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The Pencil Monument

The Pencil Monument

Highlight • Historical Site

The Pencil Monument

Recommended by 22 hikers out of 23

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Location: Largs, West Scotland, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Best Hikes to The Pencil Monument

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1. Fairlie Castle from Largs loop — Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

10.4km

02:54

200m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

3.5

(4)

132

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2. Magnus the Viking Statue – The Pencil Monument loop from Largs

6.29km

01:36

20m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

5.0

(1)

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3. The Pencil Monument – Largs Yacht Haven loop from Largs

4.37km

01:07

10m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

Falk

January 16, 2022

This monument, which looks like a gigantic pencil, commemorates the defeat of a Viking fleet at this spot in 1263.
HISTORY
The western islands and coast of Scotland had been under Norse control since the early 12th century. The lords who ruled over the islands and small kingdoms along the coast acknowledged the overlordship of the Norwegian kings. In the middle of the 13th century the Scottish kings Alexander II and his son Alexander III tried to annexe the area to Scotland.

King Hakon of Norway retaliated by assembling a large fleet of warships and sailing around the northern tip of Scotland and down the west coast to the Firth of Clyde. A severe storm on 30 September drove several Norse vessels ashore near Largs. While the Norse attempted to salvage their ships, a Scottish force arrived under the command of Alexander of Dundonald, Steward of Scotland.

In a mix-up worthy of a comedy sketch, were the consequences not so serious, one part of the Norwegian troops ran to join the other, who thought their comrades were fleeing from the field and began to retreat hastily. After a full day of skirmishes, both sides suffered losses, and the Norwegians withdrew to their ships.

Though the battle was not a decisive victory for either side, worsening weather prompted the Norwegians to turn for home. Hakon died at Orkney on the return journey, and the lords of western Scotland soon submitted to the Scottish crown. Though the battle was not celebrated as a major one at the time, later generations of Scottish historians treated it as a decisive moment in the formation of a Scottish nation.

The monument was erected in 1912 to commemorate the Battle of Largs. The Pencil is built of whinstone and stands 70 feet high and is topped by a conical cap. The style is modelled after the round towers at Abernethy and Brechin, wrongly thought by historians at the time to have been built for defence against the Norse.

The location is supposed to mark the battle site, but owes more to tradition than solid history, and is almost certainly not where the battle actually took place. An annual festival to re-enact the Battle of Largs is held at The Pencil each autumn.

source: britainexpress.com/attractions.htm?attraction=1327

Rafa

October 20, 2024

"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." Source: hiddenscotland.com/listings/largs-pencil-monument

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Elevation 0 m

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Wednesday 22 October

10°C

7°C

100 %

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Max wind speed: 19.0 km/h

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See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Largs, West Scotland, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Magnus the Viking Statue

The Pencil Monument

1. Fairlie Castle from Largs loop — Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

2. Magnus the Viking Statue – The Pencil Monument loop from Largs

3. The Pencil Monument – Largs Yacht Haven loop from Largs

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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