Images (12)
Fieldnotes (2)
Links (1)

Images

Image of West Torr (Passage Grave) by ryaner

Quite a bit of the tomb remains but today was all about the stunning views – Islay and Jura off to the north over the chamber.

Image credit: ryaner

ryaner Jul 13, 2021

Kerbstones on the eastern arc with the Mull of Kintyre a short hang-glide away, almost.

Image credit: ryaner

ryaner Jul 13, 2021

North over a chamber stone with Islay and the Paps of Jura looking close with some camera zoom.

Image credit: ryaner

ryaner Jul 13, 2021

South over the chamber.

Image credit: ryaner

ryaner Jul 13, 2021

South to Carnanmore. An almost complete kerb remains.

Image credit: ryaner

ryaner Jul 13, 2021

Passage tomb chamber ruin.

Image credit: ryaner

ryaner Jul 13, 2021

Over the chamber with the Mull of Kintyre to the right of the ugly outbuilding.

Image credit: ryaner

ryaner Jul 13, 2021

Approaching from the east. Knocklayd off to the west.

Image credit: ryaner

ryaner Jul 13, 2021

Image of West Torr (Passage Grave) by hashi

Image credit: Hashi

hashi Feb 25, 2005

Image credit: Hashi

hashi Feb 25, 2005

Image credit: Hashi

hashi Feb 25, 2005

This beautiful tomb is situated at the top of a small hill between Torr Head & Fair Head (D212407) It is a complex site (to me anyway!) but there appears to be a ?court tomb at the centre of what must have been an extensive cirular cairn. The views to Rathlin and the Mull of Kintyre are spectacular, although somewhat spoiled by the adjacent antennae! On the plus side, the proximity to these structures makes locating the monument much easier.

Image credit: Ian Gillespie

hashi Feb 21, 2005

Articles

West Torr

Passage Grave

ryaner Aug 2, 2021

This is a top site whose atmosphere is detracted from by the buildings of what I believe to be an abandoned weather station. The sea views on the beautiful clear day that we were there were spectacular: the Mull of Kintyre, 20 kilometres across the north channel looking like just a short hang-glide away, Islay and Jura directly north and the north-eastern corner of Rathlin Island to the north-west. Landward to the south is Carnanmore with its passage grave and south of west is Knocklayd with its cairn, also thought to be a passage grave. We was spoiled.

Much, if not all, of the 20 metres diameter kerb remains. The diminutive passage and chamber are aligned almost directly west, the chamber just a slight widening of the passage. The interior of the cairn is grass covered with lots of lumps and bumps, probably with many of the stones of the denuded cairn. It must have been an impressive sight in its complete state. We spent a while here, quite stunned by the views, and along with the sun and the clear blue sky forgot about anything man made and revelled in the nature of place.

West Torr

Passage Grave

hashi Feb 25, 2005

This beautiful tomb is situated at the top of a small hill between Torr Head & Fair Head (D21284063) It is a complex site (to me anyway!) but there appears to be a ?court tomb at the centre of what must have been an extensive cirular cairn. The views to Rathlin and the Mull of Kintyre are spectacular, although somewhat spoiled by the adjacent antennae! On the plus side, the proximity to these structures makes locating the monument much easier.

Edited: Research at the Dept of Heritage suggests it is a passage tomb. The cairn kerb is 19.5m N/S by 20.7m E/W. The chamber is 1.8m by 1.15m.