Visit February

Question

Hi

Not been to the islands since 1987….planning a trip for a week in January or February.

Any local who can answer the following:

Is there a reasonable road between Stanley and Darwin/Goose Green and onto San Carlos? Either to hire a vehicle or obtain a lift? Can I drive to these locations in the summer?

To get up to Longdon/Tumbledown/Harriet is it feasible for a fairly fit person just to walk out of a Stanley to visit them? What is the time/distance that will take?

I visited these areas nearly 40 years ago and my memory is a tad hazy as those distances and trying to establish whether the roads have improved since that time?

Thank you for any help you can offer

Peterscot · Accepted Answer

Not a local, now, but I can try to answer. I think the road between Stanley and the Mount Pleasant complex is all tarmac now, The rest of the network on East Falkland is pretty good gravel and should be in good condition in summer. Driving shouldn't be a problem. I haven't tried hitching but people will stop for you. Whether they are going to your destination is another matter. Plus, even in summer, the weather can be inhospitable to be standing at the side of the road.

Yes, walking those hills from Stanley is feasible. I think it would be a full day. 12 miles? NB, there are no footpaths on the hills, so you need to have good weather of navigation skills. And there are unmarked bogs, which you can easily walk into. Admittedly, there's been a drought in recent years, so that might not be an issue, but it would be sensible to let someone know where you are going.

Most of the locals tend to drive up those hills rather than walk, but there are a few keen walkers who would be able to give you better advice, and may offer to accompany you. In fact, they will be able to show you the memorials and interesting sites which you would be unlikely to find without help. I think a walk covering those hills takes place in summer. Check with the Tourist Office or on a Facebook group like the Falkland Islands Community Board.

Hope this helps

Peterscot · Answer

"or navigati0n skills". Also, I think a walking guides to the hills has recently been produced. Again, the Tourist Office should know or have copies.

Pomeroy21 · Answer

Thank you

For your advice

Thinking back 36 years since I was there, I’m obviously underestimating the distance between Stanley and Longdon etc. Will re-consider the walking out from Stanley bit

Thanks again

Peterscot · Answer

Sorry, I may have misunderstood. I thought you meant doing the 3 hills in one long day.

if you are doing them individually, then that is much more straightforward. The school kids have an annual race up Mt Tumbledown which takes about 45-60 minutes from the west end of the harbour. Mt Longdon is a bit further to walk - probably about 2 miles from the road at the western end of the harbour, and another mile from the centre of town. Once you are on the ridge (follow the road to the top), its a fairly flat walk, and the summit is clearly visible. If you then headed south from there to Tumbledown or Harriet, you would have to cross miles of pathless peat ground, which you probably remember. I would suggest its probably easier retracing your steps.

Harriet is right by the main road, about 2-3 miles west of Stanley, and is a "straight up and down" walk of less than a mile. So, impossible to get lost, and easily recognised by the memorials in the large car park at the side of the road. So, again, much simpler to do on its own than combining with other hills.

My apologies for earlier response, but it's not unknown for people to assume, because the distances aren't that great, that its a fairly easy day out. But, as you probably know, the underfoot conditions can be energy-sapping. Hope you enjoy your trip, and if you have more questions, I'll try to respond, Peter

Pomeroy21 · Answer

Thank you Very helpful

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