Coastal fortifications in Scotland

Coastal fortifications in Scotland played a vital role during the World Wars, protecting shipping as they mustered to convoy. New fortifications were built and old defences were also rebuilt or strengthened around the Scottish coast in case of invasion. New technologies like Radar were also deployed.

First World War (1914-1918)
There were over forty seven coastal defence locations in Scotland during the First World War.

Ayrshire

 * Ardeer Battery, Ardeer, North Ayrshire

Clyde Defences

 * Cloch Point To Dunoon Anti-submarine Boom, Firth of Clyde
 * Ardhallow Battery, Dunoon, Cowal peninsula, Argyll and Bute
 * Dunoon Battery, Castle gardens
 * Portkil Battery, Kilcreggan, Roseneath peninsula
 * Cloch Point Battery, Gourock, Inverclyde
 * Fort Matilda Battery, Greenock, Inverclyde

Dee Defences



 * Torry Battery, Aberdeen

Forth Defences



 * Firth of Forth Anti-submarine Booms, Firth of Forth
 * Charles Hill Battery, Dalgety Bay, Fife
 * Hound Point Battery, South Queensferry, West Lothian
 * Leith Docks Battery, Leith, City of Edinburgh
 * Braefoot Battery, Dalgety Bay, Fife
 * Cramond Island Battery, Cramond Island, Firth of Forth
 * Downing Point Battery, Dalgety Bay, Fife
 * Inchcolm Battery, Inchcolm Island, Firth of Forth
 * Inchmickery Battery, Inchmickery Island, Firth of Forth
 * Kinghorn Battery, Kinghorn, Fife
 * Pettycur Battery, Kinghorn, Fife

Easter Ross

 * Cromarty Firth Anti-submarine Boom, Cromarty Firth
 * North Sutor Battery, Cromarty Firth
 * South Sutor Battery, Cromarty Firth

Orkney

 * Scapa Flow Anti-submarine Booms, Scapa Flow
 * Ness Battery, Stromness, Scapa Flow
 * Innan Neb Battery, Flotta Island

Shetland

 * Score Hill Battery, Bressay Island
 * The Knab Battery, Lerwick

Tay Defences

 * Broughty Castle Battery, Broughty Ferry

Second World War (1939-1945)
Many of the First World War coastal fortifications were reused in the Second World War. These defences listed below, were newly built for the Second World War.

Clyde Defences

 * Toward Battery, Toward, Cowal peninsula, Argyll and Bute

Fife



 * Tentsmuir coastal defences, Tayport
 * Roseisle WWII defences, Roseisle Beach, Kinghorn

Wester Ross

 * Cove Battery, Loch Ewe

Orkney



 * Churchhill Barriers
 * The Buchanan Battery, Flotta Island
 * Gate battery, Flotta Island
 * Neb Battery, Flotta Island
 * Golta Z Battery, Roan Head, Flotta Island
 * Balfour Battery, South Ronaldsay

Shetland

 * Hill of Setter Battery, Bressay Island
 * Ness of Sound Battery, Yell Island

Tay Defences

 * Stannergate Battery, Dundee

Chain Home Low
Chain Home Low (CHL), a new aircraft detection and tracking system, Radar, operated by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. There were about thirty coastal stations around the coast of Scotland.

Aberdeenshire

 * St Cyrus Station (CHL), St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire
 * Rosehearty Station (CHL), Rosehearty

Highlands

 * Leirinbeg Station (CHL), Leirinmore, Highland
 * Wick Station (CHL), Wick

Wester Ross

 * Point Of Stoer Station (CHL), Assynt, Wester Ross

Easter Ross

 * Cromarty Station (CHL), South Sutor, Cromarty, Easter Ross

Fife

 * Anstruther Station (CHL), Anstruther, Fife

Orkney Islands

 * Crustan Station (CHL), Orkney Islands
 * Deerness Station (CHL), Deerness
 * South Ronaldsay Station (CHL), South Ronaldsay
 * Sanday Station (CHL), Sanday

Scottish Borders

 * Lamberton Station (CHL), Lamberton, Scottish Borders
 * Coldingham Station (CHL), Coldingham
 * Cockburnspath Station (CHL), Cockburnspath

Shetland Islands

 * Skaw Station (CHL), Unst, Shetland Islands
 * Noss Hill Station (CHL), Shetland Islands
 * Wats Ness Station (CHL), Shetland Islands
 * Compass Head, Grutness Station (CHL), Sumburgh, Shetland Islands
 * Ward Hill Station (CHL), Fair Isle

West Coast Islands



 * Tiree Station (CHL), Tiree
 * Islay Station (CHL), Islay
 * Harris Station (CHL), Harris
 * Barra Station (CHL), Barra
 * Eorodale, Lewis (CHL), Lewis
 * Islibhig, Lewis (CHL), Lewis
 * Skye Station (CHL), Skye

Coastal Defence U-Boat


Coastal Defence U-Boat (CDU). A new experimental system, Radar, for submarine detection and tracking. First introduced in the Second World War. There were six experimental stations, two located on Fair Isle.


 * Ward Hill, Radar Station (CDU), Fair Isle, Fair Isle
 * Dunnet Head, Radar Station (CDU), Dunnet Head, Wick,  Highland
 * Ward Hill, Radar Station (CDU), South Ronaldsay, South Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands
 * Saxa Vord Radar Station (CDU), Unst, Shetland Islands
 * Sumburgh, Radar Station (CDU), Sumburgh, Shetland Islands