to tell the grandchildren that not only have you been to the Falklands but Ascension as well
>> Edited by vario-rob on Wednesday 7th December 15:15
I’ll know the hotel costs of course but once there is it very expensive? Food & booze for example as there aren’t that many places to go. Two of the other chaps coming with us a very much on a budget and wanted me to do a research on what‘s what and how much to bring to keep them tided over for 7 to 10 days.
Communications, we all take the mobile for granted but I am guessing there will be no mobile network of any sort? Not a problem of course as the wife’s family are from Nova Scotia and having spent time there earlier in the year it was an absolute blessing to not keep being hunted down.
Any sources of local contacts would be most welcome of course, I gather there are only about 2000 inhabitants but it would be good to meet up with a few and get a true feel for what life is like and was like 23 years ago.
I see that flying is the best option from getting about over slightly longer distances but that the Land Rover is still the preferred choice otherwise. Again, I’m not expecting to be able to hire one but a pointer towards a guide would be handy of course.
No doubt more things will come to mind but many thanks indeed for all your help so far
PS
The RAF return flights are about the same as the new stainless steel exhaust for the DeTomaso, I will leave it to you as to which is the better value!!!
The RAF flight has the added advantage of being able to tell the grandchildren that not only have you been to the Falklands but Ascension as well
>> Edited by vario-rob on Wednesday 7th December 15:15
You can also get there by scheduled flights I believe - cheaper than the RAF but still pricey and takes ages longer - via Chile. I checked this out a while back as we had a rumour on the Seismic Ship I was on that we were going there. We never went, but I would love to visit one day too. Good luck!
a few things to add ....
Carcass Island is a superb place for wildlife .
Volunteer Point in the N.E part of East Falkland is also worth a visit. ( was a day or 2 drive N. of Stanley - maybe there is a road now (?))
The mountains North of Mt Pleasant Airport are good for day hikes - up to 2300 ft ( Mt Usborne ) - and you get some great views over much of East Falkland.
Many of the local settlements will put you up ....... or let you sleep in the sheep shearing shed ( have done that ...quite comfy ) - you will need to radio them in advance, you could also camp. If you are staying gratis at a settlement .... some booze is much appreciated ( they like their drink
)
Flying round the Islands used to be done by the FIGAS mail plane ( a small 2 engined job )- which you could hire out by the hour ... great fun and they will fly you basically anywhere you want to go . ( I'm assuming this set up still works 20 years on .. )
Travelling round by land rover should now be easier ...( there weren't ANY roads 20 yrs ago ) - but if you are driving on the "camp" (off road ) - get a local driver as de-bogging a land rover from thick gooey peat is an acquired skill ( best to travel with at least 2 rovers , with winches or a 30m "snatch-tow" strop )
Don't bother visiting Lafonia ( the bit South of Goose Green isthmus ) - its flat and dull.
Food and drink were reasonably priced in the public bars ....... and was EXCEPTIONALLY cheap for us on-site as it was all duty free NAAFI stock
( whisky 11p per shot )
There are some good beaches for swimming , its a bit chilly ..... and get local advice as some of them may still have mines
>> Edited by alfaman on Wednesday 7th December 17:12
Carcass Island is a superb place for wildlife .
Volunteer Point in the N.E part of East Falkland is also worth a visit. ( was a day or 2 drive N. of Stanley - maybe there is a road now (?))
The mountains North of Mt Pleasant Airport are good for day hikes - up to 2300 ft ( Mt Usborne ) - and you get some great views over much of East Falkland.
Many of the local settlements will put you up ....... or let you sleep in the sheep shearing shed ( have done that ...quite comfy ) - you will need to radio them in advance, you could also camp. If you are staying gratis at a settlement .... some booze is much appreciated ( they like their drink
) Flying round the Islands used to be done by the FIGAS mail plane ( a small 2 engined job )- which you could hire out by the hour ... great fun and they will fly you basically anywhere you want to go . ( I'm assuming this set up still works 20 years on .. )
Travelling round by land rover should now be easier ...( there weren't ANY roads 20 yrs ago ) - but if you are driving on the "camp" (off road ) - get a local driver as de-bogging a land rover from thick gooey peat is an acquired skill ( best to travel with at least 2 rovers , with winches or a 30m "snatch-tow" strop )
Don't bother visiting Lafonia ( the bit South of Goose Green isthmus ) - its flat and dull.
Food and drink were reasonably priced in the public bars ....... and was EXCEPTIONALLY cheap for us on-site as it was all duty free NAAFI stock
( whisky 11p per shot ) There are some good beaches for swimming , its a bit chilly ..... and get local advice as some of them may still have mines
>> Edited by alfaman on Wednesday 7th December 17:12
scared but happy said:
Good on yer. Post some pictures on your return please!
I always like that bit of news footage of our troops following that winding path into the distance holding aloft a Union Jack, still gives me the shivers but makes me very proud of them.
Can you get that image as a photo/poster?
is that the pic in the background?....it must be out there somewhere (google is your friend!)
www.sokotoys.com/page/ST/PROD/mo/dramo0043a
>> Edited by eccles on Wednesday 7th December 17:27
Still looking for this as a photo. Still in answer to original question does this help?
www.bbc.co.uk/holiday/destinations/falklands/
www.bbc.co.uk/holiday/destinations/falklands/
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