Gruinard Bay

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GRUINARD BAY: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

  • (1.69 mi) An Cois Na Mara Bed and Breakfast
  • (1.69 mi) Love Croft Guest House
  • (1.73 mi) Mayar Bhan luxury self catering home in Gruinard Bay, Gairloch, Wester Ross
  • (5.15 mi) Shore Croft
  • (1.47 mi) Ocean View Hotel
  • (8.87 mi) Bridge Cottage Cafe
  • (4.21 mi) Oran Na Mara Cafe
  • (5.69 mi) Pancake Barn Tearoom
  • (8.77 mi) Pool House Cafe
  • (7.26 mi) Old Schoolhouse Tearoom
  • (4.57 mi) Ewe Canoe
  • (3.97 mi) Russian Arctic Convoy Museum
  • (8.21 mi) Inverewe Garden
  • (1.46 mi) Ocean View Bar
  • (2.40 mi) Mellon Udrigle Beach
  • Search a Scottish Island

Gruinard Island Loch Broom

Introduction, gruinard anthrax island.

Gruinard, a stunning beautiful Scottish island abused and made infamous as ‘Anthrax Island’. After some hesitation I landed on an un-grazed wild and beautiful island that hid its terrible past.

Gruinard island from roadside

Information

Scotislands Gruinard trade winds

Gruinard, poor Gruinard

Gruinard, poor Gruinard. During the second world war scientists took the crazy decision to test deadly chemical weapons on the “useless” uninhabited Scottish island. The tests released Anthrax on poor defenceless sheep. These mad experiments left the island deadly to life, contaminated and inaccessible for decades to come. My trip to Gruinard took place on a wonderful sunny day in August 2017. It was a trip that was memorable in every sense.  However I could not help but feel nervous as I trod the deep grass some 75 years after the madness.

In 1942, The British government investigated the feasibility of a bioweapons. Their weapon of choice was anthrax. A dealer of death!  They recognised that tests would cause long-lasting contamination of the immediate area by the anthrax spores. As a result a remote and uninhabited island was required. Gruinard was surveyed, deemed suitable and requisitioned from its owners.

Anthrax Spores!

Eighty sheep were taken to the island. Bombs filled with anthrax spores were exploded close to where selected groups were tethered. The sheep became infected with anthrax and began to die within days of exposure. Spine chilling footage of the tests are on YouTube video at the foot of this post.

In 1946, the government recognised the danger they had created.  They agreed to acquire the island and to take full responsibility. The owner or their heirs would be able to repurchase the island for £500 when it was declared “fit for habitation by man and beast”.

Gruinard Island was quarantined indefinitely; visits to the island were prohibited. The only exception being for periodic checks by MOD personnel to determine the level of ongoing contamination.

Operation Dark Harvest

In 1981 newspapers began receiving messages with the heading “Operation Dark Harvest” which demanded that the government decontaminate the island.  The papers reported that protestors had landed on the island with the aid of local people and collected samples of soil.

The same day a sealed package of soil was left outside the military research facility at Porton Down. Tests revealed it contained anthrax bacilli. A few days later another sealed package of soil was left in Blackpool, where the ruling Conservative Party was holding its annual conference. The soil did not contain anthrax. However officials said that the soil was similar to that found on the island.

In 1986 a determined effort was made to decontaminate the island. 280 tonnes of formaldehyde solution diluted in sea water was sprayed over all 196 hectares of the island. The worst-contaminated topsoil around the dispersal site was removed. A flock of sheep was then placed on the island and remained healthy. Miners used Canaries, the MOD used sheep!

Declared safe!

On 24 April 1990, after 48 years of quarantine and four years after the solution was applied the island was announced as safe. All warning signs were removed. On 1 May 1990, the island was repurchased by the heirs of the original owner for the original sale price of £500.

Happier days for Gruinard

My visit to Gruinard was at the end of a fast sail from Ullapool. The island is not blessed with any great anchorages. Consequently Gruinard is only accessible for short visits on reasonably calm days.

Scotislands TRade Winds Gruinard

Trade Winds was anchored to the south of the island in behind a spit of boulders and stone called Sron a’ Mhoil . The little bay sits under the point Aird nan Caorach (sheep or livestock point). The name confirming that the island served as pasture land after a short swim of livestock from the nearby mainland estate. The short row from Trade Winds landed me on a boulder beach of bleached stone.

Scotilsands Gruinard Trade Winds

Beyond the beach was a green and verdant lush island of grasses and bracken. On looking higher up the hill bands of heather and bare stone were clear to see.

I set off to the top passing a ruined stone building that I recognised from the old MOD footage. Beyond that I was soon into an area of spongy, deep sphagnum moss. Each step saw my lead foot sink down almost to knee level. It was a struggle to make the 200 meters or so across the wonderful spongy, unspoilt and un-grazed area.

Scotislands Gruinard boulder bay

Summit of Gruinard Island

After a real slog I stepped onto firmer ground of grass and heather. The slope up to the summit, An Eilid (The Hind) was gradual. The higher up the slope the soil thinned to reveal areas of bare sandstone speckled with mosses and lichens.

Scotislands Gruinard grass

Gruinard Summit

The cairn, like so many on uninhabited remote islands was bearded in lichen.  The top offered uninterrupted views away to the distant Herbrides to the west. To the east into Gruinard Bay and the extreme mountains of the mainland. To the north lay Loch Broom and the Summer Isles. Away in the distance the magic of Wester Ross Geopark and the missives of Coigach, Stac Pollaidh and the sandstone monuments to Scotland’s ancient past.

is gruinard island safe to visit

Away to the north lay Isle Ristol , Tanera Beg .

I chose to take a route down that took be to the north shore and did involved a very precarious and steep drop down to the beach. Slabbed rock lay tilted and buckled along the waterline. It was a scramble up and over the obstacles until I emerged back onto the boulder spit.

is gruinard island safe to visit

What a wonderful experience Gruinard had been. Nervous, of course of its tarnished history but bowled over by its rough, un grazed and wild terrain and views to the Summer Isles and beyond.

Scotisland Neighbours : Horse Island   Tanera Mor   Eilean Fada Mor

Local Information ; VisitScotland   Wiki

Anchorage:  Trade Winds was anchored south of the Sorn A’ Mhoil spit at the south east corner of Gruinard. The anchor held well in a light breeze in 10m of water and came up clean of weed. The bottom shoals to the point and main shore line. The bay does not offer any real protection from a westerly of any real strength and is exposed to swell. Perhaps good for a lunch stop or a scamper to the top!

Anchorage Gruinard island

Image Gallery

Scotislands TRade Winds Gruinard

Video Gallery

Gruinard today and 360 view from the top

Horrific footage of Anthrax tests in 1940s

Gruinard Anthrax tests footage from 1940s

View from a Croft 

Artist: Sarah Helen Dowse

Exhibiting: May & June 2022

Working mainly in pastel on paper or card, Sarah has taken inspiration for her exhibition from the views she sees daily from her home as well as still life studies of homegrown flowers, fruit and vegetables. 

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Gruinard Island

is gruinard island safe to visit

Aerial view of Gruinard Island courtesy of Gairloch Museum.

The view looking from the island's shore towards the mainland (courtesy of gairloch museum)..

About 15 miles North of Gairloch you might notice Gruinard Island sitting just a few hundred metres from the shore. On sunny days this low-lying piece of land can look peaceful and idyllic, but the fact it's known locally as Anthrax Island ought to clue you in to the fact that a darker history lies hidden beneath its surface.

However, long before its involvement in and subsequent notoreity from the Anthrax experiments carried out there, the island had its own, more peaceful history with ruins and points of interest still visible today.

History and Archaeology of Gruinard

Gruinard is uninhabited now, but back in the 18th century parts of the island were used for farming. This was unlikely to have been a particularly profitable enterprise for the tennants, however, as Peter May, a land surveyor who conducted a survey of the island in 1756 found the arable land (concentrated on the southern portion of the island) to be "of the bad kind, being full of stones and rocks," commenting further that the farm, "would make a poor subsistence living."

is gruinard island safe to visit

Image from Peter May's 1756 survey with North at the bottom and the farmyard recorded at the top of the island (courtesy of Gairloch Museum).

However, make a living from the island people did and the Valuation Rolls from 1855-1935  (available at  www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk ) reveal a multitude of tenants and occupiers right up to the period immediately before the island's purchase by the government .

Remains of buildings and other structures can still be seen today with drone photography now allowing us to see further hidden details, such as the cultivation lines of rigs - a rig being a traditional form of farming that saw the land divided into narrow strips which were rotated between tenants as part of a system of communal tenure.

is gruinard island safe to visit

From a distance, the lines of 'rigs' can be still be clearly seen today (courtesy of Gairloch Museum).

In 2018, staff from Gairloch Museum made a trip to the island to undertake a survey of the archaeological features. They found the ruins of a house and barn still clearly visible, as well as dykes that may date from an even earlier period.

Further details can be found in the Gruinard Island booklet produced by the museum.

is gruinard island safe to visit

The remains of structures still stand on the island (courtesy of Gairloch Museum)

Anthrax island.

is gruinard island safe to visit

One of these signs warning against setting foot on the contaminated island can be viewed in Gairloch Museum.

Military testing.

During World War II the British army used the island as a testing site for a new strain of Anthrax they'd been developing. For the price of £500, the Ministry of Defense bought the island from its owners. Sheep were brought over to be the test subjects and Anthrax bombs were fired at the island from mortars. Needless to say, the experiment proved a success and all the sheep died within days of exposure to the deadly chemical.

Pleased with their results, the military moved on, but Gruinard now presented a highly toxic environment with Anthrax contamination believed to potentially last for at least a thousand years. Although uninhabited, the island had previously been used on occasion by fishermen and with its proximity to the mainland could be easily reached by anyone curious enough to try.

To avoid human contamination, signs were erected warning people to stay away from the island, but the reasons behind this prohibition were not initially made public. Rumours, however, did circulate about the supposedly poisoned island and, had the military not eventually come clean about their activities, the potential dangers may have become nothing more than folklore. It may be interesting to speculate what real world events, if any, could have been the root of the more ancient stories surrounding other islands around Gairloch.

Certainly, to the presenter of this BBC expose on the island, there was more than a whiff of the superstitious to the locals' talk of a supposed 'Isle of Death'. His sentiment that: "The War Office say that it wouldn’t be in the public interest to disclose the facts. And who should know better what is good for us than a government department?" is one that would perhaps resonate rather less well with a modern audience than it would have at the time.

Dark Harvest Commandos

Eventually, the island would be cleaned up and it is now a safe spot to visit - if you can get there. However, it required the intervention of a group of people some may consider terrorists and a threat to politicians that became international news to force action from the government.

You can find a whole, fascinating podcast on Gruniard Island, encompassing the Highland clearances, former agricultural industries and the anthrax experiments in this Stories of Scotland podcast, including the tale of these 'eco-terrorists'.

Further Reading and Resources

The Press and Journal has an extensive look at the story of Gruinard Island featuring several photos and newspaper clippings regarding events surrounding the island.

is gruinard island safe to visit

Click on image to enlarge.

In 2019, Ian Cumming (Eòin Cuimeanach) won the Film G Award for Gaelic - Fluent Speaker, Best Young Filmmaker for his Gaelic language short film on the island.

