Raasay (Norse: 'roe deer island' or 'roe ridge island'). The island of Raasay is just over fourteen miles long and about 1.25 to four miles wide. The island is very hilly, the highest of the hills rising to 1450 feet at the peak of Dun Cann, and a third of the island is over 500 feet high. Parts of the island, however, are fertile and there are several wooded areas and forestry plantations, through which there are walks. Clachan and Inverarish are the largest settlements. The island of Rona is about 4.75 miles long and about one mile wide. It too is hilly, and rises to over 400 feet above sea level.

The islands have surprisingly few listed prehistoric sites, although there is a dun at Dun Borodale and a cairn at Brae. Raasay was long a property of the MacLeods of Raasay, whose main fortress was at Brochel, then later at Kilmaluag, near the site of Raasay House. The ruins of an old church, dedicated to St Moluag, and burial ground survive at Clachan.

Bonnie Prince Charlie was sheltered on the island in 1746, before returning to Skye, and the MacLeods suffered for their support: Brochel and Vilmaluag are both said to have been torched. In 1843 the 12th and last chief became bankrupt, and the island was sold: in 1841 the population was 647. Much of Raasay was then cleared of people, and the population dwindled to 388 only 30 years later (and is now around 200) - Hallaig was cleared, and there is a cairn commemorating the former inhabitants: Sorley MacLean, who was born on Raasay, wrote about Hallaig in one of his poems. The island then had a succession of mostly unsuitable and uncaring landlords - although for a while iron ore was mined here - until 1979 when it was purchased by the government and the situation improved: Raasay House was opened as an outdoor centre.

The inhabitants of Rona are said to have worshipped in a cave on the east side of the island until the construction of the church. The cave had a stone pillar which served as a pulpit and there were rows of stones used as pews.