Falkland Islands Pebble Island

Overview

Perfect for those looking for a combination of history and wildlife, Pebble Island, located 115km northwest of Stanley, is thought to have taken its name from the unusually rounded rocks that scatter its western shore. Pebble was a key staging post for the Argentine invasion of the Falklands in 1982 and up to 150 soldiers are thought to have been posted there to protect their hastily established airfield. However, on the night of the 14^th of May, the British SAS carried out a successful raid on the island, disabling all of the aircraft stationed there, greatly impacting  the Argentines’ aerial capabilities during the remaining days of the war.

However, the northern shores of Pebble later bore witness to one of Britain’s biggest losses during the conflict. The sinking of the destroyer HMS Coventry, just 10km off the coast, cost the lives of 19 soldiers who are now commemorated by a cross erected on the island after the war had ended.

Aside from its historical significance, Pebble is also a fascinating wildlife destination. The east of the island is formed of wetlands – a marshy, lake filled landscape where an abundance of wading birds and a huge colony of Magellanic penguins can be found. The west is stark in its contrasts, but its hilly terrain provides a welcoming environment for the vast numbers of rockhopper penguins that are willing to brave the tough and sometimes brutal climb to their nesting grounds.