Gruinard at the Museum

In Gairloch Museum, you can find further details on Gruinard Island and can even see a real example of one of the signs posted on both the island and the mainland shores facing the island warning people away. If you look at the date in the bottom right of this sign, you can see that the order had to be updated annually.

In 2018, the museum researched and printed a seventy page booklet on the island. This resource covers the history and topography of the island as well as documenting the wartime experiments. Physical copies can be purchased at the museum or online with all proceeds going to Gairloch Museum.

Gruinard Island Sign at Museum

Gruinard Bay

is gruinard island safe to visit

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

is gruinard island safe to visit

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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is gruinard island safe to visit

Gruinard Bay - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

  • (1.69 mi) An Cois Na Mara Bed and Breakfast
  • (1.69 mi) Love Croft Guest House
  • (1.73 mi) Mayar Bhan luxury self catering home in Gruinard Bay, Gairloch, Wester Ross
  • (5.15 mi) Shore Croft
  • (1.47 mi) Ocean View Hotel
  • (8.87 mi) Bridge Cottage Cafe
  • (4.21 mi) Oran Na Mara Cafe
  • (5.69 mi) Pancake Barn Tearoom
  • (8.77 mi) Pool House Cafe
  • (7.26 mi) Old Schoolhouse Tearoom
  • (4.57 mi) Ewe Canoe
  • (3.97 mi) Russian Arctic Convoy Museum
  • (8.21 mi) Inverewe Garden
  • (1.46 mi) Ocean View Bar
  • (2.40 mi) Mellon Udrigle Beach

Gruinard Island: Fire on island used for Anthrax experiments

  • Published 27 March 2022

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Nessie Gearing described the scene as "apocalyptic"

An uninhabited Scottish island where government scientists once conducted experiments with Anthrax has been hit by a fire.

People who saw the fire on Gruinard Island from the mainland described the scene as "apocalyptic".

They said the uninhabited island off Scotland's north-west coast was ablaze from "one end to the other" on Saturday evening.

The island was used for germ warfare experiments during World War Two.

It was declared free of Anthrax by the Ministry of Defence in April 1990.

Gruinard Island fire

Kate Gearing and her daughter Nessie were at their home in Aultbea when they saw a glow in the sky, around 20:30 on Saturday.

They could smell the smoke in the air from their house which is about five miles from the island.

They got into the car to investigate, and drove along the coast until they saw the fire, which they said you couldn't miss.

Nessie took pictures from the area around Gruinard beach.

The 25-year-old described the scene as "apocalyptic," and said it looked like "hell fire".

"There was a string of flames around the whole circumference of the island," she said.

  • Anthrax Island and the seeds of death
  • BBC iPlayer - The Mystery of Anthrax Island

Kate said the island off the north west coast was lit up by flames from one end of the island to the other.

The most distressing thing about the scene, Kate said, was the noise of birds, which she thinks were nesting on the island.

"We could hear birds crying, screaming, and then suddenly there was silence - but the flames went on, it was awful."

She said thankfully the island is far away enough from shore not to be a danger to the mainland.

Map

The pair returned on Sunday, and said there were no obvious flames by the afternoon. However, there was still some smoke hanging in the air.

Kate, a retired GP, said: "The island is pretty black now. There's just a few trees left standing, along the shoreline."

"I'm just hoping there aren't any anthrax spores left around anywhere," she added.

Gruinard Island

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said the island did not fall under its remit because it is uninhabited.

Earlier this week it issued a warning that the risk of wildfires was "very high" in central, southern and north-east Scotland.

It urged people to to think twice about using naked flames outdoors.

How did Gruinard Island come to be contaminated with Anthrax?

Malcolm Broster of MOD Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down in 1986

Anthrax is a lethal bacteria, especially when inhaled, and it proves fatal in almost all cases, even with medical treatment.

Gruinard had long been uninhabited when, with World War Two on a knife edge, the government tasked scientists with finding a way of harnessing anthrax as a weapon - fearing the Nazis had developed a biological bomb.

They had to find a testing site that was remote, uninhabited and isolated but accessible from the mainland.

Rumours began to spread on the mainland when sheep, cows and horses began dying strange deaths.

The facts about what happened remained a mystery until the declassification of an MoD film 50 years later.

It showed sheep being put in exposure crates facing the anthrax cloud.

The film shows a small blast set off by remote control and then white powder moving on the wind. Within days all the sheep were dead.

The experiment was deemed a success and the scientists returned to Porton Down - but the anthrax remained.

In an attempt to rid the island of anthrax spores, Porton Down instructed the heather be set on fire.

It remained off limits and it was not until 24 years after the experiment that the warning signs even mentioned Anthrax.

Porton Down experts checked the soil but the anthrax spores were "surprisingly resistant to degradation".

In 1986, Gruinard was again a hive of activity as teams of scientists, vaccinated against anthrax and dressed in protective clothing, prepared to return the island to its natural state.

They sprayed the soil with seawater and formaldehyde and it was again tested at Porton Down.

Finally, on 24 April 1990, the MoD declared Gruinard anthrax free.

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More on this story.

The mystery of Anthrax Island and the seeds of death

  • Published 26 February 2022

Please note this image is a re-creation.

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North Coast 500 itinerary: Scotland's most epic road trip

Kristina

In this epic North Coast 500 itinerary, we'll show you what to do and see on this 500+ mile scenic loop around the Highlands coast.

If you're tackling the NC500 road trip in a campervan or motorhome, we completed the whole loop in our van conversion in 11 days and have some excellent tips for you on some of the best wild camping spots.

We have divided our North Coast 500 itinerary into five sections, but you can easily adapt this NC 500 route planner to your own preferences and time constraints. So let's get started by answering some of your questions.

Bookings: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a booking, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank You!

How long does it take to do the North Coast 500 Route?

Our North Coast 500 itinerary covers 11 days, but most people complete the road trip in five to seven days.

However, if you want to fully experience the breathtaking NC500 scenery, we recommend spending at least seven days exploring the famous Scottish Route 66. With so many detours and sights to see, there is a lot to do on this road trip.

Do you need a 4x4 for NC500?

It can be helpful if you're planning to go off-road, but it's not necessary to explore the NC500. Most of the roads on the route are car, bike, and motorbike friendly.

A smaller motorhome may be more suitable as some roads can be quite narrow, but we've seen larger ones pass through without issues. As long as you're a confident driver, you should be fine.

We took several detours in our Citroen Relay van conversion and never got stuck thanks to Charlie's excellent driving skills.

What is the best time of year to do the North 500?

We recommend visiting between May and September, with October being the latest for the mildest weather and longest days.

We tackled the North Coast 500 in August and were rewarded with mostly sunny days, but I still had to break out the woolly socks a few nights.

Is the Isle of Skye on the NC500?

Although the Isle of Skye is not on the NC500 route, this stunning island deserves its own road trip. From the breathtaking Fairy Pools to the iconic Old Man of Storr and the majestic Cuillin Mountains, the Isle of Skye is a paradise for nature lovers.

Check out our post about the Isle of Skye for more information on exploring charming villages, tasting a wee shot of whiskey, and finding the best places to sample fresh seafood.

is gruinard island safe to visit

Is NC500 a single track road?

Yes, you will encounter many single track roads on your NC500 adventure. Don't worry though, there are passing places along the way.

These are road pockets that allow you or oncoming traffic to give way safely. As a rule of thumb, remember to always stick to the passing places on your left.

Is it best to do NC500 clockwise or anti clockwise?

It ultimately comes down to personal preference. Initially, we had planned to go anticlockwise, but we changed our minds at the last minute.

Although the east coast has its own unique attractions, the scenery on the west coast is undeniably more dramatic.

We wanted to tackle the steep inclines and winding roads first, and then have a more leisurely drive towards the end of our trip. Regardless of the direction you choose, the NC500 will be an epic experience.

Where is the starting point of the North Coast 500?

No matter if you're going clockwise or counter-clockwise, the North Coast 500 itinerary starts in Inverness.

From there, you'll experience some of Scotland's most beautiful scenery, from the rugged coastline and the mountains of the Northwest Highlands to the charming towns of the Black Isle.

11-Day North Coast 500 Itinerary

Inverness - applecross, day 1-2: inverness - applecross.

Buckle up; you are about to embark on one of the most challenging parts of the NC500 road trip in Scotland - the Bealach Na' Ba Pass.

We completed the first section of the NC 500 road trip in two days, but we chose to spend a night atop the Bealach Na' Ba Pass, which we highly recommend.

If you follow our North Coast 500 itinerary clockwise, the first two days will include the following stops:

The epic Scottish road trip begins and ends in Inverness, whether you travel clockwise or anticlockwise.

Although you don't need to spend an entire day in the city, we recommend spending at least an afternoon here. Inverness is the largest city in the Scottish highlands, and it's a good place to stock up on road essentials.

Situated along the River Ness, it’s an easily walkable city, with walking along the river being one of the best things to do. It's both relaxing and picturesque.

While exploring, make time to visit Leakey's Bookshop, an old church filled to the brim with second-hand books. It's very Harry Potter-esque.

is gruinard island safe to visit

Beauly Priory - the Beautiful Place

From Inverness, it's only a half-hour drive west to Beauly. Follow the A862 road.

Located in the charming town of Beauly, the ruins of the monastery are still in excellent condition and are worth a quick visit. The original priory consisted of many buildings, but only the church remains today.

Founded by French monks in 1230, the name "Beautiful Place" comes from the riverside setting (beau lieu). According to the plaque, Mary Queen of Scots endorsed it during her visit in 1564.

From here, drive further west for under two hours and witness the scenery becoming increasingly dramatic as you climb the legendary Bealach Na' Ba Pass.

The Bealach Na' Ba Pass

Bealach Na' Ba, also known as the Pass of the Cattle, is the steepest road ascent in the UK, like many mountain passes in the Alps.

It rises to 626 metres (2,053 ft) and the single track road twists and turns sharply in places, so it should be approached with care. It's a perilous yet breathtaking drive.

The road across the mountains of the Applecross peninsula is open all year round except during extreme weather conditions when it may be closed. We drove up in the rain, which made some sections uncomfortable.

On a clear day, you can explore the spectacular summit of Bealach Na' Ba and visit the viewpoint post that points to some of the iconic landmarks in the area. Weather permitting, you can see the Old Man of Storr on the beautiful Isle of Skye.

During rain, visibility can be limited, so take extra care when crossing the road. There are many hairpin bends and blind summits.

Applecross village

Halfway down Bealach Na' Ba, the tiny village of Applecross will start to appear. Locally known as "the street", it is one of Scotland's earliest settlements.

Today, it is home to the famous Applecross Inn and Smokehouse.

Applecross - Ullapool

Day 2-3: applecross - ullapool.

The second leg of the North Coast 500 itinerary, from Applecross to Ullapool, is just as exciting as the first. While you can take the quick route (approximately two hours), you'll miss out on some epic drives.

We recommend taking the longer route and several detours, such as Torridon Glen. As you cross the valley, you'll feel like you're in a James Bond movie, racing through vast wilderness to save the world.

