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 Join us for an in-depth 7 day exploration of the secretive world of WW2 Elite Raiders training in Scotland. 
 

During WW2, the rugged landscapes of Scotland were ideal for training Allied forces in irregular warfare. The remote Lochaber region, particularly areas around Lochailort, Arisaig, and Achnacarry Castle, became essential training grounds for the Special Operations Executive (SOE), the Commandos, and elite units like the 22 SAS and the Special Boat Section (SBS), who honed their skills in Ayrshire and Arran.

Country houses and lodges in Arisaig were requisitioned to accommodate small teams of SOE operatives, who trained intensively in sabotage, espionage, and guerrilla tactics. These recruits learned essential skills for covert operations behind enemy lines. In parallel, the nearby Achnacarry Castle, known as the "Commando Depot," became a legendary training site for British Commandos. This training demanded rigorous physical endurance, survival skills, and combat techniques suited to mountainous and coastal raids across Europe.

Ayrshire, too, hosted intensive training for the 22 SAS and the Special Boat Section, whose members needed to excel in amphibious and unorthodox warfare. Scotland’s varied and challenging terrain was crucial in forging these operatives into self-sufficient, highly skilled forces capable of carrying out complex missions in hostile environments. This demanding training laid the groundwork for the decisive roles these units played in Allied successes, helping to turn the tide of war. Come and follow in their footsteps as we learn their story.