Approximate Location Map
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Largs is situated on the Firth of Clyde and serves as the departure point for ferries to the Isle of Cumbrae. The town has a mild climate and is home to several small sandy beaches, including Pencil Beach.
Pencil Beach is a small, shallow bay approximately 300 metres in length, located at the southern end of Largs. The beach is a mix of sand, grass, and pebble, with rocky outcrops scattered throughout. The bay slopes gently into the sea, offering stunning views of the Firth of Clyde and, on clear days, the Little Cumbrae and Great Cumbrae islands.
Adjacent to the beach is a strip of land that is home to the Pencil Monument, which commemorates the Battle of Largs in 1263. This historic event saw a group of locals attack Norwegian ships sheltering in the bay from storms. Although the outcome of the battle is unclear, it marked a significant turning point in history, contributing to the withdrawal of Viking raiders from the Scottish Isles.
Visitors to Largs can enjoy a range of activities and attractions, including the Viking Festival in early September, which features mock skirmishes, fireworks, and Viking-themed events. The award-winning Viking Centre is also a must-visit, offering interactive displays about Viking everyday life, a themed children's play area, and an indoor swimming pool. For those looking to explore the area, a car park and Largs Marina are located south of the beach.
Largs Pencil Beach is adjacent to the Ayrshire Coastal Path.
Harbour Sand
| Today |  |
|---|---|
| Chance of rain | 93% |
| Max temperature | 9°C |
| feels like | 6°C |
| Wind 15mph |  |
| Max UV Index |  |
| Tonight |  |
|---|---|
| Chance of rain | 10% |
| Min temperature | 6°C |
| feels like | 4°C |
| Wind 14mph | |
The tide at Largs Pencil Beach is currently low. High tide will be at approximately 11:12 PM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 5:00 AM tomorrow.
Detailed weather and tides »Parking by the harbour.
No lifeguard cover at this beach
Excellent water quality
just over a mile south as the seagull flies, around 2 miles by road.
around 2 miles north-northwest as the seagull flies, around 2 miles by road.
around 6 miles south as the seagull flies, around 7 miles by road.
around 7 miles north as the seagull flies, around 8 miles by road.
around 9 miles south as the seagull flies, around 10 miles by road.
around 10 miles north as the seagull flies, around 12 miles by road.
around 10 miles south-southeast as the seagull flies, around 11 miles by road.
around 11 miles south-southeast as the seagull flies, around 14 miles by road.
around 13 miles north as the seagull flies, around 16 miles by road.
around 14 miles south-southeast as the seagull flies, around 18 miles by road.
around 17 miles south-southeast as the seagull flies, around 22 miles by road.
around 18 miles south-southeast as the seagull flies, around 22 miles by road.
around 18 miles south-southeast as the seagull flies, around 23 miles by road.
around 21 miles south-southeast as the seagull flies, around 26 miles by road.
around 23 miles south-southeast as the seagull flies, around 31 miles by road.
around 25 miles south-southeast as the seagull flies, around 35 miles by road.
around 25 miles south-southeast as the seagull flies, around 35 miles by road.
around 25 miles south-southeast as the seagull flies, around 36 miles by road.
around 26 miles south as the seagull flies, around 39 miles by road.
around 28 miles south as the seagull flies, around 43 miles by road.
Location: Largs
Location type: Village
OS Grid: NS208576
Coordinates: 55°46'42"N 4°51'31"W
Mapcode: GBR 31.8SM6
What 3 Words: stood.dawn.jukebox
Coordinates and location codes are for an approximate mid-point of the beach, and may not reflect the best access point or the most popular part of the beach.
Country: Scotland
Local Authority: North Ayrshire
Nearest postcode: KA30 8HA
(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)
Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.
