Access to the RAF Camp

[odds]

During my visit over the last 2 weeks I thought I would take a nostalgic visit up to the camp now that it is under new ownership and get some photos of the old buildings I used to frequent in my youth. So I drove up to where the old Guard House is/was and turned down to be faced with an electronic barrier denying access by car. Is this barrier operated by the turbine factory ?, seeing as they don't even own the land do they have the right to block access in this way ?
I never even thought of just parking up and taking a walk through, but would I have been met by security people politely asking me to leave ?
Anyway, do any of you local chaps ever bother to go up there for photography reasons or will you just be glad to see it bulldozed down and forgotten about

Pete.

[LANDROVER ROGER]

If it is still M.O.D.property you could be arrested for trespass.Are there any warning signs posted on fences etc?

[howlsatthemoon]

If it is still M.O.D.property you could be arrested for trespass.Are there any warning signs posted on fences etc?

Thought it belonged to the community now.

[Andy Anorak]

The Airbase does belong to the Community now. We bought it for £1 under The Land Reform Act (Scotland) 2003 to prevent asset strippers depriving the Community of this excellent resource.

I think odds must have gone up to the Wind Towers Limited gates which are indeed controlled electronically and has an intercom system.

The public entrance to the site is on the left just at the 30 MPH sign and is controlled by an electronic barrier and there is a security guard on duty 24 hours a day.

The Machrihanish Airbase Community Company (MACC) employed 24 hour security when they took over the Base from the MOD on 11th May 2012 because there had been thefts of scrap metal and MACC on behalf of the businesses are keen to have a secure site to keep the Community assets and prevent them being stolen. There is also an airfield on site (one of the longest in Europe) which occupies 42% of the 1,025 acres.

MACC did arrange an open day for the public to see what they had purchased for their £1 on 21st July. I appreciate that odds is located in Manchester so this may have been inconvenient.

Whilst the Base belongs to the Community, visits should be organised for the above reasons. I am sorry odds was disappointed on this occasion. MACC are planning an annual open day event but if odds wishes to take photographs when they are next visiting the area I suggest e-mailing enquiries@maccdl.co.uk so that an organised visit can be arranged and clearance made with security.

[Niander]

LOts of interesting stuff in there but cannot just have people wandering around
even though i would love to myself
also an airfield with not much of a fence internally...i also went on the tour ..very interesting

[four eyes]

I think odds knows where the old guardhouse is,he spent a good couple of years waiting for the school bus just round the corner.Or passing by it on his way to the slightly dodgy youth club that existed out there for a while.

[odds]

I think odds knows where the old guardhouse is,he spent a good couple of years waiting for the school bus just round the corner.Or passing by it on his way to the slightly dodgy youth club that existed out there for a while.

So true, and playing football behind it with a couple of the RAF lads when they were on duty at night, I only remember Eddie Flood was one of them, good footballer he was. There was nothing dodgy about that Youth club

You know me better than my missus ........... that's worrying


Pete.

[four eyes]

Knowledge is power old chum.I always hear the voices of those that lived there long ago if i ever dare to venture out that far on my travels.The ghosts of those poor RAF kids who were windblasted and rained upon for their few years spent in that outpost of the dammed are forever roaming the walkways of Cnoc Moy and Rannochan.