PENCIL WALK PENCIL The

Home , Largs

the path back to the pier. the to back path the

low rampart. Continue the circular route until you rejoin you until route circular the Continue rampart. low

one accessible slope there are signs of a ditch, topped by a by topped ditch, a of signs are there slope accessible one

seen. Its defensive situation can be appreciated, as on its on as appreciated, be can situation defensive Its seen.

which traces of the Iron Age Hill Fort c.1 AD can still be still can AD c.1 Fort Hill Age Iron the of traces which

to Castle Hill. This appears as a rocky knoll on top of top on knoll rocky a as appears This Hill. Castle to

rom the viewpoint follow the circular route north west north route circular the follow viewpoint the rom F

the indicator. the

to view the surrounding hills by using the directions on directions the using by hills surrounding the view to

renowned scientist and mathematician. and scientist renowned

Having accomplished the long flight of steps, walk south walk steps, of flight long the accomplished Having

to Netherhall, once the baronial mansion of Lord Kelvin, Lord of mansion baronial the once Netherhall, to

view of the Firth, the islands and the mountains beyond. mountains the and islands the Firth, the of view

On the main Greenock road again, notice the gatehouse the notice again, road Greenock main the On

climb at your leisure, stopping if you wish to admire the admire to wish you if stopping leisure, your at climb

origin, with traces of pre-historic rampart walls. rampart pre-historic of traces with origin, Retrace your steps to the gate into the upper Park and Park upper the into gate the to steps your Retrace

Estate below. The conical hill is a vitrified fort of volcanic of fort vitrified a is hill conical The below. Estate

remains of 5 people. 5 of remains

picnic, while their husbands were shooting in the Brisbane the in shooting were husbands their while picnic,

by James Wilson of Haylie, when it still contained the contained still it when Haylie, of Wilson James by

ladies who travelled there by horse-drawn carriage, to carriage, horse-drawn by there travelled who ladies

equipped. Neolithic Chambered Cairn, and was discovered in 1772 in discovered was and Cairn, Chambered Neolithic

route to the top, by the spiral path, think of the grand the of think path, spiral the by top, the to route

navigational skills and the walker to be suitably be to walker the and skills navigational called Haco`s Tomb, it is, in fact a pre 3000 B.C. 3000 pre a fact in is, it Tomb, Haco`s called

not to be missed. Should you choose to take the longer the take to choose you Should missed. be to not

walk is across rough moorland and would require good require would and moorland rough across is walk Haylie Chambered Tomb. Although still sometimes still Although Tomb. Chambered Haylie

wonderful panorama of the Clyde and its islands, a view a islands, its and Clyde the of panorama wonderful

bridge and an equally steep climb on the other side. This side. other the on climb steep equally an and bridge detour south to the to south detour

climbing to the top of Knock Hill you will enjoy a enjoy will you Hill Knock of top the to climbing

the falls. This walk involves a very steep descent to the to descent steep very a involves walk This falls. the park, make a short a make park,

strongly advised to make a detour to your left and left your to detour a make to advised strongly

opportunity to cross the Gogo Water by a bridge below bridge a by Water Gogo the cross to opportunity gate to the upper the to gate

unusual archway. As you follow the path upwards you are you upwards path the follow you As archway. unusual

walker (denoted by the broken line) there is an is there line) broken the by (denoted walker passing through the through passing

left to Brisbane Mains Farm, a C-listed building with its with building C-listed a Farm, Mains Brisbane to left

yrshire hills and the Clyde Coast. For the experienced the For Coast. Clyde the and hills yrshire A tennis courts. Before courts. tennis

General of New South Wales. Take the farm road on your on road farm the Take Wales. South New of General

to the old mast giving spectacular views over North over views spectacular giving mast old the to formal gardens and gardens formal

soldier, renowned astronomer, and at one time Governor time one at and astronomer, renowned soldier,

The route continues from the Greeto Bridge and climbs and Bridge Greeto the from continues route The up the drive between drive the up

the most famous being Sir Thomas MacDougall Brisbane, MacDougall Thomas Sir being famous most the

Douglas Park. Walk Park. Douglas

family, important landowners and benefactors to Largs, to benefactors and landowners important family,

on the hill to the south side of the Gogo Burn. Gogo the of side south the to hill the on

ark and cross into cross and ark P

once marked the entrance to the home of the Brisbane the of home the to entrance the marked once

