Battle of Largs Vikings History, Sailing Largs, Millport, Cumbrae Ferry

Battle of Largs, Viking History & Vikingar!

Largs capitalises on its viking link to good effect, with the Vikingar! Leisure complex being the hub and a hotspot for families. Largs' Viking History link is essentially the Battle of Largs, when in 1263 a group of King Haakoon's Vikings were accidently blown towards Largs in their longboats and descended on by local Scots. (the invasion wasn't intended and a few years after this event the Vikings abandoned their claim on the Hebrides).

The Vikingar! Viking experience in Largs has one awards and it's a popular visitor attractions. In the Viking Experience exhibit, guides dressed as Vikings tell stories on the Vikings in Scotland including a recount of the Battle of Largs. The Viking tour takes about an hour.

Vikingar sits right on the seafront at Largs and is the centre for the annual Viking Festival held in Largs every October (website right for forthcoming Viking Festival details). For more Vikings in Largs take a walk to the Pencil Monument at the southern end of Largs promenade near Largs Marina and the Kelburn Castle & Country Centre. This obelisk commemorates the 1263 Battle of Largs!

Vikingar! Greenock Road, Largs, KA30 8QL. Tel: 01475 689777. (weblink right for details).

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Largs Family Holidays Scotland & Largs Regatta/Sailing

Largs' secret to family holiday success is a combination of its many family leisure attractions - including seaside fun and beaches, local golf, sailing from the National Cumbrae Centre, and day trips to Great Cumbrae Island and Millport. Look to the Largs On-line weblink right for listings on family holiday activities including play parks, putting, fair rides especially during Fesitval times when fairs come to town, model boats and bowling. During the Summer months Largs has fair rides lining its promenade. Checkout Nardini's Restaurant on Gallowgate Street in Largs. This cafe restaurant is famous for its beach views, fine ice cream and art deco setting.

Towards the southern end of Largs Prom on the A78 towards Fairlie, the Largs Marina (website right) is a bustling place which hosts the annual Largs Regatta week from the end of August into September. Largs Yacht Charter, Sailing schools and courses and more are available here. See also the National Centre Cumbrae list of sailing courses on their website right. Largs is a particularly good spot for sailing and yacht charter. Off-shore Great Cumbrae and Little Cumbrae Islands are superb sailing territory. The islands themselves serve as shelter making the Largs waters particularly good for learning to sail.

In 1999 Largs was chosen by the Royal Yachting Association as the location for the Scottish 'Centre of Excellence' and the 'Scottish Sailing Institute'. (see the SSI weblink right), and is now host to numerous sailing competitions. For more information on sailing in Largs and Largs Regatta week, see the superb Largs Sailing Club website right.

Largs Tourist Information Centre, The Railway Station, Main Street, Largs, Ayrshire, KA30 8AN, Scotland. Tel. 01475 689962. For Largs Marina contact Largs Yacht Haven Limited, Irvine Road, Largs, Ayrshire KA30 8EZ. Tel. 01475 675333.

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Skelmorlie Aisle Largs & Kelburn Castle & Country Centre

Within Largs town a site of particular historic interest is the Skelmorlie Aisle built by Sir Robert Montgomerie in the old kirk of Largs in 1636. The Montgomeries of Skelmorlie were lords in the area during the 17th century, and Robert Montgomerie built Skelmorlie Aisle as a family mausoleum (his wife had just died prematurely in a riding accident). Before Montgomerie built the mausoleum, the Aisle would have been part of the north transept of the parish church. Rich carvings adorn the mausoleum, including Montgomerie's own coat of arms and various death motifs such as skulls and a winged hour-glass.

To view the Skelmorlie Aisle you need to get keys from the Largs Museum (run by the Largs & District Historical Society). Largs Museum sits in Manse Court just off Main Street and the Skelmorlie Aisle is adjacent. (Largs Museum, Tel. 01475 676182 for opening times, and for details on the exhibitions and viewing the Skelmorlie Aisle contact 01475 687081). Changing exhibitions in the museum include collections of Mauchline war, archives on the area and famous Brisbane family and antiques. Skelmorlie Aisle is the highlight, and the only remaining part of the Auld Kirk of Largs.

Another top family and historic attraction in the Largs area is Kelburn Castle & Country Centre. The Scottish castle here dates from the 13th century, and served as home to the Earls of Glasgow. It's open to the public in July and August annually, and is surrounded by exotic gardens and the stunning Kelburn Glen with waterfalls, gorges and woodlands.

Numerous outdoor and indoor activities are on offer, particularly for children, including pony trekking, falconry, a pottery workshop, special family events, an adventure course and pets corner, a children's stockade and recently added new indoor play barn which is especially good for the younger tots (toddlers and upto 12years). The attractions sits just to the south of Largs, 2 miles south off the A78 coast road. Kelburn Castle & Country Centre, Fairlie, Ayrshire, Scotland. KA29 0BE. Tel. 01475 568 685.

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Daytrips to Millport, Millport Scotland Isle of Cumbrae Ferry

Daytrips to Millport on Cumbrae have been taken by millions over the years. There's plenty going on in main Cumbrae Island hotspot Millport with beach, crazy golf, ice cram, cafes and National Watersports Centre. Europe's smallest cathedral is on Cumbrae, with walks on offer upto Glaid Stone, the island's highest point.

Caledonian MacBrayne offer regular Clyde Ferries from Largs to the Cumbrae Slip (they depart every 30 minutes from Largs in the Summer, check the Caledonian MacBrayne weblink right for timetable, and book online). It's a fairly quick ferry ride at around 10 minutes!

A highlight in Millport is its annual Country & Western Festival weekend at the end of August annually. Live bands, line dancing, street parades and more are all on the menu. Newton Amusements and crazy golf is available on Millport's beachside, plus there's a museum and aquarium, the Smillie Centre craft activities on Guildford Street and a choice of walks and wildlife. Check the Millport Tourist Guide website right for full details.

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Clyde Muirshiel, Scotland's Largest Regional Park

Nicknamed 'The Great Escape', the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park stretches across an enormous area, from Greenock in the north, right down the North Ayrshire coast to Largs and West Kilbride, and inland across to Dalry and Lochwinnoch (see the park's weblink right for a map).

Within this lesser known Scottish rural gem a number of outdoor activities are on offer including cycling, beach areas, woodland walks, historic sites and buildings and there are three big visitor centres as Castle Semple, Cornalees and Muirshiel. The park pushes into both Ayrshire and Renfrewshire, and includes the Kelburn Castle & Country Centre area.

If you're based in the Largs area the park is easily accessible. Check the Clyde Muirshiel website right for event and outdoor activities listings.

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