WW2 Operations
at
Pool House
Naval Command HQ
Walk the same corridors as Winston Churchill and WW2 Admiralty staff.
Open:
April to September
Mon-Thurs from 11:00 am (last entry 3:00 pm)
£8 per adult, over 65 £6, under 16 £4,
under 12 free (must be accompanied by an adult)
Find Us
When this old hunting lodge was requisitioned during WW2, it became the hub from which the Arctic and North Atlantic convoys were directed. Sitting on the shores of Loch Ewe, Merchant and Royal Navy vessels mustered in the sea loch outside before departing on perilous voyages to Russia or North America, shielded by Bomber Command and the Fleet Air Arm.
The missions were fraught with danger for allies and enemy alike, but what was it like to really be there in the thick of the action? What was the day-to-day reality for a u-boat crewman? How did the allies try and outwit the enemy when travelling in convoys? What could a captain do when encountering a mightier enemy vessel than his? And why was the humble teapot so important in wartime? We invite you to come and find out.
Scroll through the gallery below for a taste of the experiences of war on both sides.
Crew assemble for an address on a British ship (left) and German ship (right) 
Allies (left) and Germans (right) shovelling snow in the Arctic 
Frozen vessels: Allies (left) and German (right) 
HMS Rodney in dazzle paint (left), and Germans applying dazzle paint (right) 
A British submarine (left) and a German u-boat (right) 
A British Captain reading messages (left) and a German Captain doing the same (right) 
Lookouts: allies (left) and Germans (right) 
Brits loading shells (left) and Germans loading torpedoes (right)
If you book one of our extended tours of the house, you’ll explore the upper levels and hear more extraordinary tales from WW2. You’ll also have the option to include a cream scone tea in the library, all served on wartime and Admiralty china.
North by Northwest Cafe
An enticing selection of tasty treats.
Our billiard room cafe offers a taste of the eclectic interior of Pool House as well as delicious home baking, nourishing soups, sandwiches, toasties, salads and seafood, all under the watchful eye of Ajax, our ship’s figurehead. We also offer some authentic WW2 baking, still tasty but less sugar. Expect wartime tunes, signs, sandbags and bunting. Learn about the house’s other role as HQ of the HFTC (Highland Fieldcraft Training Centre) under the command of Lord Rowallan who resided at Pool House from late 1943. Each day, during the winter, his young officer recruits were put through rigorous training exercises. There are rare photographs of their endeavours on the cafe walls. The purpose was to ready them for action on the battlefield and indeed many of them went on to serve with distinction.
Linger a while in the Victorian Curiosity Cabinet and you may find the unique gift or memento you have been looking for. Before you leave, rub the head of Shou Lao to give you long life!
Café Opening Times
April – October
Mon to Thurs: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Closed Fridays – Sundays
Winter Opening Times
November to March: Open Thursdays & Fridays 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Visit us
Access restrictions
While our Café has disabled access we regret that as Pool House is a historic property there is no disabled access on the tours and no disabled toilets.
Please be aware that tours involve two staircases, and other steps which may pose problems if you have mobility issues.
Photography
You may take photographs for your own personal use, but flash photography is not allowed, nor is photography for commercial purposes.