The Neck
A sandy isthmus.
Ben Tubby — CC BY 2.0 · Ben Tubby — CC BY 2.0 · Liam Quinn from Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Liam Quinn — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Liam Quinn from Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0
Saunders Island is the fourth-largest of the Falkland Islands, lying north-west of West Falkland, about 161 km in a straight line west of Stanley. It covers about 132 square kilometres and is made up of three peninsulas linked by narrow necks, and its highest point, Mount Richards, rises to 457 m. The island is run as a sheep farm by a local family. Its small settlement on the east coast has an airstrip and a listed old stone house, and outside it there are simple lodges for visitors, including one at the Neck. The Neck is the island's best-known spot, a sandy isthmus between two bays where gentoo penguins nest, while black-browed albatrosses and rockhopper penguins share colonies on the nearby cliffs. Black-and-white Commerson's dolphins are often seen in the surrounding waters, whale bones lie on the grass near the shore, and sheep graze the green valleys. The island is reached by small plane from Stanley or by expedition-cruise landing. Accommodation is limited and must be booked well ahead, and the weather changes quickly, so bring layers and a waterproof jacket.
A sandy isthmus.
On the cliffs.
In nearby waters.
North-west of West Falkland
By small plane from Stanley or on an expedition cruise.
Yes, in simple lodges booked well ahead.