Largs Pencil Monument

Named for its rather distinctive shape, The Pencil was built in 1912 as a reminder of the Viking influence over Scotland. Overlooking the Firth of Clyde and standing at around 70 feet tall, the pencil remembers the Battle of Largs, where the Scottish defeated 160 ships belonging to the Norwegian King Haco.

Take a leisurely walk along the prom in Largs towards the southern end at Bowen Craig and you can’t miss this monument standing 70 feet high in the shape of a pencil. The view from this spot of the Firth of Clyde and the Marina are lovely. The monument was erected to commemorate the Battle of Largs in 1263. Historians consider this to be a significant battle in the history of Scotland. At the time the coast of Scotland and the Western Isles were under the control of Norwegian Kings and King Haco of Norway sent 160 long ships to stop the Scottish king from claiming the land but they got caught in a storm and were defeated. There are various connections to Vikings to be found in the town including an exhibition at the Vikingar! and an annual fireworks show at the Pencil after the Viking Festival.