Behind the scenes with Geoff, one of our tour guides
It started as an unexpected Friday afternoon. STV News got in touch, and by the evening, our iconic tunnel and Cold War nuclear bunker was on TV.
The UK Government had just launched Be Ready, and STV came to the Bunker to ask what people in Scotland make of it.
Laura Piper (source STV News)
The campaign
Source: https://beready.campaign.gov.uk/
Be Ready encourages households to prepare for at least three days of disruption, whether that's flooding, power cuts or cyber attacks. The advice includes stocking up on tinned food and water, keeping some cash at home, and having a wind up radio in case of outages. The campaign is set to run for three years.
Why the Bunker?
Barnton Bunker was built in World War II and stayed operational through the Cold War until the early 1990s. It was also identified as a base from which the government would run recovery in the event of a nuclear attack, which made it a fitting place to hear people's views.
Professional tour guide Harry and visitors (source: STV News)
What visitors told STV
Visitor having her say about it (source: STV News)
STV spoke to one of our tour groups, and the reactions were mixed. Some visitors had already started preparing, including a student who had just moved into a new flat. Others hadn't begun stockpiling yet. Some thought preparing was sensible, while others found the idea of being told to stockpile quite unsettling.
Then and now
News presenter in the bunker (source: STV News)
When the Bunker was built, the threat the country faced was very different. Today it's cyber attacks, extreme weather and hostile states, but the questions are much the same: how would we cope without the things we rely on every day, and are we ready?
The report also reminded viewers that the UK has run public information campaigns like this before. In 1980, Protect and Survive told households how to build shelters in their gardens. The government's message this time is to be alert, not alarmed.
Protecting the Bunker's story
The Bunker was built to protect people from attack. Now, our tours help protect the Bunker and its story for future generations. Thank you to STV for visiting, and to everyone who spoke to them.
Watch the report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_TY-aGiylU
Did you spot our tunnel on TV? Tag us if you did, as we love seeing it.
Curious what it's like underground? Our tours take you three storeys down into Edinburgh's Cold War history.
Book online: https://www.barntonbunker.com/book-your-tour
