Home Report Largs

Largs is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire with roughly 11,300 residents. It is about 33 miles from Glasgow, 14 miles from Greenock, and 12 miles from Ardrossan. The town as we know it today started to take shape in the 17th and 18th centuries. More people were moving to the area, and the pier itself was constructed in 1834. Large hotels appeared around this time too, and then in 1895 when the railway was completed, it sealed the deal for Largs as one of the country’s most popular seaside resorts. It was also seen as a fashionable place for the wealthy of the time to live as evidenced by attractive mansions in the town.

Despite Largs’ lessened status as a holiday resort like many others in Scotland, much of the town’s economy is still geared towards tourism. Largs beach, being located just about 300 yards from the railway station, is still a particular draw for day-trippers from Glasgow and Ayr, especially on hot summer days. The town itself has a bustling centre, with many popular cafes such as Nardini’s, restaurants, bars, hotels, promenade and more. The Viking heritage of the town also helps attract many visitors, with the popular Vikingar Centre offering a look at the history of Viking life in the area. The annual and very popular Largs Viking Festival re-enacts battles and culminates in a grand firework display. Then there’s Kelburn Country Park, Barrfields Pavillion Theatre, and Columba’s Parish and heritage centre, notable for its stained-glass windows and Willis organ. To the south of the town, the Largs Yacht Haven is the largest marina in Scotland and has excellent facilities. These are but a few of the many attractions to be found in and around Largs.

Those residents who do not work in the nearby tourism sector, typically commute to work in Glasgow, Greenock, and the other nearby towns in the North Ayrshire locality. As such, transport links are well developed. As mentioned earlier, Largs railway station has many regular services to Glasgow and Ayr. The town has many regular bus services connecting to nearby North Ayrshire towns like West Kilbride and Ardrossan, as well as to Greenock, Ayr and of course Glasgow. It lies on the main A78 road which allows for easy travel northwards to Greenock, or southwards to Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston. The A78 is the road many eventually opens up to become the M8, a main route to Glasgow, but there are also routes to Glasgow via the A760 and A737 roads. A Caledonian MacBrayne ferry service runs from Largs to Great Cumbrae Island, and the paddle steamer Waverley also calls in at the pier during cruises.

In terms of local schooling, Largs Primary is the local primary school. Largs Academy is the local secondary school also taking pupils from Fairlie, Skelmorlie and the Island of Cumbrae.