Torsa
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2008-07-16T16:43:35Z
Ben MacDui
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Additional clarification in caption for new image
{{for|the river in India|Torsa river}}
{{Infobox Scottish island |
|latitude=56.26
|longitude=-5.62
|GridReference=NM762130
|celtic name=Torsa
|norse name=Torsey/Þorirsey
|meaning of name="Thorir's island" (Norse via Gaelic)
|area=113 ha
|area rank= 142
|highest elevation= 62 m
|Population=0
|population rank=
|main settlement=
|island group=[[Slate Islands]]
|local authority=[[Argyll and Bute]]
|references=<ref>2001 UK Census per [[List of islands of Scotland]]</ref><ref name=Smith>{{cite book|
author=Haswell-Smith, Hamish| date=2004| title=The Scottish Islands| location=Edinburgh| publisher=Canongate|
isbn=1-84195-454-3}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey]</ref><ref>{{cite web|
url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/gaelic/pdfs/placenamesP-Z.pdf| title=Placenames| author=Iain Mac
an Tailleir| publisher=Pàrlamaid na h-Alba| accessdate=2007-07-28}}</ref>
}}
'''Torsa''' (occasionally '''Torsay''') is one of the [[Slate Islands]] in [[Argyll and Bute]], [[Scotland]].
[[Image:The northern tip of Torsa.jpg|thumb|left|The north end of Torsa with the heights of Dùn Crutagain beyond, seen from [[Seil]]]]
Lying east of [[Luing]] and south of [[Seil]], the island was inhabited until the 1960s. There is now only one house on the island, which is used for holiday lets.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.torsa-island.co.uk| title=Torsa Island Website & Gallery| accessdate=2007-07-28}}</ref> Its main industry is farming, with [[cattle]] brought over from the neighbouring island of [[Luing]]. The [[Luing cattle]] were bred for their hardiness.
The island is connected to its smaller partner, Torsa Beag (Gaelic for little Torsa). In the bay beyond is a suspected [[crannog]].
The island is best known for the ruined [[sixteenth century]] [[hunting lodge]] [[Caisteal nan Con]]. This is known locally as the Castle of the Dogs. It is doubtful that the castle would have originally been built as a hunting lodge, as it is in a very fine defensive position built upon a sheer rocky outcrop overlooking the sea on three sides. However, over time this may have become the final use of the building before falling into disrepair.
== Footnotes ==
<references/>
{{Slate Islands}}
{{Hebrides}}
{{Argyll-geo-stub}}
{{coord|56|15|26|N|5|37|0|W|display=title}}
[[Category:Slate Islands]]
[[Category:Tidal islands in Scotland]]
[[es:Torsa]]
[[fr:Torsa]]