Falklands Life

The essence of the Falklands experience is perhaps that feeling of simply getting away from it all. Life feels almost “in the raw” in many remote locations and an adventure in itself.

The adventure begins by travelling in a twin-propeller Islander aircraft to land on a grass airstrip. Here you board a 4x4 vehicle to be transported to your accommodation. Everything is taken care of by your hosts, who will be on-hand throughout your stay.

Accommodation outside Stanley is farm-based and provides an understanding of how day to day activities are driven by the farming calendar.

Most farms offer the chance to view and some to participate in farm life first-hand. Sheep shearing and sheep herding using dogs happens almost everywhere. Orphaned lambs may need feeding – a treat for a child of any age!

Some farms continue to cut peat for fuel and may be keen for any helper to cut or rickle (build stacks of peat sods to dry). A few farms also keep cattle; some carry out daily milking by hand. If you can get up early enough, you may be invited to have a go!

For many families, home baking and bread making are the norm with a few still making their own butter. Vegetable gardens can be extensive with the produce pickled and preserved at the end of summer. Gardens are great to explore and the tasty products are regularly enjoyed at the table.

Remote locations depend on monthly supplies from the inter-islands shipping service whilst the Government Air Service delivers visitors, post, top-up supplies and gossip that has not yet been communicated by electronic means.Your departure may include responsibility for the mail-bag.

A visit to the Falklands is not complete without a stay on farm to appreciate this aspect of Islands life.