Here are the main highlights worth checking out between Applecross and Ullapool:

From Applecross, head east towards A896. At Kinlochewe, the road turns left onto A832 to Shieldaig.

The village was established in the 1800s to train seamen for war against Napoleon, which is why there's a cannon along the seafront. Today it's a peaceful fishing village with a name that means "herring bay."

For us, the idyllic Shieldaig will always be remembered as the "best banana bread stop" on Scotland's stunning North Coast 500 route.

While strolling along the seafront, keep an eye out for "Bread in a Cupboard." It's a little hut filled with sourdough, rye, and the most delicious banana bread for sale. Grab your treats and leave the payment in the box.

Unspoiled Red Point Beach (detour)

The drive from Shieldaig to Red Point Beach, especially towards Torridon, is absolutely stunning. The A896 takes you through the Torridon Valley, where you'll have a view of the mighty Ben Eighe and its many summits.

Red Point Beach is wild and remote, and just one of the many stunning North Coast 500 beaches. It's worth a quick detour or an overnight stay if you're taking on the North Coast 500 in a motorhome.

As you leave the valley, follow the road sign to Gairloch and Ullapool. The turn-off for the beach is at Kerrisdale. Look out for the sign on your right-hand side pointing to Red Point. Then, cross the stone bridge on your left (if driving clockwise), and continue for around 9 miles on a one track road.

The beach is at the end of the road, past the inn, gin distillery, and many small communities. You'll see a smaller red-hue sand beach in the distance, but keep driving until you cross two stone bridges and reach a small car park.

The last settlement before the beach is called Opinan.

If you have time, check out Badachro Inn and the small gin distillery under the same name. And don't forget to look out for the pretty Heilan' Coos, the long-haired Highland cows, as soon as you cross the first stone bridge.

Gairloch is a pretty harbour village located on the shores of Loch Gairloch, along the A832 road. It features galleries, pubs, shops, and a post office.

If you have some spare change, consider taking a glass-bottomed boat tour to observe sea stars, urchins, seals, and sea birds. You can find more information on their website here . For additional activities and sights, visit the visitor centre in town.

As you leave the village, be sure to look out for a lovely beach on your left and stop at the viewpoint of Loch Gairloch.

Enchanted Inverewe Gardens

Inverewe Gardens, Scotland, NC500 Route

A quick 15-minute drive northwest of Gairloch will bring you to Inverewe , a lovely botanical garden that truly embodies the founder's vision to plant and grow as many exotic plants as possible.

The garden features several woodland trails, rose gardens, a museum, and a cafe, making it the perfect stop to unwind from the winding one track roads on the North Coast 500 route.

Toxic Gruinard Island (quick detour)

Don't miss the tiny sheep-inhabited Gruinard Island . Located between Coast and Mungasdale in Guinard Bay , it holds a grim past dating back to WWII when the British tested Anthrax, a dangerous infectious chemical for use in the war.

They filled bombs with the Bacillus Anthracis bacteria and dropped them on Gruinard Island to check if they could contaminate cities in Germany.

Although the government started the cleaning process in 1986 and declared the island safe to visit in 1990, it's still uncertain whether it's entirely safe to visit.

You can catch a glimpse of the oval-shaped island from the car park along the road as it's only one kilometre offshore.

Little Loch Broom

With picnic tables and fantastic views of Little Loch Broom and An Tellach, the highest mountain in the area, this spot embodies what the NC500 route is all about - Scotland at its finest.

A large car park on the A835 provides ample space for parking even the largest motorhomes. Tour buses also make stops here, so there may be a crowd of tourists blocking the view, but they typically stay for only a short time.

If you need a quick stop to stretch your legs, there are some lovely beaches between Coast and Mungasdale.

Corrieshalloch Gorge

After visiting Little Loch Broom, continue driving on the main road to reach the magnificent Corrieshalloch Gorge and Falls of Measach.

Take the woodland trail and cross the Victoria suspension bridge to witness the spectacular falls plunging into the River Droma.

If you are not planning to explore the gorge, enjoy the scenic drive to the next destination on our North Coast 500 itinerary: Ullapool.

Ullapool - Durness

Day 4-8: ullapool - durness.

This part of the trip includes some of the most amazing beaches along the North Coast 500 route. You don't have to see them all, but be sure to stop or stay overnight at Achnahaird Beach. It's definitely worth a detour, especially on a sunny day.

Ullapool , located on the shores of Lochbroom , is the first major village on the North Coast 500 route (when driving clockwise) and a great hub from which to explore the surrounding sights.

Wrapped in stunning scenery, Ullapool offers excellent hiking and cycling routes, good accommodation options, and several charming cafes.

From here, you can also catch a ferry to Stornoway and Lewis in the Outer Hebrides if you want to add an extra detour to your North Coast 500 itinerary.

We highly recommend visiting the town's Ullapool Smokehouse shop and stocking up on malt whiskey-cured salmon and other locally produced goodies. We enjoyed a few delightful breakfasts made from traditionally smoked salmon in our van conversion.

Achnahaird Beach (detour)

Achnahaird Beach requires a slight detour from the main NC500 route, but what a find! It's a tidal almost-white sand beach located on the Coigach peninsula .

If you crave peace and a spot off the beaten path, you simply must add Achnahaird Beach to your North Coast 500 itinerary. It is worth the detour.

From Ullapool, head southeast and follow A893.

The road to the beach is a beautiful winding one-track drive for about 12 miles from the turn-off.

Another great thing about the beach is that it's only a short and easy walk across the cliffs from the car park.‌‌

Knockan Crag

Starting from Achnahaird Beach, head southwest and rejoin the A835 at Drumrunie for a short drive to Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve .

The walk along Knockan Crag was a pleasant surprise. We discovered how continents collided millions of years ago and had a great circular walk atop the ancient crag.

At the start of the walk, there is a hut with lots of information about the oldest rocks in the world. The boards explain in detail the controversy of the 19th century when two Scottish geologists, Ben Peach and John Horne, discovered something wrong with the sequence of rocks here.

Their discovery that older rocks had moved on top of younger rocks due to tectonic action had significant impacts on the science of geology. This phenomenon had never been detected anywhere else in the world at that time.

The walk is easy but steep in places, with minimal visibility on a rainy day. We were lucky to see panoramic views at the summit just before the mist covered the site entirely.

As you explore, you'll also find many lovely stone art pieces and poems carved into the rocks and stones.

The ruin of Ardvreck Castle

As you join the A837 road at Ledmore towards Inchnadamph, take a moment to explore the ruins of the 16th Century Ardverk Castle, which was once owned by the Macleods of Assynt Clan.

Nearby, you'll also find the ruins of Calda House - once a lavish mansion it has remained a ruin since 1745.

White-sand Clachtoll Beach (detour)

Like many roads in the Scottish Highlands, the stunning single-track route from Lochinver to Clachtoll Beach is full of turns and twists as it winds through the rocks.

Clachtoll Beach is a lovely white-sand bay framed by beautiful black rocks that extend into the sea. It's a great spot for relaxing, paddle boarding or dipping your toes in the crystal-clear waters.

To access the parking lot for the beach, drive through the town and then through the campsite. During our visit, the latter was extremely busy.

Clashnessie Beach

Located a 10-minute drive northeast of Clachtoll Beach, Clashnessie Beach is another beautiful beach in the area.

Despite being situated close to the road, this beach is surrounded by stunning scenery. It’s broad, easily accessible, and has a small patch of land for parking.

Scenic B869 road alongside Clashnessie Bay

Scenic B869 Road, Scottish Highlands, NC500

If you're an experienced driver, the stone-walled road alongside Clashnessie Bay is a joy to navigate despite its narrowness and hairpin bends.

Most of the route is a one-track road, so be sure to keep left at passing places and watch out for charming sandy bays on your left (if going clockwise).

The detour drive from Clashnessie Bay to Balchrick (detour for Sandwood Bay) is breathtaking, even on a misty day.

It feels like passing through a mini-highlands or movie set with the deep green and brown-coloured rocks perfectly reflected in the mirror-like lakes.

Also, be sure to stop at the Drumberg Viewpoint for a beautiful sight of Eddrachillis Bay, Handa Island, and mainland Sutherland.

Sandwood Bay (detour)

To reach the unspoiled Sandwood Bay beach, start from Drumberg and head towards Balchrick. From there, you'll have to walk around four miles each way.

This one-mile-long, fine-sand beach is truly spectacular, framed by dunes and adorned with Am Buachaille, a sea stack in the distance.

However, if the weather is gloomy, be prepared for a mundane eight-mile round trip with rain drumming into your face and a hazy view of the beach. We came back soaking wet despite wearing waterproof gear.

Luckily, our van conversion was waiting patiently at the car park, and a hot cup of tea was the ultimate reward.

If you don't fancy sloshing through puddles in the rain, there are many other equally beautiful and easily accessible North Coast 500 beaches, so feel free to skip Sandwood Bay.

Durness - Wick

Day 8-10: durness - wick.

Starting with the Smoo Cave, the rest of the ride between Durness and Wick will be spectacular, with many high viewpoints along the North Coast 500 route.

If you are following our North Coast 500 itinerary, here are our top recommended places to visit:

Spooktacular Smoo Cave

From Balchrick , head towards Rhiconich and from there, join the A838 road to Durness . Smoo Cave is located on the main road and easily accessible from the car park.

Best of all, it's free of charge, just like many other incredible sites around this Scottish road trip.

Formed over thousands of years, Smoo Cave in Durness is well worth a visit. The cave's first chamber was carved out by the sea, and the second was carved by the river, which was dry during our visit.

Wooden steps lead down into the waterfall/lake chamber, but during heavy rains, the cave floods, and you might be unable to access it. However, you can still admire it from the top of the stairs.

Once inside the cave, take the wooden path into the waterfall chamber, but protect your camera. The den may greet you with a violent spray of water.

Unfortunately, boat tours were not available during our visit. We would have loved to see what's inside the cave further down.

Sadly, Colin, the main Smoo caver and tour operator, passed away in early 2019. You'll see a plaque tribute for him as you explore the information boards outside the cave.

Check out the official page for Smoo Cave to see if the tours are currently running.

Thrilling Golden Eagle Zipline

As soon as you leave the cave to continue your epic North Coast 500 adventure, there will be two fabulous and easily accessible beaches on your left-hand side.

The further one, Ceannabeinne Beach , features a zipline if you’re seeking thrills on your Scottish 500 route. You can show up and glide over the Atlantic at 40 mph with no booking required.

Cape Wrath - Scotland's most north westerly point (detour)

Cape Wrath is a significant detour on the NC500 route. The only way to access the peninsula is via the Cape Wrath Ferry, which is exclusively for foot passengers.

The journey across the Kyle of Durness takes around 10 minutes.

After crossing, a minibus service picks you up and provides a three-hour tour with commentary. Once you arrive at Cape Wrath, you'll have time to explore the area independently before boarding the bus for a return journey to the ferry terminal.

Due to the hazardous tide and often inclement weather, the ferry and bus service do not have a regular schedule. It's best to contact the minibus company first. Visit their website for more information.

Uninhabited Eilean Choraidh Island

There's no need to make a special detour to admire the view here. But you can always slow down and snap a few shots of Eilean Choraidh, a tiny island connected to the mainland by a causeway.

