Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
Raasay, Torran
School (Period Unassigned), Township (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Raasay, Torran
Classification School (Period Unassigned), Township (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 119641
Site Number NG54NE 29
NGR NG 594 490
NGR Description Centred NG 594 490
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/119641
- Council Highland
- Parish Portree
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Skye And Lochalsh
- Former County Inverness-shire
From Brochel runs the 1 ¾ mile Road to Arnish ('Calum's Road'), built single-handedly by the last remaining resident of Arnish, Calum Macleod, from about 1965 until 1974, with ongoing improvements until his death in 1988. From here, the depopulated north end of the island is still reached only on foot. At the remote township of Torran, the former school, opened 1839, closed 1967, is now a holiday home. Mission hall/house, late 19th century; in use until 1960s.
Taken from "Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Mary Miers, 2008. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk
NG54NE 29 centred 594 490
A township comprising one unroofed, two partially roofed, nine roofed buildings and a length of wall is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire, Isle of Skye 1881, sheet xxv). Four roofed buildings, which include a school, one partially roofed building, eleven unroofed buildings and some field walls are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1988).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 18 October 1996
NG 5980 4827 and NG 5950 4901 The survey of the townships of Arnish and Torran plus the surrounding area was carried out by ACFA in April 2000 as part of a continuing programme of recording the physical remains of human activity on Raasay.
NG 5950 4901 (centre) Torran Township. The township of Torran (NMRS NG54NE 29) lies along the E and N shore of Loch Arnish to the N of Arnish and on the track which leads from the end of the public road to Eilean Fladday. The vegetation is quite varied, ranging from dense scrub birch woods through bracken-covered areas to open improved grasslands. The ruins consist of some 20 structures in various stages of decay and the remains of a small cemetery, which lies N of the school overlooking Loch Arnish. This is marked on the OS map and named as Cladh an Torrain (Torran burial ground).
A survey was carried out on the area from the Tairbeart N to the path from Fladda to Umachan and the following sites were recorded:
NG 5968 4870 Pen.
NG 5982 4987 Pen.
NG 5918 4971 Shelter.
NG 5950 4922 Shieling.
NG 5919 4935 Shieling.
NG 5918 4935 Pen.
NG 5907 4921 Pen.
NG 5917 4913 Barn/byre/house.
NG 5914 4918 Pen.
Full report will be lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsors: Glasgow Archaeological Society, CBA Challenge Funding.
J Macdonald and J Scott Wood 2001.
