Module 2: What's Nearby

The following sites can easily be added to a day trip to Stanley and would also suit those who have a day or two to spend in this historic town.

Cape Pembroke, 10 minutes from Stanley
A ten-minute drive from the centre of Stanley lies Cape Pembroke, a rugged peninsula bordered by Port William to the north and Rookery Bay to the South. This striking area provides an excellent opportunity for hiking, cycling or driving whilst viewing native flora, small birds, and the occasional marine mammal - either off-shore or nestled among the tussac grass.

First lit in 1855, Cape Pembroke Lighthouse was subsequently refurbished and relocated in the early 1900s - where it lit the way for mariners entering Port William until its light was extinguished during the 1982 Conflict. The lighthouse marks the most easterly point in the Falklands. The lighthouse key is available from the Museum (£5 daily charge) allowing visitors to climb the tower and enjoy the scenery and wildlife of this striking area. A memorial to the Atlantic Conveyor, which was lost in the 1982 Conflict, is situated near the lighthouse.

Gypsy Cove / Hadassah Bay, 4 miles from Stanley
Gypsy Cove is a photogenic beach enclosed by a colony of burrowing Magellanic penguins. Its proximity to Stanley makes it a popular spot for locals and cruise ship visitors seeking a penguin encounter. From the parking area visitors can walk a circuitous route, taking in panoramic views over Yorke Bay, Mount Lowe and back to Stanley through the Narrows. The recently installed interpretive signage provides information on flora, fauna and key site features –such as the Canopus Gun that was installed for World War II duties. The area lies within the National Nature Reserve of Stanley Common and Cape Pembroke and is one of the best sites in the Stanley area for spotting typical Falklands wildlife. Gypsy Cove is also home to Stanley’s closest penguin colony, with several hundred breeding pairs of Magellanic penguins.

Hadassah Bay, renamed in the 1800s for the Government schooner that ran aground in the shallows, lies immediately to the west of Gypsy Cove and makes a pleasant extension of the Gypsy Cove walk - passing along the coast and through the Narrows before looping back to the Gypsy Cove parking area or continuing back to Stanley past the Lady Elizabeth wreck. Hadassah Bay is home to variable hawks, a small number of Magellanic penguins, and many small bird species. Sea lions also occasionally appear on the foreshore among the tussac.

Mount Tumbledown/Sappers Hill/Mount Longdon/Two Sisters
On fine days you can see a series of spectacular mountains to the west of Stanley which offer superb panoramic views over the town and surrounds from their summits. Many of these mountains (like Tumbledown, Longdon, and Two Sisters) featured heavily in the final days of the 1982 Conflict. Physically fit visitors with suitable clothing and footwear (and enough time), can enjoy a walk to one or more of these peaks – taking in the raw vistas of East Falkland, discarded military paraphernalia, memorials, and the occasional rare bird of prey.