The causeway is surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Kyle of Tongue Bay and looks particularly beautiful on a clear day.

In the 19th century, the island was used for lime quarrying. The lime was then calcinated in a limekiln on the nearby peninsula.

Talmine Viewpoint (detour)

Just before the Kyle of Tongue bridge, you can take a quick detour to the Talmine Viewpoint. From here, you can enjoy a lovely view of the bridge.

Unfortunately, we missed the sign for the viewpoint and ended up going all the way up into the tiny village. However, it turned out to be lucky because we needed to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables.

Plus, there was a nice view of another bay from the village. As it goes, you're never short of bay views on the NC500 route.

Farr Beach near Bettyhill

Farr Beach, Bettyhill, Scotland, NC500

After our rainy eight-mile trek to Sandwood Bay, we swore off beaches. However, the sun shining made us change our minds and we found ourselves heading towards another one.

And we're so glad we did! Farr Beach is absolutely stunning, with the purple-colored River Naver flowing into the blue sea.

To get to Bettyhill, a small historic town, take the A836 road after crossing the Kyle of Tongue bridge. From here, you can reach the beach with a leisurely five-minute stroll across the fields.

Hallandale Inn - great lunch spot

Take a wee break and visit the Halladale Inn in Thurso. This lovely spot offers delicious food, cosy glamping pods, and ample space for camping and motorhomes.

During our visit, we enjoyed a filling lunch and even discovered a Route 500 sign, which is a replica of the iconic Route 66 in the United States. The sign made for a fun backdrop for photos.

Dunnet Head - the most northerly point of mainland Britain (detour)

Driving from Thurso, you can take several dramatic detours, starting with Dunnet Head, a peninsula on the north coast of Scotland.

To get there, drive northeast from Bettyhill via A836, then take a left turn onto the four-mile-long B855.

Dunnet Head is the most northerly point of mainland Britain and is home to puffins, razorbills (which we were lucky enough to spot), shags, and cormorants. On a clear day, you can even see the islands of Stroma, Hoy, and the Orkney Mainland.

Afterwards, wander up the hill from the lighthouse to investigate the bunker and other tiny huts built during World War II. The hill was used as a monitoring station, as it affords good visibility across the Pentland Firth.

John o' Groats - the end of the road (detour)

To reach John o' Groats , head east from Dunnet Head. While this stop may not offer any dramatic views, John o' Groats is an iconic landmark in Britain.

It signifies the longest distance (874 miles) between two extreme points in the country: Land's End in Cornwall to the southwest and John o' Groats to the northeast.

Charity walks or cycling challenges often begin or end at John o' Groats, with the end-to-end trail taking up to 14 days to complete. If you opt for off-road routes, however, the journey can take months to finish.‌

Jagged Stacks of Duncansby: a must-see on the North Coast 500 route (detour)

Thirle Door and the Stacks of Duncansby

Starting from John o' Groats, drive up to Duncansby Head. Although busier than other peninsulas on the road, it's worth the trip for the striking coastline.

Don't miss the path leading over the peninsula's highest point, which offers fantastic views of the Thirle Door and the Stacks of Duncansby.

While you can see the craggy rocks from further away, the most enjoyable part of Duncansby Head is a little further along. We highly recommend taking a short hike there.

A well-trodden path leads up to the summit, where you can see the breathtaking craggy sea stacks. You'll also get a great view of the Duncansby Head cliffs that broke away from the main peninsula.

Noss Head and the ghostly Sinclair Girnigoe (detour)

From Duncansby, you can drive directly to Wick along the A99 road, where you'll find Noss Head.

Nestled on a dramatic coastline, the 16th Century Castle Sinclair Girnigoe is the star attraction of this site. Be sure to carefully walk around the cliff to view the thrilling rocks beneath the castle.

Although the castle is currently undergoing renovations, a portion of it is open for visitors to wander around the atmospheric courtyard just across the windy bridge.

Visit during sunset or early morning to hear the wind howling between the walls. I felt chills when taking pictures early in the morning with no one else in sight. Maybe I wasn't alone after all?!?!?

Wick - Inverness

Day 11: wick - inverness.

After enjoying the dramatic coastline, you may want to visit some of the lesser-known sights before concluding the Scottish 500 route and heading straight to Inverness.

Here are some of the sights we discovered on the east coast of the NC 500:

330 Whaligoe Steps (detour)

About 10-15 minutes south of Wick, there is a quick detour to Whaligoe Steps on your left, just before Ulbster.

At the top of the stairs, there is a small car park and a sign leading you to the 330 steps descending into the harbour.

To the left of the steps, there is a bump on your right-hand side. If you are not afraid of heights, you can cross a narrow path to the summit of the bluff. From there, look to your left to discover a lovely waterfall rushing down the impressive rocks.

Take care when going up and down the steps, as they are steep, uneven, and cracked. Also, avoid holding onto the walls as they may be unsupported or recently repaired.

This is a small site maintained by a local chap who works hard to replace the dilapidated steps. Please be respectful and leave a small donation if possible.

Grey Cairns of Camster - Neolithic tombs (detour)

The next stop on our North Coast 500 itinerary is the Grey Cairns of Camster, intriguing Neolithic tombs that are duplicates of Scotland's oldest monuments, built over 5,000 years ago.

Despite their age, they are still fascinating to investigate and provide a lovely, peaceful site to explore on the NC500 route.

Like a true explorer, Charlie crawled into each of the three tombs through narrow passageways to explore the inside of the monuments, getting a bit muddy in the process.

To get there, look for a large brown sign for Cairns of Camster just past Camster, a quarter of a mile past Occumster. Turn right and drive on the road that feels like a Roman road for around 8-10 minutes until you see grey bumps in the grass.

Lybster's best crab rolls (detour)

Once a bustling herring fishing village, Lybster is now a sleepy harbour town. Although we did not plan to stop there, we were intrigued by the large brown heritage sign.

To visit Lybster, turn left off the main road, pass through the main town, and drive down the steep road into the harbour.

Down in the bay, you can park at the harbour and enjoy some of the best crab rolls on the North Coast 500 route. The ladies at Waterlines Cafe serve freshly prepared rolls with different fillings and delicious homemade cakes.

It's a great place to stop before continuing along the remaining east coast of the epic Scottish 500 route.

Dunrobin - a castle out of a fairytale

Dunrobin Castle, Scotland, NC500

Elevated so that you can enjoy the elaborate mansion from the gardens, Dunrobin Castle is the seat of the Clan Sutherland. Although the family still lives here, a large portion of the manor is open for exploration.

The garden is beautiful and is in full bloom in May, but it cannot quite compare to some of the stately homes in England. Nonetheless, it is still lovely to walk around the grounds, play cricket, and unwind after an adventurous 11-day road trip.

If you time your visit to this fairytale castle on a weekday morning, particularly on a Monday, you can enjoy it without too many crowds.

Close by, you can also explore the fantastic tidal Littleferry Beach, which is part of the Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve. The 15-minute drive along the road, hugged by Scotch pine trees, is just as lovely as the beach itself.‌‌

Clootie Well on Black Isle (detour)

After leaving Dunrobin Castle, cross the bridge into the Black Isle and head towards Inverness. To discover the unique site of Clootie Well, follow the A9 motorway for about an hour until you reach Munlochy village.

Clootie Well, also known as Cloth Well, is associated with ancient Scottish and Irish traditions dating back to pre-Christian times. It is a wishing well where pilgrims make offerings by leaving a piece of cloth for the water spirits.

The belief is that leaving a piece of clothing here will relieve the body of illnesses over time as the fabric disintegrates.

But there’s much more to explore on the Black Isle. From fishing villages to nature and wildlife, you may need an extra day on your North Coast 500 itinerary to see it all.

Urquhart Castle on the shores of Loch Ness

Nestled on the banks of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands, Urquhart Castle is a breathtaking fortress that has withstood the test of time.

Dating back to the 13th century, this historic landmark played a crucial role in Scotland's Wars of Independence.

Today, Urquhart Castle is a must-see destination for travellers from all over the world. With stunning views of Loch Ness and the surrounding mountains, it’s a true gem of Scotland and could make it a nice end or start to your Scottish road trip.

We chose the latter, but were too late to arrive as the castle had already closed for the day.

Wild camping on the North Coast: the best spots for campervans

Wild camping spots on the Scotland NC500 route

After completing our epic Scottish road trip in our campervan, we wanted to include some of our favourite camping spots for motorhomes in our North Coast 500 itinerary.

In clockwise order, these are our top wild camping spots where we stayed during our 11-day road trip. We loved some of the sites, such as Achnahaird Beach, so much that we stayed there for two nights.

Our top tip is to download an app called park4night and it will show you all the facilities and parking spots around the NC500 route.

Wild camping spots between Inverness and Applecross:

Bealach Na' Ba Pass: Driving through the pass is an unforgettable experience. If you want to make it even more memorable, consider sleeping atop Bealach Na' Ba if you’re travelling in a campervan or motorhome.

The viewing platform is perfect for an overnight stop, but make sure to pack warm pyjamas, as it can get cold at night, even in the summer. A hat will also come in handy for wandering the valley later in the day.

When we arrived, the valley was covered in thick mist. However, the weather cleared up around 9 pm, and we were able to witness the legendary valley in all its glory

Camping spots between Applecross and Ullapool

Red Point Beach: If you're not in a rush, consider wild camping here. During our stay, only a few families were camping on the beach, and two other campervans were parked beside us. It's a peaceful and lovely spot to spend the night.

If you're an early riser, leave the beach before 9 am to have the one-track road all to yourself. The countryside is beautiful and fresh in the morning light, making it a great opportunity for taking photos.

Broomfield Holiday Park in Ullapool: This was the only campsite on the North Coast 500 that we stayed at. It’s spacious and has showers, a washer, and a dryer, but it can get very busy. Great views over Lochbroom.

Wild camping spots between Ullapool and Durness

Achnahaird Beach: This is our top wild camping spot on the NC500 route. The car park is small, but if you can fit your campervan in, it's worth staying here for the night. The view of the bay, beach, and distant hills is magnificent.

We stayed here for two nights and found it peaceful. It was relatively quiet during the day as well. A hidden gem for sure, and worth the detour if you're after a good wild camping spot on the NC500.

Clashnessie Bay: There is a small car park across the road from Clashnessie Beach that can accommodate around four to six motorhomes for overnight parking.

However, we opted to continue driving further west along the scenic B869 road for about five minutes until we arrived at a small lake by the roadside.

We found a suitable patch of gravel land for overnight parking. Although it was busy during the day, the traffic died down at around 9 pm.

Sandalwood Bay: In case you run low on drinking water, there is a tap located behind the toilet block. Although we only stayed here briefly, the car park is suitable for wild camping in a motorhome or campervan.

Wild camping spots between Durness and Wick

Hollandale Inn: At the back of the pub, there is a camping and caravan/motorhome site, as well as glamping pods. You can check prices and availability on the website .

Achiriesgill and Keoldale (ferries for Cape Wrath): There are numerous wild camping spots between these two locations.

Dunnet Head: This is a popular nightspot for campervans on the NC500. It can get crowded and a little noisy with people coming and going, but it is generally quiet at night.

