Running the Remotest parkrun in the World (My Story, Falklands)
There are parkruns… and then there is this one. Cape Pembroke sits just outside Stanley, and it is about as far from a typical UK parkrun as you can get. It is remote, exposed, and completely at the mercy of the weather. But for me, this was never just a parkrun.
Cape Pembroke Lighthouse parkrun: The Basics
- What is it?
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. You can walk, jog, run, volunteer, or spectate. It is completely up to you. - When is it?
Every Saturday at 9:00am. - Where is it?
Cape Pembroke Lighthouse, off Airport Road, Stanley, Falkland Islands, FIQQ 1ZZ. - What does it cost?
Nothing. It is completely free.
You must register before your first event and bring a scannable barcode. If you forget it, you will not get a time. - How fast do you need to be?
You don’t. This is about participation, not pace. Walk, jog, or run at whatever speed suits you. - Want to help?
All parkruns are run by volunteers. If you would like to get involved, email:
capepembrokelighthouse@parkrun.com - https://www.parkrun.org.uk/capepembrokelighthouse/
From Not Walking… to parkwalk – Cape Pembroke Lighthouse parkrun
At the start of November 2025, I could not walk. Not slowly, not painfully, but not at all. I was medivaced from South Georgia to the Falklands, stretchered onto the Pharos and stretchered off again, and every movement hurt. Sitting was excrutiating, standing was impossible, and even turning over in bed was something I had to brace for.
I ended up in King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, before being discharged to a disabled room in the Malvina House Hotel in Stanley. That is where I stayed, lying on my back for weeks, staring at the ceiling, unable to sit or move without pain shooting through me.
The days blurred into one long stretch of stillness. I lay there 24 hours a day, unable to sit on my bottom, unable to move freely, I would crawl to the bathroom, I couldn’t sit on the toilet and gradually the physical pain was joined by something else. The fear. Not knowing if this was temporary. Not knowing if I would ever walk again. That thought sits with you and takes you to some very dark places.
Then Laura arrived, and everything began to change. An incredible private physio, she initiated treatment and pushed for me to be able to see the amazing Dutch doctor at the hospital, Dr Mary. With treatment and carefully titrated gabapentin, things slowly began to shift.
At first it was tiny progress. From crawling to standing, and then from standing to two minutes of walking followed by two minutes of sitting. That pattern became my world. Two minutes. Sit. Two minutes. Sit. But it was progress, and it mattered.
Eventually, Laura had me walking with crutches, and for the first time, the idea of moving forward properly began to feel possible again.
Then the dream was born could I walk the ParkRun?
Getting to the Start of Cape Pembroke Lighthouse parkrun
Laura carefully drove me in her 4×4 to the start of the parkrun, and you will need one too. This is not something you casually stroll to from town. The route out is rough, and access is part of the experience. Even though it was summer, I was well wrapped up in a hat, gloves, and a rain jacket. The Falklands are like the Highlands in summer. You can have sun, wind, and cold all at the same time, and you need to be ready for all of it.
The Setting of the Cape Pembroke Lighthouse parkrun
This is a tiny parkrun, and on the Saturday I managed to do it, there were maybe 15 people in total. The landscape reminded me strongly of Wester Ross, Scotland especially Melvaig where I used to live. Open moorland, wide skies, and a sense of space that feels both beautiful and slightly unforgiving.
The lighthouse at Cape Pembroke was wrapped up and undergoing renovations, but the route heads out in that direction before turning back. It gives you a sense of purpose without ever quite reaching it.
And the wind is constant. It does not matter whether you are heading out or coming back, the wind will find you.
The Route
The route itself is an out and back, following rough track. It is reasonably flat, but completely exposed, and that exposure is what defines the experience. This is not a course for speed or personal bests. It is a course that reminds you where you are.
The Walk
I walked it with Laura, and we spoke non stop the whole way round. I was slow, very slow, and this was without question my slowest parkwalk ever. But I was walking, properly walking, with crutches, carefully and steadily, and that was everything.
Behind us, the tail walker quietly followed, offering support without pressure. There was no rush, no expectation, just the simple encouragement to keep going. Step by step, I moved forward, and when I finished, I could have cried with pride. Not because it was physically hard, although it was, but because of where I had come from.
I had started to believe I might never walk again, and yet here I was, finishing a parkrun at the edge of the South Atlantic.
Wee Wild Adventure
The People
This is a proper parkrun community, small, friendly, and quietly supportive. There are no crowds, no noise, and no pressure, just people turning up and doing their best.
There is also something quite special about being able to say you have done Cape Pembroke parkrun. Not many people can.
The Reality
This is not a typical UK parkrun. It is remote, it is windy, and it is basic. There are no cafés waiting at the end, no big facilities, and no crowds to carry you along. You need to be prepared, both physically and mentally, and you need to understand what you are turning up to.
What to Know Before You Go
You will need a 4×4 to reach the start, as access is along a rough track. Dress for all weather, even in summer, because the conditions can change quickly and the wind is always a factor. There are no facilities, so you need to come prepared, and you should approach this as a small, community event rather than a large organised run. I did notice some very fit runners heading back towards Stanley after finishing, so it is possible to run out and back, but you need to be realistic about your own ability.
Why This One Stayed With Me
I have done parkruns before, but this one was different. It was not about time or pace, and it was not about performance. It was about getting back on my feet and proving to myself that I could move forward again. That is why I will never forget it.
Would I Recommend It?
Yes. Go if you want something real, something simple, and something that feels connected to the place you are in. Go if you understand that this is not polished or easy, and that is exactly why it matters.
And if you are on your own journey, this one might mean more than you expect.
Need a Physio in the Falklands?
If you find yourself needing help while in the Falklands, I cannot recommend Laura at Elite Rehabilitation & Sports Therapy enough. She quite literally changed everything for me. From not being able to walk, to taking those first steps again, and eventually completing a parkrun, she was the turning point.
For More Falkland Island Adventures
Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Gypsy Cove in the Falklands