Anti-Aircraft Operations Room - Gairloch Museum

On the north-west edge of mainland Scotland, an ugly building enjoys stunning views over Loch Gairloch and the Minch to the mountains on the Isle of Skye. From the early 1950s it played an unheralded and generally unrecognised role as an Anti-aircraft Operations Room (AAOR), part of the UK’s defence system against the anticipation of nuclear attack from Soviet Russia. That purpose redundant, it became the area civil defence centre from the mid-1960s until 1990, ready to support the continuation of government and services in the aftermath of the detonation of an atomic bomb.

From the late 1960s, it also served as the Roads Depot and the local library occupied a temporary building in the grounds but by 2012, both had found new homes and the increasingly dilapidated and forlorn monolithic concrete block blighted the landscape until the volunteers of the Gairloch Museum recognised its potential to provide them with the space and facilities for a much needed community heritage and learning centre. Thanks to the funding and grants awarded by more than 20 national, public and private organisations and an energetic local fund raising campaign, the AAOR is soon to become the new Gairloch museum.

Access is by tours only - to book:

email: katie@gairlochheritagemuseum.org or

tel: 01445 712287

Places are very limited - times and joining details will be given if places are available