Noss Head: This is a great spot if you want to be the first or last to take a spooky wander around the Sinclair Girnigoe castle. The car park is less crowded than Dunnet’s Head, and has plenty of space for caravans and motorhomes.

Wild camping spots between Wick and Inverness

Littleferry Beach: This is the second-best spot for wild camping on the North Coast 500 route. The site is peaceful and offers superb walks and views. During our stay, only two other campervans were parked next to us.

We highly recommend staying here before visiting Dunrobin Castle if you want to beat the crowds and arrive as soon as it opens.

Clootie Well: If you are not easily spooked by nature spirits and need a place to stay for the night, consider camping in the woods beside the wishing well. Although dog walkers visit the area throughout the day, it is quiet at night.

Is the North Coast 500 worth it?

This is the ultimate question, and the answer is 100%: embarking on the North Coast 500 route is one of the best ways to experience the stunning scenery of the Scottish Highlands.

The route offers plenty of opportunities to see historic sites, wildlife, and breathtaking landscapes. Whether you're interested in hiking, photography, or simply taking in the scenery, we hope our North Coast 500 itinerary will help you plan your perfect trip.

You don't have to drive a campervan to follow this North Coast 500 itinerary. The route can be easily completed in a car; you simply need to arrange your accommodation. Use the search box below to find your ideal accommodation option.

is gruinard island safe to visit

  • Manage Account
  • Press and Journal ePaper
  • Evening Express ePaper

The Forbidden Isle of Gruinard: Chemical warfare on British soil

Daniel O'Donoghue

It is 30 years to the day since a government minister visited Britain’s ‘death island’ to declare it safe.

Life on this once-popular picnic spot and bird sanctuary less than a mile off the Scottish coast has never really returned to normal, however.

Bombed with anthrax during the Second World War as part of a top-secret biological weapons research programme, rendering it a no-go zone for 50 years, this is the story of Gruinard.

Hammered by the Blitz and on the retreat in the Far East, Britain’s future looked bleak in late 1941.

Surrounded by Nazi-occupied Europe and fearful of invasion, a desperate Winston Churchill turned not to military planners, but to the UK’s scientists for help.

Dr Paul Fildes, director of biology at the Ministry of Defence’s secretive Porton Down lab, was tasked with developing a biological agent to halt Hitler.

Operation Vegetarian was born.

After a few months of research and discussion, Dr Fildes and his team settled on an idea to use a virulent strain of bacillus anthracis – otherwise known as anthrax – against the German population.

In Dr Fildes’ view, given the serious infectious nature of the bacteria, particularly in animals, if Britain were to air drop “cattle cakes” stuffed with anthrax over Europe, the meat and dairy supply would be virtually eradicated and there would also likely be a mass outbreak among the human population – causing panic and it was hoped, a possible end to the war.

Excited by the idea, in 1942 British military authorities urgently wanted to put the plan to the test – but where and how?

The location

Aware anthrax was a highly infectious and deadly agent, the MoD needed a remote and sparsely populated location to test the plan.

Whitehall’s eyes scoured the map and eventually stopped on an obscure mile long island in northwest Scotland.

Gruinard, which lies just off the Wester Ross coast about halfway between Gairloch and Ullapool, was promptly surveyed by MoD planners in 1942.

They knew there was something going on or they wouldn’t have paid up quite as quick as they did.”

While the island may have been remote and lost the last of its human residents at the turn of the 20th Century, it remained a popular location with picnickers and resting fishermen at the time.

In a 1934 travel feature, published in the Press and Journal, the area was given a glowing review.

“Gruinard Bay beats them all, it is broad and northwards, the sea is gemmed with little isles, its coasts are infinite in their variety of bold high headlands, little fresh creeks and sandy shores.”

The island formed part of the sprawling Eilean Darach estate, which was bought in 1926 by Rosalynd Maitland. Upon her death some years later, ownership passed to her niece Molly Dunphie and husband Colonel Peter Dunphie – a close wartime confidant of Churchill.

The family were paid £500 by the MoD and the island was requisitioned.

With the method and location secured, a date was set for the experiment .

The experiment

In late 1942 a platoon of British troops and scientists rolled into Gruinard Bay, their mission – to test the viability of anthrax bombs.

Porton Down scientist Sir Oliver Graham Sutton was put in charge of the fifty-man team to conduct the trial, with fellow scientist David Henderson in charge of the germ bomb.

Footage of the experiment, declassified in 1997, shows soldiers loading sheep into a dinghy on the mainland and then rowing across to Gruniard.

Once ashore, the sheep were herded into an enclosure – described as the “exposure zone”.

I saw a cloud running above the earth coming towards these animals, they were tied up in a line.”

Soldiers, wearing respirators and protective clothing, can then be seen loading the “anthrax bomb” – gas canisters filled with spores – into a mortar to fire on the area.

In all, 22 bombs were fired onto the island by mortars and another, larger bomb was dropped from a Wellington bomber cruising above at 7,000 feet.

An eyewitness, speaking to the BBC 20 years later, said: “I saw a cloud running above the earth coming towards these animals, they were tied up in a line”. Before trailing off and shaking his head, the farmer said “anthrax”.

All 60 of the sheep rowed across to Gruinard died within a matter of days.

Wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who approved the use of Gruinard island as an anthrax testing ground.

After autopsy, several of the animals were destroyed in a makeshift incinerator on the island, but the majority were – according to many accounts – buried and then blown up with a 1,000lb of explosives.

The experiment was deemed a success and in secret Churchill ordered the production of five million contaminated cattle cakes.

As it was, events took over and by the time the cakes were ready, in 1944, they were deemed unnecessary and destroyed, but Gruinard remained.

The aftermath

Anthrax, the fifth plague of Egypt mentioned in the Book of Exodus, can stay in the ground for more than a thousand years.

Gruinard, coated in a highly contagious strain, thus became one of the most dangerous places on earth and was placed under a tight quarantine.

Metal signs in Gruinard Bay warned people to keep away from the island as it was government property, but given the top-secret nature of Operation Vegetarian the public were not made aware of the actual danger.

In the early years, Highlanders understood only that the island had been used by the MoD for some mystery experiment.

Rumours of poison spread quickly among locals however, after one of the sheep from the original experiment washed ashore.

It was almost used as something to frighten the kids with.”

Its carcass was set on by a farmer’s dog, which became violently ill. Shortly after several farm animals died with a mystery illness.

One local told the BBC in a 1962 report that government officials, based near Gruinard, had paid compensation “without any quibble.”

“They knew there was something going on or they wouldn’t have paid up quite as quick as they did,” the local said.

As the forties slipped into the fifties and Britain’s fear turned to nuclear war, Gruinard became something of a myth.

“There was a lot of folklore around about it”, Highlands MP Jamie Stone remembers.

Mr Stone, who was born 12 years after the operation, said: “It was almost used as something to frighten the kids with.

“I can remember being about 10 taking trips to Wester Ross with my family in the car, my old man would point at Gruinard and say that is the poisoned island and no one must ever set foot there, it’s got a deadly germ on it.

“It certainly sent a shiver down my spine!”

Over the next 40 years the island got occasional headlines if a fishing vessel strayed too close, but in reality it was largely forgotten.

The warning signs meant nothing to them. They hauled their boat ashore unpacked a picnic and spent the day fishing – unaware of the consternation on the mainland.”

“Towards the end of the 1970s two European backpackers, unable to read English, caused a minor storm when they decided to row to the island for a picnic.

A report in the Press and Journal from the time read: “Two holidaymakers – Peter Schultz from Germany and a Belgian, Paul Dewet – decided to row to Gruinard while on a fishing trip round the Scottish Islands.

“The warning signs meant nothing to them. They hauled their boat ashore unpacked a picnic and spent the day fishing – unaware of the consternation on the mainland.

“Police from a nearby Nato base had spotted them on Gruinard and when the pair rowed back they were puzzled to find a reception committee dressed like spacemen waiting for them.

“The tourists were stripped of all their clothes scrubbed in disinfectant from head to toe, all their possessions including their rubber dinghy were sent to Porton Down for tests.”

The unfortunate holidaymakers were allowed to continue their trip and told to contact a doctor if suffering from anthrax symptoms.

There was local anger around the same period after the island was placed on a long-list of potential sites to dump nuclear waste, but energy officials concluded the rock composition of Grunaird wasn’t suitable for the task.

The memory of Gruinard was about to resurface in a big way, however.

The terror cell

“Police probe Gruinard claim”, screamed a P&J headline in late 1981.

The story? A special task force had been set up to investigate claims that contaminated soil had been taken from Gruinard and posted to Porton Down.

A terror cell calling themselves the Dark Harvest Commandos took responsibility and in a letter to newspapers, claimed they had 300lbs of the soil ready to send to other targets.

Sure enough the group, thought to be made up of scientists and locals, posted soil to the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool in 1981 sparking a national panic and international story.

The group’s demand was a simple one: clean up Gruinard.

Dark Harvest Commandos removed anthrax spores from Gruinard Island.

Local opinion was divided, with many condemning the actions as irresponsible, but a few dissenting voices offered support.

A local businessman, John Macrae, told the P&J at the time: “It is a potential time-bomb.

“We have a living example of the Second World War still under our noses.

“It is very highly contaminated island; in fact, it is as contaminated today as the day the experiments were carried out.”

The police manhunt for the group never produced an arrest, but shortly after the incidents the government sent scientists to the island to examine the possibility of making Gruinard fit for animal and human habitation once more.

The clean-up of Gruinard Island

Government scientists and MoD officials had visited the island periodically to test the soil between 1943 and 1981 – always with the same result.

There was still a deadly amount of anthrax in the ground.

An MoD analysis in the mid-seventies concluded that any clean-up operation would run into the tens of millions of pounds and that it would be more cost effective to keep the island in quarantine.

After the Dark Harvest incidents, however, a new approach was taken and advances in technology meant the clean-up could be done for as a little as £500,000.

In 1986, 44 years after the bombing, a Leicestershire disinfectant firm arrived on the island.

Wearing full hazmat suits and respirators, the team first burned off vegetation in the “exposure zones” and then sprayed the ground with a combination of sea-water and formaldehyde.

The process was repeated a number of times to ensure the mixture had soaked deep into the soil.

A year later, a sample of the soil was collected and sent to Porton Down for tests.

The samples showed positive signs, but it would be another three years before the island was officially declared “safe”.

The return to ‘anthrax island’

On an overcast, rainy day in April 1990, junior defence minister Michael Neubert arrived at the Wester Ross coast. With him was a pack of expectant reporters and photographers.

Iain MacDonald, a retired BBC Scotland journalist, remembers the day well: “It was just totally surreal.

“Gruinard was a story I knew very well, because we’d spent quite some years trying to track down the people involved in Dark Harvest.

“Now here we all were on a boat heading across.

While we cannot say there is absolutely none, we can offer the assurance that we can find none.”

“The experts claimed it was completely safe but you don’t ever know for sure, perhaps that was why Neubert didn’t look particularly enthusiastic about his mission, or maybe it was the miserable weather.

“Whatever the reason, I remember feeling nervous about going across in that boat.”

Those assembled were right to be nervous, for the then-Portdon Down director Dr Graham Pearson’s reassurances were less than cast iron.

