Bleaker Island
Bleaker Island
5
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5.0
38 reviews
Excellent
31
Very good
6
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Christine P
York, UK60 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
We stayed here 4 nights. The lodge is comfortable, modern and has great views of the coast so we could watch the activities of the nearby Imperial Shags as the young were learning to fly whilst being bullied by the skuas. Food was excellent with a very welcome fresh salad started one evening.
Several wildlife locations were within easy walking distance . However there were more further away that we only found out about from other guests. Nick gives an introductory tour which only included some of the sites. We found out by chance about the sealions, the petrels and other colonies of penguins. We also found out through guests it is possible to hire a car for the day which if time is short is worth doing.
The staff were friendly and very helpful, however we feel that there could be more information on where to find the wildlife, there is actually quite a lot here not all of which is mentioned in the introductory tour.
Several wildlife locations were within easy walking distance . However there were more further away that we only found out about from other guests. Nick gives an introductory tour which only included some of the sites. We found out by chance about the sealions, the petrels and other colonies of penguins. We also found out through guests it is possible to hire a car for the day which if time is short is worth doing.
The staff were friendly and very helpful, however we feel that there could be more information on where to find the wildlife, there is actually quite a lot here not all of which is mentioned in the introductory tour.
Written 2 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elizabeth L
12 contributions
Nov 2022
Lovely lodge, great island for wildlife, walking and relaxing. Sadly, we only had one night to stay here, but next time I'll definitely stay longer. Very modern, clean and comfortable lodge, very good food.
It can be very windy, and the sun is very strong, dress accordingly and wear sunscreen.
It can be very windy, and the sun is very strong, dress accordingly and wear sunscreen.
Written 5 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
smcoles82
Coningsby, UK41 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
Great weekend away to Bleaker Island. The accommodation is top, spotless and every room has en-suite. There even an honesty bar.
Nothing is to much for Nick and his wife.
Will definitely be back in the summer.
Nothing is to much for Nick and his wife.
Will definitely be back in the summer.
Written 4 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve K
Nottingham, UK48 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
We stayed in the excellent Cassard House which provides clean, modern and well equipped accommodation. The are comfortable communal areas with excellent views of the landscape and local bird life. The house is situated within easy walking distance of the local wildlife 'hotspots' where sealions and a wealth of birdlife can provide hours of entertainment. The food is of high quality and beautifully presented. The staff are friendly and helpful which makes a big difference. Highly recommended for any Falkland Island visitor.
Written 28 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fanny L
Singapore, Singapore2,782 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
We flew in 8 seater Britten Norman Island aircraft and landed on the air strip, safe and smooth. Pick up by Father & Son team (Mike & Nick). We stayed in a spacious cottage with 2 bed rooms, kitchen, living room... all by ourself. The dinning room is just a few minutes walk away. They provide 2 hot meals each day, English breakfast and 3-course dinner. The take away lunch comprise a dry sandwich, chocolate bar, an apple and a muffin. The sites for seals, cormorants and penguins are simply impressive. The number of specimen is overwhelmingly large, and very few tourist. Most of the time it is just the two of us observing the wildlife. We have a memorable experience.The island is small & flat, very walkable, and the main wildlife all less than 1 to 5 km away from the settlement. Overall the settlement facilities are new, clean and well maintained, and the wildlife are very near to the lodge.
Written 12 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Teruce
Hong Kong, China267 contributions
Feb 2018 • Solo
This is a good island to visit and that was why I went there for a second time. The lodges there are less expensive than those on Sealion Island but the bad thing is that you have to walk a long way to or from Sandy Beach which is very windy and unsheltered since the lodge only offers a free courtesy drop when their busy work schedule and limited manpower permit. A one-way walk takes about 90 minutes for most people provided that you listen carefully to the local people's instructions on directions and you are not very road-blind. Your cell phones will not be of much help if you get lost. If you want to see more penguins in terms of numbers and species, try to go there before January. Certainly, many tourists do enjoy long walks both ways and if you are one them and you stay on the island for more than one night you may go to all the tourists spots once or some of the more convenient spots for penguins and sunrise and sunset at least twice during your stay. Striated caracaras as an endangered species are common to see within short distances around the lodges. The adult striated caracaras are usually not dangerous to visitors. Do not get close to their nests, chicks and eggs and do walk away from them calmly in some opposite direction in case any of the adult birds keep staring at you. If you do not, you may suddenly find their chicks, nest or eggs are within your sight and it may then be too late for you to protect your head from an adult bird's attack out of a feeling that its family is at risk.
