Skelmorlie Secret Bunker

The Royal Observer Corps monitoring post designated 23 Post and now known as Skelmorlie Secret Bunker was part of 25 Group (AYR) Royal Observer Corps which covered a geographical area from the Solway coast to Arrochar to Islay. Its role in the event of a Nuclear Attack during the Cold war was to provide information from the Bomb Power Indicator, Ground Zero Indicator and Fixed Survey Meter from which the position, height and power of the Nuclear Weapon Burst can be determined and to provide radiation readings from any resultant fallout.

In the summer of 1991 the Home Secretary Kenneth Baker that the Corps would be stood down in its operational role. The entire contents of the post were then removed and disposed by the remaining staff still in position until 31st March 1992, and thereafter the lease reverted back to the local landowner.
In 2003 a former member of the Corps secured a lease and began the process of restoring the post back to its fully operational state prior to stand down in 1991.

Skelmorlie Secret Bunker is now available for parties to visit on a pre-booking basis only due to restricted access of 6 persons at a time.
The free admission tours take place between April to September each year and are guided by members of 25 Group Royal Observer Corps Association.
There are no utilities on site and it is strongly advised that visitors should come warmly clothed and with suitable footwear for the one hour long tour site.
There is a small car park at the site and a visitor reception portacabin containing a small museum with and seating for those who do not wish to climb down the 15 foot vertical streel ladder to access the underground post.

Please note that currently there are no toilet facilities on site.

Skelmorlie Secret Bunker is open from April to September. Please note that all guided tours must be pre-booked.