“We cannot sample every square centimetre of the island, but we are very confident that in the area of the island where there were anthrax spores we have killed them.

“While we cannot say there is absolutely none, we can offer the assurance that we can find none.”

In the event, Neubert did survive the picture opportunity, but didn’t survive a reshuffle just two months later when Margaret Thatcher unceremoniously dumped him.

After the island was given a clean bill of health, it was sold – as per the agreement signed in 1942 – back to the original owners for the same price, a mere £500.

Col Dunphie, then 83, reflected to the Press and Journal: “The family were being helpful in time of war in agreeing to let them experiment on Gruinard – although we couldn’t have stopped them, anyway.

“I’m only baffled and sorry that, for such terrible experiments, they chose Gruinard, so near to the mainland and not one of the islands 20 or 40 miles out to sea.”

He spoke of his ambition to visit the island once more, but said: “This time around Gruinard will be a place rather full of ghosts for me, because all the people I used to go with are no longer with us”.

In the years since the island was declared safe, it was portioned off from the Eilean Darach estate and sold to a mystery buyer in the nineties.

Nowadays it draws the occasional “dark tourist” – those who enjoy visiting places marred by death and tragedy and it remains a point of fascination on internet forums and blogs.

The story of the now-barren island should, however, as so many have argued down the decades, serve as a permanent reminder of the evils of chemical and biological warfare.

is gruinard island safe to visit

Gruinard Island

The island used for British biological weapon tests – AKA Anthrax Island

Gruinard Island, in Gruinard Bay , lies by the north Minch, just 1km off the north-western coast of the Scottish mainland. This small oval-shaped island is just 2 kilometres long and a kilometre wide. Treeless, cold and windswept, the island’s population fell to zero in the 1920s.

Eyes turned to this isolated and abandoned island in the middle of World War II. Fearing biological warfare from the Axis alliance, Britain and their allies began plans to experiment with lethal biological weapons, namely one of the best-known bioagents, Anthrax.

Tests needed to be performed to demonstrate to Winston Churchill that Anthrax might hold the required level of lethality for the British to use. The British decided early on that they would only use a biological weapon in response to Germany using one first, which thankfully never happened. This fear had been driven by the knowledge that several foreign nations were involved in research into germ warfare in the 1930s, including the Axis country Japan. The Japanese Army tested Anthrax on thousands of prisoners during the second Sino-Japanese War, resulting in the death of most.

What is Anthrax?

Anthrax is one of the most feared biological agents known, capable of causing swift death within 48 hours if left untreated. It is a bacteria, Bacillus anthracis, that is highly resilient and will survive environmental extremes of heat or cold. Whilst ingestion of Anthrax spores is dangerous enough, inhalation of the spores has a death rate of up to 80%, even with medical assistance.

Anthrax presents initially as flu-like symptoms that rapidly results in an accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity, leading to fever, coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain and death. To be infected with Anthrax a person needs to come into direct contact with spores through a cut, ingestion or inhalation, and it does not transmit from person to person as a virus could.

Anthrax as a Weapon

With the dangers of Anthrax testing obvious, the question that remained was to what extent it could be weaponised against an enemy. A test site needed to be chosen that was close enough to Britain that it could be used for testing and then easily monitored, easy to quarantine and have a low risk of intruders venturing upon the area. Gruinard island, with its zero population, was ideal. The surrounding population on the mainland was relatively low and the island was far enough away from the mainland to prevent spores from blowing across the water. Any attempt to visit the island would be deliberate and warning signs would attempt to warn off such intrusions. The land was purchased from its previous owners for £500 and testing began.

In 1942, some 60-80 sheep were taken to the island and tied to specific locations to ensure they were in the path of the Anthrax once released. Anthrax filled bombs were exploded up-wind of the sheep. Footage, declassified in 1997, shows that after the detonations, a smoky cloud of spores drifts across the unlucky test animals, who were then monitored for exposure.

For the first few days, nothing appeared to be happening, then one by one the animals began to tremble and stagger. Blood began to ooze from their bodies shortly before death.

The results convinced the Allies that an effective anti-personnel bomb could be produced.

Containing the Experiment

Keeping the Anthrax contained to Gruinard Island was always a priority. As the sheep died, their carcases were gathered at the base of a cliff with explosives. The plan had been to bring down the cliff face, thereby burying the infected sheep, but this went wrong and several bodies were blown into the water and lost as they floated away.

Stories began to emerge of dead sheep washing ashore and in 1943 reports of an outbreak of dying animals resulted in the British government blaming Greek freighters for pushing infected animals overboard, and reimbursed livestock owners on behalf of the Greek government for their dead animals. Whether these deaths were due to Anthrax is not officially recorded anywhere, and we do not know if the outbreak occurred as a result of spores carried on the wind the short 1km distance to the mainland, or from Anthrax travelling on infected dead bodies. Regardless, the tests stopped in 1943, giving credence to the idea that these were halted due to the problems of containment.

More…

is gruinard island safe to visit

Operation Vegetarian

British scientists concluded that the plan was a success and they had the source of a biological weapon capable of wiping out large sections of the German population but it would also leave cities uninhabitable for decades to come. Instead of releasing spores over the cities, a plan was hatched to infect German cattle. Anthrax infected linseed cakes would be dropped over German fields to be eaten by cows and enter the food chain. Upon consumption by the unsuspecting German public, infecting and killing millions. The German food chain would have been devastated and a massive food shortage would have ensued.

Thankfully, despite all the horrors of the second world war, no one decided to open the Pandoras Box of Bioweapons. The decision to use these cakes never came to pass and 5 million of them were destroyed in an incinerator at the end of the war.

Operation Dark Harvest

Monitoring over the following decades showed that Gruinard Island remained infected with Anthrax, which refused to die. Apart from occasional trips by researchers, the island remained off-limits. Mainlanders living around the bay warned their children of the dangers of ever visiting the island, telling them it was infected with poison.

By 1971, scientists had established that the spores were no longer on the surface of the island, presumably from being blown away, but they had penetrated to a depth of about 6 inches. The presumption was that they would be harmless unless disturbed. The government continued to place signs warning of the dangers of stepping foot on the island but did little else.

This remained the status quo until in 1981 UK newspapers began receiving messages from a group calling itself the Dark Harvest Commando, that threatened to release packages of contaminated soil unless the government took steps to decontaminate the island. They claimed to have liberated 300 lb (140 kg) of contaminated soil from the island with the aid of a team of microbiologists from two Scottish Universities.

The first soil package was left outside the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down. Porton Down had been instrumental in the deployment of the Anthrax and was equipped to handle such a situation. Bacillus anthracis was found in the soil sample.

A second sample was left in Blackpool at a time when the ruling Conservative Party was holding its annual conference. Whilst this soil sample was confirmed to be similar to the soil type found on the island, no Bacillus anthracis or Anthrax was found.

The Clean-up

It seems that the powers-that-be were swayed by these demands, and a concerted clean-up effort began in 1986. After over 40 years of being uninhabitable, an English company was brought in to spray the entire island with 280 tonnes of formaldehyde. The worst contaminated topsoil was removed from around the original dispersal sites. Finally, a flock of sheep were released on the island to help monitor for any exposure. To date, no ill effects have been observed in the sheep.

On April 24 th 1990, junior defence minister Michael Neuburt visited the island, rather unenthusiastically as noted by several journalists, to announce that it was safe to return to the island. Shortly after, the island was repurchased by the heirs for the same £500 their family had been paid for it almost 50 years before.

is gruinard island safe to visit

The Scottish ‘Anthrax Island’ poisoned by the government

There is little life on the Scottish island of Gruinard - which was known for years as the Island of Death. Even today, there are seldom any visitors to the isle apart from perhaps the odd curious kayaker lapping at its shores or a fisherman collecting a stranded buoy...

is gruinard island safe to visit

Britain's 'Anthrax Island'

The island was quarantined for 48 years. Anthrax is one of the best known agents of biological warfare - and possibly one of the most feared...

is gruinard island safe to visit

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Gruinard Bay

Rocky coves and pink sands characterise the Gruinard Bay beaches, with spectacular views and scenery.

Gruinard Bay has three stunning, pink sand beaches from the Torridon rocks. From Gruinard Bay there are wonderful views across island studded waters to the Coigach Hills.  The area is very interesting from a geological viewpoint and many unusual stones can be found near the rocks and shoreline. The beach offers spectacular views of An Teallach and the northern Highlands.

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Only For the Bravest: The Most Dangerous Islands Around the World

Islands are usually associated with sunny vacations, sunbathing, and delicious cocktails. However, not all of them are the epitome of a tropical paradise. Some of them are a lot more sinister. That’s why visiting some of these dangerous islands is illegal, and if you still decide to give it a try, chances are that you will regret the fact that you did. Here are some of the most dangerous islands worldwide that only the bravest dare to visit.

North Sentinel Island

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Part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India, North Sentinel Island is a secluded and inaccessible island in the Bay of Bengal. The island is home to the Sentinelese, an indigenous tribe that has a long history of blocking interactions with the rest of the world, making it one of the most dangerous islands. They have a reputation for being very protective of their island and for attacking anyone who comes too close.

There is relatively little information available regarding their language, habits, and traditions because of their remoteness and little interaction with the rest of the globe. Access to North Sentinel Island is severely forbidden, as the Indian government has declared the island and the waters surrounding it to be a restricted area. This is not only to protect the Sentinelese people’s way of life, but also curious tourists who don’t know what they are getting themselves into.

Gruinard Island

Just off Scotland’s northwest coast lies a little island called Gruinard. In 1942, the British government carried out several rounds of experiments on Gruinard Island to evaluate the efficacy of anthrax as a weapon of mass destruction. The island was highly contaminated as a result of the testing, which featured the release of anthrax spores. Because of the extreme contamination, it was decided that it was risky for anyone to live on the island.

The British government didn’t start a decontamination efforts to restore safety to the island until 1986. Intense cleaning efforts and the use of chemicals were part of the process. After a long period of decontamination, Gruinard Island was marked as safe in 1990. And even though it’s safe to visit today, many people still consider it to be the “Anthrax Island”.

Ilha de Queimada Grande (Snake Island)

Snake Island, or Ilha de Queimada Grande, is a small island off the coast of Brazil. One of the deadliest snakes in the world, the Golden Lancehead Viper , is among the remarkably high density of poisonous snakes that call it home. Nowhere else in the world can you find the Golden Lancehead Viper except on Ilha de Queimada Grande, where it is native.

Because of the island’s seclusion and lack of natural predators, the snake population has grown dramatically. There is thought to be one snake on the island for every square meter. The Brazilian government has made entrance to Ilha de Queimada Grande severely forbidden due to the risk the snakes pose.

Poveglia Island

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Poveglia Island is situated in Italy’s Venetian Lagoon. The island is renowned for being among the most eerie locations on Earth. It was formerly a plague victim’s quarantine facility before being converted into a psychiatric institution. In the fourteenth century, Poveglia Island was used as a quarantine location for people infected with the bubonic plague.

