My first visit to the Falklands, and I made all the bookings on my own, via the internet. I found the Darwin House on the Falklands main website. Anton and Dolly, the current caretakers of this very comfortable B&B, were terrific. I stayed 2 nights. They picked me up at the airport, and, when I left, they drove me around the corner to the local grass airstrip for FIGAS - the Falklands air taxi service that flies amongst all the islands. Darwin itself is picturesque. The house is on the water, with very few farmhouses nearby, a good road, and views from every window. It is very well-appointed for travelers — I’m in my 50s, traveling alone, and found it as comfortable for me as visitors older and younger (including a young couple and baby) than me. There’s a big living room, lots of books, TV, and internet access (this is available throughout touristic places in the FAlklands by buying cards that have access codes. I spent one day hiking and climbing Mt Usborne - Anton packed me a great lunch, and provided plenty of water for me to take there. Their assistant came with me to show me the way, at my request. Everything was very easy. Other visitors spent their day(s) exploring the history of the island, and reported that those tours were outstanding, informative and fun. At the Darwin House - and what really made it excellent for me: strong water pressure, plenty of hot water, incredibly comfortable beds and lovely bedding, big spacious room, insulated walls — the sounds did NOT travel! The house is really solid and comfortable. There are big windows opening out onto beautiful views with lovely light breeze billowing the curtains in the evening (I could also close the windows - airtight - if I wanted, of course), and really really good food. Anton spent about 5 hours preparing slow-cook lamb — lamb is a specialty of the Falklands — and this was just absolutely priceless! I’m sure that special dietary requests would be respected, too, if the caretakers are informed ahead of time. Great breakfast - hot, cold - and there are drinks such as tea, coffee, etc available all day anytime. There were 2 adorable sheep hanging out and a flock of flightless birds, and some upland geese on the property. I visited an old suspension bridge - the most southern suspension bridge in the world - and it was worth seeing, for the bridge but more for the birds on the water around it. Anton was very responsive to my many questions prior to my arrival - including an accurate local weather report - and I found he and Dolly and their assistant so very helpful — without being intrusive, overbearing, or overly chatty. Loved it. When I go back to the Falklands, I’d stay at Darwin House for my first stop off the plane. A couple of nights there makes a really good base from which to travel to the outer islands, and would be a good place to use as a “home base” if I were going to be in the Falklands for longer than the week I spent there.
