Lochaber's Inverlair Lodge: World War Two secret agents' house put up for sale

BBC Scotland Highlands and Islands reporter Steven McKenzie details the history of Inverlair Lodge, a Highland house with a significant role during World War Two, which is now up for sale. The property was taken over by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in 1941 to house foreign nationals who knew crucial secrets about the Allied war effort. These agents, considered “troublesome,” were supervised by British soldiers and kept occupied with tasks such as repairing boots and salvaging scrap metal from the surrounding countryside.

Galbraith, the estate agents handling the sale, have listed the 18th Century Inverlair Lodge near Tulloch for offers over £1.3m. The property, located approximately 20 miles from Fort William, was selected for its remote location during the war when it was known as No. 6 Special Workshop School. Interviews with the Imperial War Museum reveal that the residents, including Italians and Dutch individuals, were not kept under armed guard and were even permitted trips into Fort William.

Alfred Fyffe, who was in charge of Inverlair Lodge for 30 months, described it as an “experiment” with agents of different nationalities living together and working on tasks to distract them from sensitive information they carried. They were involved in salvaging metal, including railway track abandoned by British Aluminium. Inverlair Lodge and similar SOE properties are believed to have inspired the plot of the 1960s TV series The Prisoner. The lodge fell into disrepair after the war but was restored in the 1970s, preserving its historical significance.

The formation of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War Two, enthusiastically supported by Winston Churchill, aimed to disrupt enemy operations in Europe. After the war, SOE was disbanded, and Inverlair Lodge, like other associated properties, was vacated. Lochaber, where the lodge is located, was a crucial training area for Allied forces during the war. Achnacarry Castle, serving as a commando training base, was utilized by elite troops from various Allied nations, including Britain, the US, France, and others

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