It is said that dozens of individuals died on the island over this period in history. In the 20th century, a mental asylum was set up on the island, further adding to its dark history. It is believed to be haunted by the souls of those who suffered and died on the island. Today, Poveglia Island has been abandoned and restricted to the general public.

is gruinard island safe to visit

Kanita Bajrami

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Gruinard Island — Its sinister past keeps people away

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Gruinard Island is but a row boat’s trip from the mainland, and years ago, was a popular place for families to enjoy picnics during Scotland’s fine summer weather. It is a small, oval-shaped island, about 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) long by 1.0 kilometer (0.62 mi) wide, located in Guinard Bay , halfway between Gairloch and Ullapool.

Today, the 520-acre island is deserted, save for the occasional rabbit or seabird. But that is because, after 1942, the island became one of the most controversial and talked about places in Scotland. To understand the significance of this seemingly insignificant island, we have to go back to World War II and Britain in 1940.

Gruinard Island in Guinard Bay.

WW II London It was the height of WW II, and Britain had managed to survive the London Blitz. The government was becoming very worried about the unrelenting Luftwaffe bombings. When would they start dropping some sort of chemical bombs on London? The government was becoming desperate to find a weapon they could deploy first, regardless of the consequences .

Winston Churchill was well aware that intelligence had been received showing the Axis powers were pursuing research in developing germ warfare, and he wanted to have a similar weapon ready as a deterrent in case the Nazis decided to use such a weapon first. The British War Cabinet authorized an investigation to be carried out to determine the feasibility of such a weapon. The British referred to it as the N-Bomb.

is gruinard island safe to visit

Biology Department, Porton (BDP) Porton Down was a British wartime think tank made up of top military scientists who investigated the feasibility of using anthrax as a biological or germ warfare weapon. Anthrax is a deadly bacillus that can kill via skin contact, inhalation or ingestion. They came up with a plan to explode bombs containing anthrax and then let the airborne pathogen destroy every living thing it came in contact with.

They figured that not only would the anthrax bacillus destroy every living thing, but it would contaminate the area where the bombs were detonated for decades. In order to test their theory, Gruinard Island was chosen because it was small and uninhabited. After a survey of the island, the British government seized it from its heirs.

The anthrax strain chosen for the testing was a very virulent form of the bacillus called “Vollum 14578,” named for R. L. Vollum, Professor of Bacteriology at the University of Oxford, who supplied it. To make a long story short, 80 sheep were taken to the island and bombs loaded with anthrax were exploded close to where they were tied up.

Gruinaard Island Anthrax Trials.

Scientists learned two things about using anthrax as a biological weapon. First, death comes swiftly and horribly. Within days, sheep lay dead. A 16 mm. color film of the experiment was filmed and kept classified until 1997 when it was released to the public sector. It is very graphic.

So the scientists learned the bacillus killed quickly, but the second thing they learned is exactly why the island remained uninhabitable for 48 years. Anthrax is extremely hardy and the spores remain viable for years. When scientists went to decontaminate the island after two years of experiments, they discovered their efforts were fruitless. The island was contaminated and no one knew exactly how long it would take before it could be rendered safe.

Then there was the problem of disposing of the sheep carcasses. The sheep were buried under tons of rock, and that should have been safe, but a storm dislodged one of the carcasses and it floated to the mainland where several farm animals died of anthrax. As we have learned recently with the reindeer carcass in Siberia, anthrax can survive for a heck of a long time.

Postwar Gruinard Island Between 1947 and 1968, Gruinard Island was visited once a year by staff from the Microbiological Research Establishment (MRE) at Porton Down, to collect soil samples for assay, and to check on the warning signs posted near the shore. No reduction in the level of contamination was found over that period.

Then, in 1981, the world saw its first example of “environmental terrorism.” A group calling itself Operation Dark Harvest sent letters to local newspapers warning that they would leave soil samples from Gruinard Island “at appropriate points that will ensure the rapid loss of indifference of the government and the equally rapid education of the general public” about the goings-on on the island. Two packets of soil were left at governmental locations, and that act opened the public’s eyes.

is gruinard island safe to visit

In 1986, the island was finally decontaminated using 280 tons of formaldehyde diluted with seawater and sprayed over the entire surface of the island. The worst of the contaminated topsoil was removed and only heaven knows where it was taken. But repeat testing in 1987 showed the decontamination to be successful save for a few small areas that needed to be treated again.

On April 24, 1990, Gruinard Island was declared to be anthrax-free. But Dr. Brian Moffat, archaeological director of an excavation of a medieval hospital near Edinburgh at the time, scoffed at the idea the island was safe. He said his team had encountered anthrax that had survived being buried for hundreds of years.

Dr. Moffat was quoted by the BBC as telling the Glasgow Herald in 1990, “I would not go walking on Gruinard. If anthrax is still active at Soutra, there is no reason to suppose it has not survived on more recent sites. It is a very resilient and deadly bacterium.”

Needless to say, no one goes to Gruinard Island, even today.

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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

is gruinard island safe to visit

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9 Forbidden Islands No One Is Allowed To Visit

T he allure of uncharted territories and the mystique of untouched lands have always beckoned the intrepid traveler . While the world is more accessible than ever, there are still places with no-entry signs. These forbidden islands, often due to isolation, ecological sensitivity, or government restrictions, remain elusive gems on the map.

North Sentinel Island: The Last Frontier of Isolation

Deep within the azure waters of the Bay of Bengal, North Sentinel Island rests, cloaked in obscurity. This forbidden island is home to the Sentinelese people, one of the last remaining uncontacted tribes. Their fierce rejection of any outside intrusion has led to the island’s “no-entry” status. The Indian government enforces a strict no-visit policy to protect both the island’s indigenous inhabitants and unwelcome visitors.

Bouvet Island: The Icy Enigma of the South Atlantic

If you’re seeking the utmost isolation, Bouvet Island beckons, floating in the Atlantic Ocean. Despite its remote location, this uninhabited, ice-bound land remains an enigma. Harsh, unforgiving weather conditions and a lack of safe anchorages make it nearly inaccessible. Located nearly 1,600 miles from any other landmass, Bouvet Island is a haven for wildlife, including seabirds and seals. Strict environmental protections render this inaccessible realm a vital, untouched laboratory for scientific research.

Snake Island: Where Serpents Rule Supreme

Off the coast of Brazil, Ilha da Queimada Grande, or Snake Island, is dominated by one of the world’s most venomous snakes, the Golden Lancehead Viper. The snakes, found nowhere else on Earth, have turned this island into their kingdom. Government restrictions limit human visitation to scientific research and tightly controlled visits.

Surtsey: Iceland’s Newborn Isle of Fire

In 1963, the Earth’s fiery forces birthed a new island, Surtsey, off the coast of Iceland. It’s an ongoing experiment in ecological succession. As such, it remains closed to public entry. Scientific research dominates here, with efforts to better understand how life colonizes barren land. The island remains pristine, serving as a testament to nature’s relentless drive to reclaim.

Gruinard Island: Scotland’s Lethal Legacy

Off the Scottish coast, Gruinard Island carries a dark legacy. During World War II, it became a testing ground for anthrax as a biological weapon. The island was decontaminated in the 1980s. However, although no longer a threat, Gruinard remains off-limits. Contaminated soil is now buried beneath new soil layers. The island’s ecosystems are slowly recovering, but the no-entry sign stands as a reminder of its perilous history.

Ni’ihau: Hawaii’s Forbidden Paradise

Just off the coast of Kauai, Ni’ihau is often called “Hawaii’s Forbidden Island.” Owned by a single family, the Robinsons, for over a century, access is granted solely to its residents and military personnel. A policy of restricted tourism aims to preserve the island’s beauty, unique flora and fauna, and Hawaiian traditions. In the spirit of preservation, Ni’ihau is a refuge where modernity takes a back seat to tradition and conservation.

The Andaman Islands: A Restricted Archipelago

The Andaman Islands, an Indian archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, remain partially restricted. While some are open to tourists, others, like the North Sentinel Island, remain no-go zones to protect the indigenous tribes residing there. Government policies aim to preserve the tribes’ way of life and safeguard their delicate ecosystems. For travelers, the Andamans offer both accessibility and a profound respect for the boundaries that protect these unique cultures and environments.

Heard Island: A Volcanic Wonderland

In the southern Indian Ocean, Heard Island is an untamed and desolate paradise for nature lovers. The island boasts a massive volcano and unique ecosystems. However, this volcanic wonderland is off-limits to visitors, as access is impractical, and environmental fragility necessitates strict conservation measures.

Faroe Islands: A Sovereign Paradise

The Faroe Islands, a self-governing territory of Denmark, cherish their autonomy and preserve their landscapes with deliberate measures. While travelers are welcome, sensitive areas, like bird nesting sites, are protected by no-entry zones. The Faroes offer a harmonious blend of accessibility and conservation, where the rules protect the environment without isolating the islands from the world.

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Blog Around The World

5 Illegal Islands for visiting

Islands That Are Illegal to Visit: Secrets of Forbidden Lands

While travelling is a great stress-buster, you should be very careful about choosing the destinations that you want to visit. Especially when considering islands that are illegal to visit. With their tranquillity and natural extravagance, the islands are preferred by people who love to enjoy a quiet and romantic vacation with their loved ones.

However, did you know there are certain islands in the world that you cannot visit because it is too dangerous? You aren’t allowed to enter into these. If you want to come back safe & sound from your trip, you should never plan to visit these islands:

1. Gruinard Island: The Anthrax Island That’s Illegal to Visit

Located in the Scottish Highlands , the Gruinard Islands is completely deserted today as it is considered for humans; during the Second World War, the Scottish Government used this island as the testing ground for experimenting with its dangerous anthrax bombs. The entire landscape of the island got contaminated with toxic anthrax because of these tests.

It was almost 1990 when the Government declared that the island was safe for humans again. Formaldehyde was used for flushing out all the effects of anthrax, and the island was claimed to be free of any toxic elements. However, people aren’t ready to believe this fact even today. That’s why you will never spot any human movement on this island. Although it may seem serene from the outside, Gruinard Island in Scotland remains one of the islands that are illegal to visit due to its potential health risks. Keep this out of your travel plan, ever!

2. North Sentinel Island: The Forbidden Island in the Andaman

North Sentinel Island is a part of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal . As the name suggests, this island is the abode of the Sentinelese tribe, a group that guards its privacy the most. This island is considered one of the last-standing homes of this tribe, which makes these people extra-protective and possessive about their homeland. Humans aren’t allowed to enter this island at any cost. There have been multiple incidents where humans tried to enter the island discreetly.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t escape the eyes of the tribal people, and they were killed instantly. On this island, the tribal people lead a very mysterious lifestyle. They know nothing about modern civilization and aren’t open to communication. They want to live in privacy without being disturbed by unnecessary trespassers. The Indian Government respects their privacy to date and requests everyone not to interfere or enter North Sentinel Island, ever.

3. Macquarie Island: An Ecological Treasure Among Islands That Are Illegal to Visit

Located in a remote location, off the coast of New Zealand and almost half the way to Antarctica, the Macquarie Island in Tasmania is protected. The Government of Tasmania ensures that this place is well-protected against damage from external people. This is why this island has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Government also ensures that only 40 people can stay and live on these islands at any given time to ensure the island’s privacy and beauty.

What’s so special about this island that it needs protection from humankind? You may never come back alive when you come to this island because this place is replete with dangerous creatures such as sharks, giant crocodiles, and very poisonous spiders. Do you ever think you can co-exist with these creatures giving you company during your vacation?