Written 19 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LookingForFamilyFun
Houston, TX1,737 contributions
Dec 2019
Falkland Islands Holidays booked Bleaker as our second wildlife stay for our week long trip (the first was Pebble, which was guided and long days in a 4x4 with much distance between wildlife sites, but very enjoyable). We spent 2 nights here, so we had a full day, a half day on arrival, and a little time the morning we left. When we arrived on the grass landing strip, we were met by the owners who took us to the lodging..along the way showing us the location of their freshwater ponds with abundant birds, the white sand beach with several gentoo and magellanic colonies nearby, complete with 'penguin highway' where they are coming & going constantly, the shag colony, which can't be missed, you almost drive through it on the way in to the lodge as they've moved so close to the 'road'!
The lodge is lovely, we stayed in the cottage (we're 4) and it was nice to have our own space, the heating worked well, though we did have some problems with water temperature changes during showers, but all in all it was absolutely lovely and a very nice sleep...nice linens, nice toiletries (although the best toiletries we had were at Malvina Hotel...and full size refillable would probably work better at this location to reduce waste they have to deal with) Our cottage had a lovely solarium that was wonderful during the day and for watching the sunset, and the den and breakfast table were warmer once it got dark. We walked across the lawn for dinner, which was also very good with large portions and it was nice to have a soup as a starter! Packed lunches were provided each day and breakfast was cooked to order & continental...all very tasty and filling.
After we arrived and got settled, the owners' son, Nick, picked us up and took us to the sea lion/elephant seal colony nearby. He is an ecologist and recently tried a rat eradication program on the island which is already showing good results with the return of some smaller ground nesting birds. They are also replanting their grasses to increase the habitat. Nick was super friendly and helpful, knowledgable and interesting to talk to, and he even hosted everyone at his home Christmas Eve for mulled wine and mince pies! (sadly we were confused about the location, so we missed out and our daughter missed the mince pies much to her chagrin! lol!)
We rented a vehicle from the owners here, which we highly recommend if you have a short stay here and are here mainly for penguins like us, it let you maximize your time at the locations rather than spend it walking. All of the walking is easy, but it's windy, and the vehicle also provides shelter if anyone gets cold...or wants to take a nap like one of ours! We would spend the day at the penguin locations..the rockhopper colony is a short, easy walk, maybe 10-15 minutes from the lodge, there are also some magellanics nearby, and of course you'll walk right next to the shag colony. The sea lions and elephant seals were probably a 20 minute walk in another direction. The beach, used by magellanics & gentoo, was perfect for watching fancy gentoo beach landings and to see the penguins porpoising in the waves through the clear waters (also where we saw the lonely king), is the furthest walk, maybe 20-30 minutes. Definitely all doable if you're wearing the right clothing for wind/wet and have the time.
We really enjoyed our stay here and would definitely return and recommend to others!
The lodge is lovely, we stayed in the cottage (we're 4) and it was nice to have our own space, the heating worked well, though we did have some problems with water temperature changes during showers, but all in all it was absolutely lovely and a very nice sleep...nice linens, nice toiletries (although the best toiletries we had were at Malvina Hotel...and full size refillable would probably work better at this location to reduce waste they have to deal with) Our cottage had a lovely solarium that was wonderful during the day and for watching the sunset, and the den and breakfast table were warmer once it got dark. We walked across the lawn for dinner, which was also very good with large portions and it was nice to have a soup as a starter! Packed lunches were provided each day and breakfast was cooked to order & continental...all very tasty and filling.
