Falkland Islands - Pebble Island

Pebble Island, at 24 miles long, is one of the larger outlying islands, and the landscape varies greatly from large ponds and moorland, to long sandy beaches and rocky cliffs. This diverse countryside offers shelter and protection to an equally wide-ranging breeding population of birds and mammals. Many thousands of Gentoo, Rockhopper and Magellanic penguins breed on Pebble Island each summer, spearheading the incredible list of some 42 resident bird species, and marine mammal enthusiasts can enjoy raucous congregations of Southern sea lions.

The deep ponds on the east of the island, many of which are within walking distance of the lodge, are home to Chiloe wigeon, Grebes, Black-necked swans and a multitude of other wildfowl and wading birds.

In addition, being one of the closest islands in the Falklands archipelago to South America, each year the island seems to act as a magnet for rare visitors from mainland South America.

Pebble Lodge was originally the house of the manager of the 22,000 acre farm on the island (still actively farmed today with some 13,500 sheep) and is situated in the centre of the farm settlement. Now, though ideally adapted to the needs of the visitor, it remains the warm and friendly atmosphere of a large farmhouse. It offers five twin and one double room, all with ensuite facilities. The large lounge has an open peat fire and a well-stocked honesty bar with great views across the island to Elephant Beach that has even doubled as an airstrip for the Islander aircraft. Telephone and internet facilities are available on request. Your hosts are Allan White and Jacqui Jennings, both Falkland Islands, with a great enthusiasm for the Islands, their wildlife and way of life. You will be sure of a warm and hospitable welcome.

There are two main guided tours in 4x4 vehicle, which offer ample opportunity to see the abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery further afield from the settlement, as well as hunting for the semiprecious stones that give the island its name. The full day tour covers the elongated mountainous part of the island west of the settlement. The half-day tour covers the low-level wetland part of the island to the east of the settlement, and is very much a wildlife extravaganza.

Pebble also has something for the military historian, or the merely curious. There are aircraft remains to see from the 1982 re-occupation of the Island by the British, when the airstrip at Pebble Island (the same one that is used today) was invaded by the SAS in the first land-based action of the Falklands War. There are also two memorials to see, one commemorating the sinking of the HMS Coventry 10 miles off the north coast of Pebble Island, and the other in remembrance of the 5 Argentine Learjet crew members that were shot down over the Island.

It is tradition in the islands to discard your footgear in the sun-room foyer before entering the main house. This has been the practical way over the years to keep the outdoors out and in the indoors cleaner.

And after a hard day of exploring the spectacular wildlife of the area, your shoes can be pretty grubby. Plan to bring along a pair of warm socks or slippers to wear inside the house.