Seventy Years On

It was during the Second World War in 1942 that tests were made concerning the vulnerability of Britain to a germ warfare attack and the viability of conducting one in retaliation. Scientists from Porton Down in Wiltshire experimented with anthrax on Gruinard Island between Gairloch and Ullapool. 48 years later the island was declared to be de-contaminated. Some remarkable colour-film-footage exists of the original experiment and can be watched now. The obvious secrecy of the war-years contrasts with public access today.

Scottish Islands Explorer - access at all times