This out-and-back walk follows Largs seafront to visit the Battle of Largs memorial, before ascending steeply to visit a dramatic viewpoint high above the town. The route also visits a 5,000 year old chambered cairn.
Bog Factor
Pavements, good paths but many steps and a steep, strenuous ascent for grade 1.
Car park opposite Nardini's Restaurant.
Bus or train to Largs.
NS201596
Park at the large car park on the seafront opposite Nardini's - there is a charge. If you can resist a visit to Nardini's for one of its famed ice-creams then head south along the front, passing pubs and cafes and the terminal for the ferry across to Great Cumbrae. Continue along the front, passing a fine statue and soon crossing the bridge over the Gogo burn.
Once across to the bridge turn right to continue the walk along the promenade. Eventually the promenade becomes a proper road; the route up to Castle Hill turns left here, heading up the road to the left of the very prominent and grand whitewashed villa. Before heading this way, it is worth detouring to the monument for the Battle of Largs visible in the distance - to reach it, continue along the front.
Eventually the tall columnar monument is reached, in a dramatic location right by the sea; locally it is known as the Pencil for obvious reasons. The monument was built in 1912 to commemorate the Battle of Largs in 1263, when the Scots led by Somerled defeated the Norweigan troops of King Haco, bringing the Hebrides under the rule of the Scottish crown. After admiring the pencil, return along the front until the road (May Street) leading up past the white villa mentioned earlier.
Head up May Street, turning left through wrought iron gates into Anderson Park just before the busy main road is reached. The park is on what was the site of the battle. Keep left of the play area and then turn right to exit the park onto the busy A78. Cross this with care and head up into Douglas Park opposite (very slight dog-leg left), continuing along a grand row of trees. At the top end of the avenue the track curves right, and a path leads off on the left - this is the route to Castle Hill, but first it is worth detouring by continuing along the track until a gate; just beyond this, on the left, is the Haylie Chambered Tomb; only the innermost chamber remains but it is 3000 years old.
Return to the gate and the path already mentioned, and follow the path as it ascends steps through fine mixed woodland. After one longer flight of steps the path swings right, passing some benches, and then reaches a more open area. Continue up this, crossing a tarred drive, to reach more steps and a gate, and then continue ahead up across a grassy pasture. Beyond this is a final long and steep flight of steps, slanting leftwards up the slope.
Atop these steps turn right on a rough path to soon reach a view indicator with superb panoramic views across almost the whole town. The view includes a wide sweep of the Firth of Clyde, and out to Arran, Bute and the Cumbraes.
After enjoying the view and catching your breath, retrace your way back down the steps and through the parks to return all the way to Largs seafront promenade. Here turn right to continue back to the car park at the start.
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