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.
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