The Commando Dark Mile Trail

Some fifty years on, visitors can still trace some of the Commando features a in a walk or ride round the historic 'Dark Mile' trail.

Setting off from the Clan Cameron Museum, which was previously a War time Post Office, the rock faces above and behind were used for introducing techniques of abseiling and climbing, with and without weapons and equipment. In the grounds of Achnacarry Castle, Nissen huts, large and small, provided sparse accommodation, cook house and training facilities. A huge Douglas pine tree overshadows a king-sized hut this served as a cinema, lecture hall and indoor arena. Here unarmed combat instruction and 'milling' took place - all-action 1-minute boxing bouts. In front of the Castle was the barrack square; trainees were drilled to perfection under the eyes of Guards and Royal Marine drill instructors. In trees flanking the river were the original 'Death Slide' and 'Tarzan Courses'. Here they learned the 'tricks of the trade' for rough living and survival behind enemy lines, testing themselves during training in the mountains and forest countryside.

Leaving the Castle behind, the training trail continues along the road. To the far left were the rugged assault courses and field firing ranges, including snapshooting targets and a house-clearing scenario with pop-up targets.

Continuing to the road junction at eastern end of Loch Arkaig and turn right to enter the historic 'Dark Mile'. The stone bridge by the beautiful Cia-aig Falls was used for ambush exercises, and pool to cool off after long arduous treks.

The Dark Mile circuit was used as the trainee's first speed march, a 'nice' five mile round trip from the Training Centre - an easy jaunt, laden in battle order and moving as a complete unit, to be completed in less than 50 minutes.

From the houses at Clunes you can continue to the shore of Loch Lochy where a miscellaneous collection of small boats and landing craft known as the "Achnacarry Fleet" were moored alongside the stone boathouse. These were used to develop boat handling and navigational skills. Often the beginning of an exercise, both sides of the Loch being used for landings. 'Opposed Landings' were enacted on the shores of Loch Lochy between the boathouse and road leading back to Achnacarry. Live firing from machine guns and mortars, tracer bullets and flares vied with controlled explosions to simulate battle conditions.

Pause for a while at the junction that takes you back to the Clan Cameron Museum, try to image the 'skirl' of the pipes which met the new Commando trainees and the march from Spean Bridge station to Achnacarry. The Pipe Band playing again at the head of a column of fully trained Commandos, after successfully completing the course and wearing their newly won Green Berets, they marched back to Spean Bridge and then to active service overseas.