Scotland’s Secret Bunker is situated at Troy Wood in East Neuk of Fife. It is five miles south east of St Andrews. It is an underground nuclear command bunker and was used by the Government during the Cold War to accommodate three hundred people and withstand nuclear attack. It was originally built as a RADAR station during World War II.
It underwent a complete rebuild in the 1950’s as part of the ROTOR early-warning system, but the localised system soon was rendered obsolete. The bunker was then redeveloped to act as the Scottish Government Headquarters in 1973.It has been kept a secret for many years, for the reason that it is where Scotland's central government and military commanders would have administered the country in the event of a war.
The bunker was opened to the public for the first time in 1995. It comprises a labyrinth of tunnels and operations rooms on two levels. One level is one hundred feet below ground and is encased in fifteen feet of reinforced concrete. The accommodation and dining rooms, communications centre, power plant, computer room, and emergency broadcasting studios are all preserved.
The bungalow on the surface acts as the guard-house and entrance.The staff in the bunker would have slept
in one of the six dormitories. The dormitories were capable of sleeping up to three hundred personnel. The staff would sleep for six hours, after which they would swap their bunks with another staff member for the next six hours. It was known as hot beds.
During the time spent underground, the personnel would never see daylight. Showering was even forbidden, as uncontaminated water was too precious a commodity to waste. They may have had to stay underground for up to three months.
Opening TimesOpen from Friday 18th March 2011, 7 days a week from 10 am. Last admission at 5 pm. Closed for the winter season on Monday 31st October 2011.
PricesContact directly for prices. Group bookings accepted.
Scotland's Secret BunkerCrown BuildingsTroy WoodFife KY16 8QHTelephone - 01333 310301
E mail - mod@secretbunker.co.uk
Visit website.
Photograph Courtesy of Scotland's Secret Bunker.
