Torrin ( gd, Na Torrain)Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland
/ref> is a settlement on the island of Skye in Scotland.

Geography

The crofting and fishing village of Torrin lies on the eastern shore of Loch Slapin, southwest of Broadford (''An t-Àth Leathann''), on the road to

Elgol Elgol ( gd, Ealaghol) is a village on the shores of Loch Scavaig towards the end of the Strathaird peninsula in the Isle of Skye, in the Scottish Highlands. Name According to tradition, its name derives from a battle fought with five ships by ...

(''Ealaghol''). There is a mixture of Victorian white-washed cottages and modern flat-pack houses, and the village has good views of Blaven and Loch Slapin. Torrin sits on

dolomite Dolomite may refer to: *Dolomite (mineral), a carbonate mineral *Dolomite (rock), also known as dolostone, a sedimentary carbonate rock *Dolomite, Alabama, United States, an unincorporated community *Dolomite, California, United States, an unincor ...

s, informally referred to collectively as the "Durness Limestone". There is an abundance of trees and varied plant flora, including more than a dozen species of

orchids Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...

. Much of the area is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a

Special Area of Conservation A Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is defined in the European Union's Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), also known as the ''Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora''. They are to protect the 220 habitats and a ...

. There are five working crofts in Torrin with cattle and sheep. The common grazing extends north onto the surrounding red granite hills Beinn Dearg Mhòr (709m) and Beinn Dearg Bheag (584m) and beyond the head of Loch Slapin.

Marble

Skye marble has been extracted from Strath Suardal for centuries.

Martin Martin Martin Martin (Scottish Gaelic: Màrtainn MacGilleMhàrtainn) (-9 October 1718) was a Scottish writer best known for his work '' A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland'' (1703; second edition 1716). This book is particularly noted for ...

recorded quarries on the south side of the valley in 1703. Torrin has a

quarry A quarry is a type of open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground. The operation of quarries is regulated in some jurisdictions to reduce their envir ...

at each end of the village to extract magnesium-rich

marble Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. Marble is typically not foliated (layered), although there are exceptions. In geology, the term ''marble'' refers to metamorphose ...

and limestone to produce

lime Lime commonly refers to: * Lime (fruit), a green citrus fruit * Lime (material), inorganic materials containing calcium, usually calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide * Lime (color), a color between yellow and green Lime may also refer to: Botany ...

. Marble from Torrin was used in Armadale Castle and

Iona Abbey Iona Abbey is an abbey located on the island of Iona, just off the Isle of Mull on the West Coast of Scotland. It is one of the oldest Christian religious centres in Western Europe. The abbey was a focal point for the spread of Christianity t ...

. The first and smaller quarry opened in 1951 at Cnoc Slapin on the shore of Loch Slapin. The extracted rock was used primarily in the production of

agricultural lime Agricultural lime, also called aglime, agricultural limestone, garden lime or liming, is a soil additive made from pulverized limestone or chalk. The primary active component is calcium carbonate. Additional chemicals vary depending on the mineral ...

. Now abandoned, the area was partially landscaped at the end of 2001, reducing its visual impact. Glasgow paint manufacturer William Thomson Forsyth started the main quarry at the Broadford end of Torrin in 1960. He leased the land, producing around 3,500 tonnes of product per year by 1965. Today the quarry is owned by Leiths Group and employs 12 people. Marble is mined and crushed on site, producing agricultural lime, pebbledash for housing, ready-mix concrete products and some decorative stone. The earlier Ben Suardal quarry on the Broadford road closed in 1914.

History

The population peaked in the 19th century at around 120 people, dropping to 40 in 1989 and more recently rising to 65, over a third of whom speak

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well ...

The old school closed in 1961. It served as a training base for the

Royal Marine Commandos The Corps of Royal Marines (RM), also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, are the UK's special operations capable commando force, amphibious light infantry and also one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. The Corps of Royal Marines ...

during the 1940s was then used as an outdoor centre and is now a bunkhouse accommodation. The small Torrin church closed in the 1970s, fell into disrepair, and is now a holiday home. At '' Cill Chriosd'' (Christ's Church or "Kilchrist"), half way to Broadford, are the stark remains of the parish church of

Strathaird Strathaird is a peninsula on the island of Skye, Scotland, situated between Loch Slapin and Loch Scavaig on the south coast. W. H. Murray said that "Skye is sixty miles long, but what might be its breadth is beyond the ingenuity of man to stat ...

, including the cleared villages of

Boreraig Boreraig ( gd, Boraraig) is a deserted township in Strath Swordale (''Srath Shuardail'') on the north shore of Loch Eishort (''Loch Eiseort'') in the parish of Strath, Isle of Skye, Scotland. History Early history Boreraig, lying in a green ...

and Susinish. The location is thought to have been a site of Christian worship dating back to the 7th century, when St Maelrubha preached from nearby ''Cnoc na-Aifhreann'' ("Hill of the Mass"). The present ruins probably replaced the first medieval stone church in the 16th century. ''Cill Chrìosd'' was replaced by a new parish church in Broadford in 1840. In June 2001 the Torrin Management Committee opened ''Am Bothan'' (the Gaelic name for a small hut or shed), a shop providing essential groceries, a selection of local crafts, a children's play area and a cafe.

Skye Marble Railway

A narrow-gauge line, built in 1907, ran for from the quarry at Suardale to Broadford pier. It transported Skye marble from the nearby village of Kilbride (''Cille Bhrìghde''). The railway closed in the early 20th century and the track bed remains as a public footpath. A number of old railway remains can be seen.

Archaeology

In 2006 it was announced that an "entrance to the Underworld" had been discovered at the

High Pasture Cave High Pasture Cave (Gaelic: ''Uamh An Ard-Achaidh'') is an archaeological site on the island of Skye, Scotland. Human presence is documented since the Mesolithic, and remains, including Iron Age structures, point to ritual veneration of either ...

excavations, near Torrin. A natural shaft some 6 metres deep was discovered, which led into a cave, both of which appeared to have been used between 1200 BC and 200 BC (Mid

Bronze Age The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second prin ...

to Late

Iron Age The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Stone Age ( Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) and the Bronze Age ( Chalcolithic). The concept has been mostl ...

). After this date the shaft was deliberately backfilled with structured deposits, suggesting some sort of propitiation ritual comparable to some of the underground structures at

Mine Howe Mine Howe is an Iron Age subterranean man-made chamber dug 6 meters (20 feet) deep inside a large mound. It is located in the Tankerness area of Orkney, Scotland, about 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney. The origin ...

on Orkney.

Cultural references

The 1942 film, In Which We Serve starring Noël Coward featured a fictional destroyer, HMS Torrin.

Footnotes

External links

Elgol and Torrin Historical Society
{{Skye Populated places in the Isle of Skye Protected areas of Highland (council area)