Torsa 1115353 226051544 2008-07-16T16:43:35Z Ben MacDui 2259739 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&nbsp;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]]