Cock-ma-lane stands out as a well-known landmark set landmark well-known a as out stands Cock-ma-lane

cut through Anderson through cut

Glen Road. Opposite the cemetery you pass gates that gates pass you cemetery the Opposite Road. Glen

collect their winter’s supply of peat. The cottage of cottage The peat. of supply winter’s their collect

Street. Take a short a Take Street.

eep to the path by the burn until you reach Brisbane reach you until burn the by path the to eep K

been an arduous journey for local residents who used it to it used who residents local for journey arduous an been

until you reach May reach you until

outing for Largs families in summer but it must have must it but summer in families Largs for outing

ater and cross the main road into Barr Crescent. Barr into road main the cross and ater W

the PENCIL WALK PENCIL the

Climbing the grassy path to the Greeto Falls is a popular a is Falls Greeto the to path grassy the Climbing

at the planning of D-Day. Follow the path by Noddsdale by path the Follow D-Day. of planning the at ollow the route to route the ollow F

: Vanduara, important as H.Q. for communications for H.Q. as important Vanduara, : ar W ll Firth of Clyde. of Firth the Haylie Car Park. Car Haylie the

ashore for servicing and repair in Barrfields during World during Barrfields in repair and servicing for ashore of Largs, or try to name the various islands visible in the in visible islands various the name to try or Largs, of easily reached from reached easily

Catalina (seaplane) Slip, to enable Catalinas to be brought be to Catalinas enable to Slip, (seaplane) Catalina ferry curving across to Cumbrae, take in a bird’s eye view eye bird’s a in take Cumbrae, to across curving ferry climb but can be more be can but climb

points of interest: the R.N.L.I. Slip, originally built as built originally Slip, R.N.L.I. the interest: of points such that canny walker will pause frequently to watch the watch to frequently pause will walker canny that such contains a strenuous a contains

As you follow the Promenade northwards, you pass two pass you northwards, Promenade the follow you As A good path leads up from Flatt Farm but the gradient is gradient the but Farm Flatt from up leads path good A Please note this walk this note Please

Distance 2.50 miles/4k 2.50 Distance miles/5k 3 Distance miles/11k 6.75 Distance

Castle Hill Walk Hill Castle

Knock Hill Walk Hill Knock Greet0 bridge Walk bridge Greet0 Douglas Park & Park Douglas

Pencil Walk Acknowledgments

The walks in this leaflet Distance 1.25 miles/2k are supported by

ollow the Promenade Fsouthwards passing the attractively designed War Memorial. As you enjoy the walk by the beach, you will pass a jetty used for access to moored boats in the bay. This is Cairnie`s Quay, built by Doctor Cairnie to provide access to his Know the Code before you go ... yacht. A retired Doctor, he built a beautiful Enjoy Scotland’s outdoors - responsibly! home above the grass of Everyone has the right to be on most land and inland water Broomfields, Curling providing they act responsibly. Your access rights and Hall, and devoted much responsibilities are explained fully in the Scottish Outdoor of his time to sailing and Access Code. curling. So fond was he of the latter, that he created the Whether you’re in the outdoors or managing the outdoors, the first ever man-made Curling Rink in the grounds of key things are to: Curling Hall, and is recognised world wide as the Father • take responsibility for your own actions; of Curling. Flats have now replaced his home, but a • respect the interests of other people standing stone which once stood in its grounds can now • care for the environment. be seen in the grass opposite. This is the first of two monuments to commemorate the Battle of Largs. Find out more by visiting www.outdooraccess-scotland.com or phoning your local Scottish Natural Heritage office. As the path curves round the bay, just before the tidal island, a plaque on the ground by the wall commemorates the building of this path with funds raised in 1909 mainly by Largs Visitors’ Club i.e. regular holidaymakers. Finally you reach the Pencil Monument, Greenock built in 1912 to commemorate the Battle of Largs

1263. Whether this was a slight skirmish or a great Glasgow battle, it deserves its place in history because it was the Paisley Great Largs last occasion on which Scots and Norwegians fought on Cumbrae Scottish soil. Walk a little farther and the attractive Millport Little waterfront path continues behind the Largs Yacht Cumbrae Haven Marina. Irvine Brodick

Firth of Clyde Ayr www.ayrshirepaths.org.uk