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Saint Helena "The World's Most Useless Airport"
Inspired by Talesfromtheroad report from a trip to The Falklands I thought I best get my pictures from a trip to another British Overseas Territory posted.
Background My Mum had wanted to go to St Helena for years after seeing it on a TV programme about the Royal Mail Ship that used to serve the island. A medical condition ruled out spending 5 days on a boat so when the airport finally opened it was time to start planning. A bit more about the airport from Wikipedia here This trip was in April 2018. Planning Mum doesn't do economy and a through ticket in business from LHR on SA was the price of a small house so I booked an ex-EU BA ticket AMS-LGW/LHR-CPT-JNB-LHR/LGW-AMS and a seperate JNB-HLE return with the only airline that flies the route, once a week, South African Airlink. We had a week in Cape Town on the way out and a few days in J'Burg on the way back. I booked The Consulate Hotel in Jamestown for our week in St Helena. All done online via email. There was a better, Government owned, hotel but Mum preferred the colonial syle of The Consulate and I think it was the right choice. After a fabulous time in Cape Town we headed to JNB and stayed overnight in an airport hotel. Check in the next morning was straightforward and we made our way to the SA lounge. I noticed a creeping delay on the screens but the desk couldn't shed any light and suggested we ask at the gate. Long story short we ended up being delayed for two days due to weather at HLE. Most of the first day was spent waiting to be reunited with our luggage. When it became clear on the second day that we weren't going I hired a car and went exploring. This is going to be mostly photos but if anyone would like to know more feel free to ask. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...16bc48884b.jpg Finally on our way https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b812e77fbb.jpg On the way out there was a tech stop at WDH to top up the tanks in case we couldn't land at HLE https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6208239e62.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1e475874ca.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...718c40c4d8.jpg Landing cards were handed out prior to landing https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b84efafac0.jpg First glimpse of St Helena https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d5d65175c4.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...693ea82f45.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2a250347f0.jpg View while waiting for luggage The Consulate Hotel https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1825e7704f.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1ae79c8487.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0dd3da06f7.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...05c19bab26.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...27931625cf.jpg Napoleon's House Just pictures of the outside as no pictures are allowed to be taken inside. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...43394dcc95.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...17bce98726.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b46447040b.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f13700a37f.jpg Plantation House https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...673ce11bd5.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...731062110b.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2819068177.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a45a7a3a06.jpg Jonathon and Frederika the giant tortoise Jonathon is believed to be 187 years old https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d661515b37.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1516289310.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...32c51fa99b.jpg Jacobs Ladder The steps built by The Royal Engineers that go from Jamestown up to the fort https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6851e4566f.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...dfcd96ff12.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b6c96c2702.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6acdcbc0a9.jpg Loads of great 70's and 80's cars to see https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...92fd669dc1.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7db15dac68.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...14ae210901.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f61e8d1ca5.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...958472c98c.jpg Jamestown Prison Right in the centre of town https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...15e994edf3.jpg Our hire car https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c72ce46de9.jpg Some views around the island https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...fb1f80b74f.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...49ffbf575d.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e2e9e4f652.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...72b2acb01f.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a33291cfff.jpg Leaving There was a business class check in but we just waited with everyone else. Same with the lounge, they offered to open it up but it seemed a bit much for just us. They also provide a food and drink voucher for business class pax. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...52d830d5aa.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...82c5173011.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4005addbed.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...65cf7280e5.jpg One final pic Browsing a book in the library at our hotel I found a page amended probably by a French National, if you can't see it the original text says "Longwood New House especially constructed for the tyrant Boneparte and his entourage" Someone has crossed and tyrant and written Emperor. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c633ec064b.jpg Conclusion It was like nowhere else I'd been before. We got to know most of the people from the flight on the way out, including the St Helena Commenwealth Games team who were on their way back from Australia. A friendly place, when you're walking around everyone will say hello and when you're driving every passing car will wave. It reminded me of my days growing up in the Kent countryside. Spike |
A very cool report!
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Report
Excellent Report! I'd love to get across there sometime! I was involved with the building of the airport and know all of the problems the aircraft face as they approach- the 1000ft cliff wasn't taken into consideration when they planned the airport and now is causing all sorts of problems.
TFTR |
Cool TR. I'd love to go.
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Originally Posted by lamphs
(Post 31955691)
A very cool report!
Originally Posted by Talesfromtheroad
(Post 31956974)
Excellent Report! I'd love to get across there sometime! I was involved with the building of the airport and know all of the problems the aircraft face as they approach- the 1000ft cliff wasn't taken into consideration when they planned the airport and now is causing all sorts of problems.
TFTR
Originally Posted by LondonElite
(Post 31957006)
Cool TR. I'd love to go.
Spike |
I love these trip reports to British overseas rocks.
Anyone have one from Ascension or Tristan? |
Thanks for the report, looks to be a place to spend a couple of place especially it looks like it remained untouched with all modernity these days. Will have to keep this in mind when I next visit South Africa.
Cheers! |
Many thanks for this unusual TR!
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Originally Posted by nldogbert
(Post 31957698)
Thanks for the report, looks to be a place to spend a couple of place especially it looks like it remained untouched with all modernity these days. Will have to keep this in mind when I next visit South Africa.
Cheers!
Originally Posted by 1P
(Post 31962125)
Many thanks for this unusual TR!
Originally Posted by as219
(Post 31962584)
Spike |
A refreshing Trip Report!
Nice to find little gems around the world. |
Fantastic trip report! Too bad we can't get an FT Charter for an adventure like this!
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What a unique TR. Thanks for posting.
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HLE/St. Helena Airport documentary
Not useless, in fact literally a life saver:
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Fantastic documentary
Thanks malbarda for sharing that video. ANY traveler interested in aviation and airports will love that documentary!
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