Loch Ewe in NW Scotland...anyone been?
 

I have come across some rather fascinating history of the Loch recently, while engaging in some research of the period 1941-44.

For about two of those memorable years, the Loch played a major role in moving critical supplies to the Russian war effort ...to the Arctic port of Murmansk, and occasionally Archangelsk. It became the staging area for the escorting Canadian, British and US warships, and their convoy of cargo vessels before they sailed into the treacherous waters (infested with U-boats, German air attacks from their Norwegian and Finnish bases, snow and ice storms and generally some of the roughest waters in the world). For the earlier days of the effort, staging took place in both Iceland and Norway's remote Jan Mayen Island, east of Greenland. and north of Iceland. Thought you might like to know about this if traveling in the area of Loch Ewe.

There are remains of that in Gruinard Bay just next to it, and my impression is that Gruinard Bay was the main staging area, and a NATO base in the 1950s.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57623437796997

More WWII history -- During the war Gruinard island in Gruinard Bay was used for anthrax testing (or some other biological/chemical weapons - I'm not 100% sure which). I read somewhere it wasn't decontaminated until the late 80's

Michael:
This is one of many sources that tell the story of Loch Ewe, no mention of Gruinard. Royal Navy records of escort duties regarding cargo ships outward bound and homeward bound, similarly refer only to Loch Ewe as the staging area. For a good part of 1943 convoys began in Liverpool and returned to Ewe...then in '44, most convoys again began and ended in Ewe.
indicatorloops.com/lochewe.htm
Janis: Yes, there are references to the anthrax experiments, as more recent footnotes in the RN records...obviously, not in the record themselves...that cold have been ugly.

Michael: Since this is still a travel forum, I did not start this thread for any reason other than to introduce Loch Ewe and it's contribution to a major effort during WW II. While at Ewe I'm sure most tourists will want to take a look at next door Gruinard, too. Nice pic.

When one is at Loch Ewe -- one of the "must see's" is Inverewe Gardens.

I must have recalled the location of the informational plaque in the wrong place.

Michael...I took a look at the other pics..you certainly capture the feel of the NW...I've been doing a lot of scanning and still plan to scan some of my NW pics (pre-digital). For a moment I thought it might be a silhouette of yours truly with my cane on that "elderly" sign!
The black-faced sheep is a classic. Thanks.
stu

I am originally from Scotland Stu. Loch Ewe is a beautiful place. Serene. I have memories as we went up there when I was 8 or 9,when we were exploring the Highlands. I lived in Glasgow then. Inverewe Gardens is a must - a paradise for a child as there are lots of hidden paths.

Thank you all for your reflections. Sorry, took so long to get back. In the interim I lost both my wife and my 56 year old daughter..and I have relocated to Ojai, Ca to be amongst my family.

The information on Loch Ewe finally found its way into one of my more recent historical novels, which came out in 2014.
stu