|
Tour
Lower Largo in the Kingdom of Fife
The
coastal scene of Largo Bay with its sandy beaches and golf courses,
lying in the shadow of the old volcanic mound of Largo Law ( hill
), forms an attractive setting for the old villages of Lundin
Links, Upper Largo and Lower Largo. Consequently Lundin Links
has always been a favorite of vacationers and especially golfers.
The Lundin Links course was designed in 1868 and today is of the
required standard to hold the qualifying rounds of the Open Championship
when it is held in St Andrews. The course is dotted with ancients
stones and ruined towers from ancient times.
Lower Largo is a popular tourist resort with an attractive harbor
at the mouth of the Kiel River which is dominated by the towering
arches and pillars of the now defunct railway viaduct. Lower Largo
is renowned for its association with Alexander Selkirk, who was
to gain fame for his self-imposed exile on a desert island in
the Pacific Ocean. Selkirk was born in the village in 1676 and
in his youth developed a keen interest in the seafaring life.
Eventually, he ran away to sea and in the year 1704 was sailing
on the ship " Cinque Ports " across the Pacific Ocean when after
a violent disagreement with the captain he was put ashore on the
island of Juan Fernandez. It was four years and four months before
he was rescued and returned to London. Daniel Defoe, the novelist,
became interested in the real-life story and in 1719 published
Robinson Crusoe. In Lower Largo a small statue of Andrew Selkirk,
dressed in familiar desert island goat-skin clothing, marks the
site of the cottage where he was born.
Upper Largo otherwise known as Kirkton of Largo, with its old
Church that was consecrated in 1243 lies near the foot of Largo
Law. the Church with its 17th century spire sits high on a grassy
knoll and forms a picturesque setting amongst the trees and surrounding
cottages.
Standing between Upper Largo and Lundin Links are the sorry ruins
of Largo House which built by the architect Robert Adams in 1750.
Lower Largo is ideally located for easy trips to St Andrews, Dunfermline,
Culross, Perth, Edinburgh, Falkland Palace, and all of historic
Fife. If you would like to visit this area as part of a highly
personalized small group tour of my native Scotland please e-mail
me at;
sandystevenson@thefreesite.com
Return
To Fife
|
