Torsa is something of a rarity as a Scottish island, offering the opportunity to own an idyllic island with complete tranquillity that is also readily accessible to the Scottish mainland. The island is approximately 0.5 miles wide and 1.2 miles long, extending to around 270 acres in total.

The island rises to its highest point of 62m in the centre, from where you can enjoy panoramic views of the sheltered bays of the surrounding Inner Hebrides across to the mountains and mystical lochs of Argyllshire.

Torsa is currently managed as a successful holiday let business where holidaymakers can enjoy the charm associated with island life, switching off from the pressures of modern living. A sheltered anchorage for yachts and motorboats is found in Ardinamir Bay, to the south of the island, and is accessed by a marked narrow channel from the sea to the east. There is an additional anchorage at South Cuan to the west of Torsa as well as running mooring in Ardinamir for small vessels, and the beach in Ardinamir Bay on Torsa has a reasonable gradient allowing most smaller rafts to land directly on it. Should a larger yacht or motorboat be used, then a tender is recommended.

Torsa Island, consisting of Torsa, Torsa Beag, and Eilean na h-Eaglaise as well as their foreshore, which was reclaimed from the Crown in 2009, is now being offered for sale.

HISTORICAL NOTE - Torsa's name is of Norse origin, roughly translated as "Thor's Island", with the island steeped in Clan history. The most prominent historical feature of the island is the ruined Casteal nan Con (the Dogs' Castle), located to the northeast of the island. Occupying a defensive position on a rocky platform, the tower house was held by Clan Campbell during the late Middle Ages and used as a watch tower to protect the inland waters. There was a brief period when the Castle was occupied by the MacDougalls of Rarey before it was held by Clan MacLean, and it is likely this is where the name derived from, a byname used of Clan MacLean by their enemies.

In 1699, the indigenous populations of the neighbouring islands of Luing, Seil and Shuna were subject to significant clearances by Clan Campbell and it is assumed Torsa followed the same fate. The Slate Islands then became part of the Netherlorn Estates of the Breadalbane family, a branch of Clan Campbell, with the affairs being overseen from Ardmaddy Castle, the seat of Nether Lorn. Torsa was permanently inhabited by resident farming tenants up until the 1960s.

The island is being offered for sale for the first time in 85 years.

TORSA FARMHOUSE - Torsa Farmhouse occupies a sheltered position with a spectacular south east outlook over the mouth of Loch Melfort which can be enjoyed from the conservatory at the front. The mid-19th century farmhouse, constructed of traditional stone (painted white) under a slate roof, is a typical design associated with the West Coast of Scotland and has been regularly modernised and improved over the years to facilitate holiday letting. The house is comfortably arranged over two storeys in a traditional layout as follows:

Ground Floor: entrance boot / utility room, shower room and
WC, kitchen / dining room, conservatory and sitting room.

First Floor: three bedrooms and family bathroom.

There is a range of traditional stone farm buildings lying adjacent to the farmhouse and, despite being in a fairly dilapidated state, these have significant potential for conversion or a number of uses subject to gaining the necessary planning consents.

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