The Exchange
A tiny gallery and coffee stop in Raasay's old telephone exchange by the ferry, run by artist Calum Gillies and Leonie.
The Exchange is a tiny gallery and coffee stop in Raasay's old telephone exchange at Clachan, overlooking the ferry terminal and beside the distillery, so it is one of the first places you reach off the boat.
Visited and photographed by Simon Hird
It is run by the artist Calum Gillies, who grew up on the island, and his wife Leonie, who designed the room and makes the coffee.
Calum's prints draw on island stories and observations, and his best-seller is Notes from a Small Island, a map of Raasay full of local nicknames and stories; another shows the ferry fleet in black ink. Alongside them are jewellery by his sister Fiona, the Silver Grasshopper, and Raasay candles made with Sandwick Bay Candles on Lewis. Leonie is generous with local tips, and her favourite is the shore path to Inver, where a sandy beach appears at low tide with fine views of Skye. There is usually a dog, Daisy, at your feet.
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The Exchange is at Clachan, overlooking the Raasay ferry terminal and beside the distillery, a short walk from the boat.
The ferry from Sconser on Skye takes about 25 minutes.
- Where
- Clachan, Isle of Raasay, IV40 8PB.
- Getting there
- Ferry from Sconser, about 25 minutes.
Opening hours
- Monday
- 8am–3am
- Tuesday
- 8am–3am
- Wednesday
- 8am–3am
- Thursday
- 8am–3am
- Friday
- 8am–3am
- Saturday
- 8am–3am
- Sunday
- 8am–3am
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Add your reviewClachan, Isle of Raasay.
Isle of Raasay DistilleryRaasay's first legal distillery, opened in 2017 in a Victorian villa looking across the Sound to Skye.Under a mile 1 min by road
St Moluag's ChapelThe roofless 13th-century chapel behind Raasay House, in an old graveyard among trees, with the MacLeods' burial vault.Under a mile 1 min by road
Raasay Walled GardenThe old kitchen garden of Raasay House, restored by the island community and open every day, free.Under a mile 1 min by road
Temptation HillA short, steep climb behind Raasay House to views over the Sound of Raasay to Skye, with the Pictish stone at its foot.Under a mile 1 min by road
Ironstone Mine at the Old PierThe concrete ruins of a First World War iron mine on Raasay, worked by German prisoners of war.Under a mile 1 min by road
Raasay Battery Cannon and MermaidsA walled battery mound by the old jetty below Raasay House, with cannon and two great stone mermaids.Under a mile 1 min by road
Places to stay near the gallery, and when each is next free.
Raasay House Hotel- A hotel
- In Raasay
- Under a mile from The Exchange
The Crofter's House- Sleeps 2
- In Camustianavaig
- 3 miles from The Exchange
Sligachan Campsite- To stay
- In Sligachan
- 6 miles from The Exchange
Sligachan Blackhouses- Sleeps 6
- In Sligachan
- 6 miles from The Exchange
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What we have written about it, the collections it is in and more on Skye.
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For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .