Achnacarry Achnacarry ( ; ' field of the fish - trap / weir ' ) is a small hamlet , private estate , and a castle in the Lochaber region of Highland , Scotland . It occupies a strategic position on an isthmus between Loch Lochy to the east , and Loch Arkaig to the west . The settlement has a long association with Clan Cameron , Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel built the original Achnacarry Castle in about 1655 . This was destroyed by government troops after the Battle of Culloden , but " New Achnacarry " was built near the same site in Scottish Baronial style in 1802 . It was used as a Commando Training Depot in World War II and the village retains close ties to British Commandos , the United States Army Rangers and similar units from other Allied nations . In 1928 , the Achnacarry Agreement was signed , an early attempt to set petroleum production quota s . Geography . Achnacarry is not far from the village of Spean Bridge and about 15 miles north of the town of Fort William . " As you approach Achnacarry , which lies rather low , but is surrounded by very fine trees , the luxuriance of the tangled woods , surmounted by rugged hills , becomes finer and finer till you come to Loch Arkaig , a little over half a mile from the house . This is a very lovely loch , reminding one of Loch Katrine , especially where there is a little pier , from which we embarked on board a very small but nice screw steamer which belongs to Cameron of Lochiel . " — Royal Visit to Achnacarry , from the Journal of Queen Victoria , Friday , September 12 , 1873 . History . In 1665 the Stand - off at the Fords of Arkaig took place near Achnacarry , which saw the Camerons finally end their 360 - year feud with the Chattan Confederation led by the Clan Mackintosh . Achnacarry Castle . Built on the ruins of the old Achnacarry Castle in 1802 , the current building gained fame as the Commando Training Depot for the Allied Forces from 1942 to 1945 . British Commandos , United States Army Rangers and commandos from France , the Netherlands , Norway , Czechoslovakia , Poland and Belgium trained there . As live ammunition was used during training , there were some casualties whilst training at Achnacarry . The castle also suffered some damage due to fire . Several military associations still sponsor a Commando March either annually or from time to time . Generally it is a timed seven mile march , in full battle gear , backpack and combat boots , from Spean Bridge to Achnacarry . Clan Cameron . The Chiefs of the Clan Cameron have maintained homes at Achnacarry since about 1655 . The castle itself is not open to the public but visitors are welcome at the Clan Cameron Museum about a quarter - mile from the castle . The current Chief of Clan Cameron , traditionally known simply as " Lochiel " , Donald Cameron of Lochiel , continues to live in Achnacarry . In August 2001 , Achnacarry served as the site of the International Gathering of Clan Cameron , commemorating the 50th anniversary of Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel , K . T . , XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron . It also hosted the International Gathering of Clan Cameron in the summer of 2009 . Achnacarry Agreement . In 1928 Achnacarry served as the meeting place for global petroleum producers in an effort to set production quotas . A document known as the Achnacarry Agreement or " As - Is " Agreement was signed on 17 September 1928 .