Torsa

Torsa is one of the Slate Islands off the coast of Argyll and Bute. It lies east of Luing and south of Seil, connected at low tide by a narrow strip of land called Torsa Beag. The island’s bedrock is slate but it was never quarried commercially. Its name comes from Old Norse, meaning ‘Thorir’s island’ or ‘Thor’s Island’. The most striking landmark is the ruined Caisteal nan Con on the northeast shore, once held by Clan Campbell. The surrounding waters belong to the Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area, safeguarding abundant sea life. The island has a long history tied to the Cenél Loairn and later the Kingdom of the Isles. Clan MacDougall and Clan Campbell both held influence here before the 1266 Treaty of Perth transferred control to Scotland. Caisteal nan Con, or the Dogs’ Castle, was a tower house built on a rocky outcrop with a bailey and circular tower. By the late 17th century the Dukes of Argyll leased land competitively, leading to clearances on nearby islands. Torsa’s last permanent resident was recorded in 1961, though a single farmhouse remains as a holiday let. Visitors reach Torsa by small dinghy from Luing, as there is no jetty. The island rises from a raised beach between 10 and 60 metres above sea level, with fertile pasture and cultivated land. Offshore islets like Eilean Fraoch and Glas Eilean add to the rugged coastline. Red deer, roe deer, foxes, otters and seals live here, and boat trips offer chances to see cetaceans and basking sharks. The northern tip, Eilean na h-Eaglaise, hints at an earlier church site.