4. Snake Island: The Dangerously Isolated Island That’s Off-Limits

Located in Brazil, this island is where only qualified researchers are allowed entry. Even these researchers should show the proper documents that would convince the authorities to allow them access to this dangerous island. Why is it dangerous? The name of the island is a giveaway, though! Originally known as the Ilha da Queimada Grande , this island came to be known as the Snake Island because of the large number of snakes found here.

Visitors are not allowed to enter this island because this is the abode of a rare type of snake, the Golden Lancehead . This species is considered critically endangered; therefore, this is the only place in the world where you can find them. They made this place their home many years ago when the sea levels rose tremendously, cutting off this island from the rest of the world. This place’s unique climate and habitat are ideal for the golden lanceheads.

Their venom is way more potent than those of the other snakes. The scarier fact than this is that you will find one golden lancehead for every square on the island. Since these deadly snakes are arboreal, they are mostly found on the trees, hunting birds. Due to this island’s many venomous snakes, visitors are banned from entering, except in a few rare cases (for research purposes).

5. Izu Islands: Toxic Volcanic Islands That Are Illegal to Visit

You can enter the Izu Islands in Japan only with a gas mask. That’s how dangerously contaminated this place is! Located towards the south of Tokyo, the Izu Islands have a lot of sulphur-emitting volcanoes, which are very toxic for you. The Miyake-Jima, in particular, is the most dangerous island in the Izu group because it contains an active volcano that regularly spews a large amount of toxic sulphur.

You could hear the news about the volcanoes erupting frequently on these islands, resulting in the place being evacuated entirely in 2000. By 2005, the Government had reduced the toxic emission of the volcanoes to a considerable extent. Humans were allowed back inside these islands only if they wore a gas mask! In short, you are not permitted inside the islands if you don’t have a gas mask.

Predicting when a volcano will erupt and release toxic sulfur on these islands is impossible. That’s why a gas mask is essential as an emergency precaution. No one wants to be in a situation where they can’t breathe easily.

It’s important to note that several islands worldwide are off-limits to tourists for various reasons, such as environmental concerns, political instability, or uncontacted populations. Some of these, known as islands that are illegal to visit, are so remote and isolated that they have remained untouched by modern civilization and are considered among the last unspoiled places on Earth.

However, it’s crucial to respect the laws and regulations surrounding these islands, as they are put in place to protect both the islands and their inhabitants. Visiting these islands without proper authorization puts you at risk of legal consequences and endangers the delicate ecosystems and cultures that thrive on these islands.

In short, while exploring the mysteries of these forbidden islands may be tempting, it’s crucial to prioritize safety and respect for the laws in place. Doing so can help preserve our world’s unique and valuable parts for future generations.

Gruinard Island, located in the Scottish Highlands, is considered dangerous due to its history as a testing ground for anthrax bombs during World War II. Though the island was declared safe for human habitation in 1990, many still believe it is contaminated with toxic elements.

North Sentinel Island is home to the Sentinelese tribe, which highly values privacy. Attempts to intrude on their land have often resulted in fatalities. The Indian Government, respecting their privacy, has made it illegal to visit this island.

Macquarie Island, located between New Zealand and Antarctica, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s strictly regulated to protect the local environment, limiting the number of people staying on the island. It is also known for its dangerous fauna, including sharks, giant crocodiles, and poisonous spiders.

Snake Island, or Ilha da Queimada Grande, is home to the critically endangered Golden Lancehead snakes. Due to the danger, they pose and the importance of their conservation, only qualified researchers with proper documentation are permitted to visit the island.

The Izu Islands are known for their sulfur-emitting volcanoes, especially on the island of Miyake-Jima. The toxic sulfur levels are so high that visitors must wear gas masks.

Due to the associated risks and regulations, it is advised not to plan visits to these islands. While adventure is a crucial aspect of travel, personal safety should always be a priority.

Read more about islands to travel to:

  • List Of The Most Quiet Islands In Thailand
  • The Most Popular Islands In Greece
  • Best Islands For You To Visit On Your Next Vacation

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Gruinard Island, Scotland

Gruinard Island, Scotland

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IMAGES

  1. Gruinard Island Loch Broom

    is gruinard island safe to visit

  2. Gruinard Island

    is gruinard island safe to visit

  3. Gruinard Island

    is gruinard island safe to visit

  4. Gruinard Island

    is gruinard island safe to visit

  5. Gruinard Island Loch Broom

    is gruinard island safe to visit

  6. Gruinard Island Loch Broom

    is gruinard island safe to visit

VIDEO

  1. Familie landet auf verseuchter Insel

  2. An island near Cape Grim

  3. sea-fishing Gruinard Bay on our NC500 road trip 2020

  4. Illegal Island You CAN'T Visit 🏝️

  5. 'Anthrax Island' site of germ warfare experiments engulfed by wildfire

  6. Gruinard Island: Warfare, Sheep, Terrorists and Fire

COMMENTS

  1. Gruinard Island

    Gruinard Island (/ ˈ ɡ r ɪ n j ər d / GRIN ... and so could not be de-requisitioned until it was deemed safe. In 1946, the government agreed to acquire the island and to take responsibility for it. ... is a fictionalised account of two British scientists' visit to an island in Scotland where the government plans to test anthrax inspired by ...

  2. The mystery of Anthrax Island and the seeds of death

    The Mystery of Anthrax Island is told in a new BBC Scotland documentary. Gruinard had long been uninhabited when World War Two led to an influx of soldiers to the north west Highlands to carry out ...

  3. Gruinard Bay: A Perfect Beach Pit Stop On The NC500

    So, can you visit Gruinard Island and is Gruinard Island safe? Well, yes, the island is now safe. 'Operation Dark Harvest', which involved demands on the government to decontaminate the island at last, involved spraying a seawater-diluted formaldehyde solution over the entire island, as well as removing the entire top layer of soil in 1986.

  4. GRUINARD BAY: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

    Hotels near Gruinard Bay: (1.69 mi) An Cois Na Mara Bed and Breakfast (1.69 mi) Love Croft Guest House (1.73 mi) Mayar Bhan luxury self catering home in Gruinard Bay, Gairloch, Wester Ross (5.15 mi) Shore Croft (1.47 mi) Ocean View Hotel; View all hotels near Gruinard Bay on Tripadvisor

  5. Gruinard Island Loch Broom

    On 1 May 1990, the island was repurchased by the heirs of the original owner for the original sale price of £500. Happier days for Gruinard. My visit to Gruinard was at the end of a fast sail from Ullapool. The island is not blessed with any great anchorages. Consequently Gruinard is only accessible for short visits on reasonably calm days.

  6. Gruinard Island

    In 1986, the government began cleaning up Gruinard Island by spraying down the entire place with a solution of formaldehyde and seawater. As of 1990 the island was declared "safe" and, in 1997 ...

  7. Gruinard Island

    Eventually, the island would be cleaned up and it is now a safe spot to visit - if you can get there. ... In Gairloch Museum, you can find further details on Gruinard Island and can even see a real example of one of the signs posted on both the island and the mainland shores facing the island warning people away. If you look at the date in the ...

  8. Gruinard Bay

    Truly amazing views and golden sands. Gruinard Bay lies north of Gairloch and Poolewe on the road to Ullapool and is a truly wonderful place to stop and enjoy the views and surroundings. The main beach is of golden sand and when the tide is out you can walk a long way down to the water.

  9. Gruinard Island: Fire on island used for Anthrax experiments

    An uninhabited Scottish island where government scientists once conducted experiments with Anthrax has been hit by a fire. People who saw the fire on Gruinard Island from the mainland described ...

  10. North Coast 500 itinerary: Scotland's most epic road trip

    They filled bombs with the Bacillus Anthracis bacteria and dropped them on Gruinard Island to check if they could contaminate cities in Germany. Although the government started the cleaning process in 1986 and declared the island safe to visit in 1990, it's still uncertain whether it's entirely safe to visit.

  11. Gruinard Island: Tale of anthrax and chemical warfare on British soil

    April 24, 2020, 8:00 am. Gruinard Island was used as a testing ground for anthrax in the 1950s. It is 30 years to the day since a government minister visited Britain's 'death island' to ...

  12. Gruinard Island

    Gruinard Island, in Gruinard Bay, lies by the north Minch, just 1km off the north-western coast of the Scottish mainland. This small oval-shaped island is just 2 kilometres long and a kilometre wide. ... Any attempt to visit the island would be deliberate and warning signs would attempt to warn off such intrusions. The land was purchased from ...

  13. Gruinard Bay, Gruinard Bay

    Gruinard Bay has three stunning, pink sand beaches from the Torridon rocks. From Gruinard Bay there are wonderful views across island studded waters to the Coigach Hills. The area is very interesting from a geological viewpoint and many unusual stones can be found near the rocks and shoreline. The beach offers spectacular views of An Teallach ...

  14. Only For the Bravest: The Most Dangerous Islands Around the World

    After a long period of decontamination, Gruinard Island was marked as safe in 1990. And even though it's safe to visit today, many people still consider it to be the "Anthrax Island". Ilha de Queimada Grande (Snake Island) Snake Island, or Ilha de Queimada Grande, is a small island off the coast of Brazil.

  15. Secret Scotland

    American visit 2001. Gruinard Island was eventually decontaminated with 280 tons of formaldehyde solution and declared safe in the 1990's. In 2001, Inside Edition sent me to Gruinard Island after the anthrax attacks in America to see if any of the hearty anthrax spores may have survived. We wore HAZMAT suits and full-face respirator masks.

  16. Gruinard Island

    Grade A. Gruinard Island's dark history is hard to believe when the bay in which it sits provides such incredible surroundings. Gruinard Bay has stunning beaches and coastlines, along with a wealth of wildlife including some resident sea eagles. The island itself offers interesting cliffs and expansive views, helping its unbelievable story ...

  17. Gruinard Island

    August 21, 2016. Gruinard Island is but a row boat's trip from the mainland, and years ago, was a popular place for families to enjoy picnics during Scotland's fine summer weather. It is a ...

  18. 9 Forbidden Islands No One Is Allowed To Visit

    Off the Scottish coast, Gruinard Island carries a dark legacy. During World War II, it became a testing ground for anthrax as a biological weapon. The island was decontaminated in the 1980s.

  19. Atlas Obscura's Guide to Islands You Never Want to Visit

    In 1986 the government began cleaning up Gruinard Island by spraying down the entire place with a formaldehyde solution. As of 1990 the island was declared "safe" and in 1997 the history of ...

  20. Islands That Are Illegal to Visit: Secrets of Forbidden Lands

    1 What makes Gruinard Island dangerous to visit? Gruinard Island, located in the Scottish Highlands, is considered dangerous due to its history as a testing ground for anthrax bombs during World War II. Though the island was declared safe for human habitation in 1990, many still believe it is contaminated with toxic elements.

  21. Gruinard Island

    In 1990, they stated that Gruinard is absolutely safe to visit, but such statements didn't make Scottish people and tourists confident. Many scholars continue to insist that the island will remain dangerous for a few hundred years, as it is simply impossible to destroy the remnants of the anthrax in its territory.