After we arrived and got settled, the owners' son, Nick, picked us up and took us to the sea lion/elephant seal colony nearby. He is an ecologist and recently tried a rat eradication program on the island which is already showing good results with the return of some smaller ground nesting birds. They are also replanting their grasses to increase the habitat. Nick was super friendly and helpful, knowledgable and interesting to talk to, and he even hosted everyone at his home Christmas Eve for mulled wine and mince pies! (sadly we were confused about the location, so we missed out and our daughter missed the mince pies much to her chagrin! lol!)
We rented a vehicle from the owners here, which we highly recommend if you have a short stay here and are here mainly for penguins like us, it let you maximize your time at the locations rather than spend it walking. All of the walking is easy, but it's windy, and the vehicle also provides shelter if anyone gets cold...or wants to take a nap like one of ours! We would spend the day at the penguin locations..the rockhopper colony is a short, easy walk, maybe 10-15 minutes from the lodge, there are also some magellanics nearby, and of course you'll walk right next to the shag colony. The sea lions and elephant seals were probably a 20 minute walk in another direction. The beach, used by magellanics & gentoo, was perfect for watching fancy gentoo beach landings and to see the penguins porpoising in the waves through the clear waters (also where we saw the lonely king), is the furthest walk, maybe 20-30 minutes. Definitely all doable if you're wearing the right clothing for wind/wet and have the time.
We really enjoyed our stay here and would definitely return and recommend to others!
Written 27 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Foamnest
Greater Perth, Australia28 contributions
Jan 2019 • Couples
Privately-owned Bleaker Island in the far south-east of East Falkland has lovely scenery and excellent wildlife. The island is owned by the Rendell family who provide comfortable, full-board accommodation in Cassard House and Cobb’s Cottage. The island has a long coastline with several rat- and mouse-free islets offshore, and is internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area. Access to Bleaker Island is by air on the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) in small, eight-seater Britten Norman Islander planes. Guests are collected from the grassed airstrip in four-wheel drives, and are given a familiarisation tour on the way back to the settlement. There is lots to see and do on Bleaker – wildlife viewing that includes breeding Imperial Shags, three species of penguins, beautiful wild Upland and Ruddy-headed Geese and Southern (South American) Sea Lions in BBQ Cove. We had the extraordinary experience of seeing a male Sea Lion pick up and throw a young pup into the sea – fortunately it survived and the offending male was driven out of the area by the dominant male. We highly recommend Bleaker Island to anyone who loves wild places, wildlife, hiking and fresh air.
Written 25 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PhilnLiz
2 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
After an enjoyable low level flight out to Bleaker due to a low cloud, and a smooth landing we were given a great welcome by Nick. After settling us in he drove us up to introduce us to the Sealions and passed on tips to getting to the Magellanic, Gentoo, and Rockhopper penguins and Cormorants and ran through the history of the island.
Cobbs Cottage was a clean, smart, warm and comfortable base over the weekend for our 2 or 3 daily walks to observe and photograph the wildlife, and their proximity is one of the attractions of Bleaker.
To top it off we enjoyed excellent meals in Cassard House and cannot recommend the overall package more highly.
Cobbs Cottage was a clean, smart, warm and comfortable base over the weekend for our 2 or 3 daily walks to observe and photograph the wildlife, and their proximity is one of the attractions of Bleaker.
To top it off we enjoyed excellent meals in Cassard House and cannot recommend the overall package more highly.
Written 16 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sophia27
Colchester, UK816 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
Great lodge here. Decent size rooms and communal lounge. Owners very helpful with information about the island and an introductory tour on arrival. Lodge manager a bit abrupt dealing with some visitors. The lovely thing about the island is that you can walk to the main wildlife areas easily. Flat, short walks take you to lovely beaches, cliffs. Lots of penguins. Good food. We have now visited many islands during two holidays and this is in my top 3. Well worth visiting.
Written 16 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm going to be visiting Bleaker, Darwin, Pebble and Port Stanley in January and am struggling to do a packing list as weather predictions seem to vary a lot. Perhaps layers are the way to go.
I'd be grateful for any tips, please.
Written 1 October 2019
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