Castle Commando!

The Commando Depot at Achnacarry, redesignated as the Commando Basic Training Centre (CBTC), was without doubt one of the best Allied special training centres during the Second World War.

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Achnagarry castle and its grounds was the ancestral seat of the Clan Cameron, and Sir Donald Cameron, the Clan Chief at the time loaned it for use by the Army in June of 1940. It was soon to become affectionatley known as 'CAstle Commando', by the recruits who passed through.

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The castle is located on the banks of the River Arkaig and it's environs are rugged and desolate mountains, perfect for the kind of training the Army had in mind. Jaunts up the banks of the River Arkaig is where their survival training from Achnacarry's CSM 'Ossie' Moon was put into practice. Alongside the River Arkaig Ossie would describe the basic principles of building a natural bivvy to provide shelter from the rain, wind, and cold. How to live off the land, and how to procure all kinds of food, animal and vegetable, and prepare and cook the same on a wide range of improvised fires. Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the United Kingdom was just 18 miles away and was often the final challenge of many of the courses.