Largs on the west coast of Scotland is the perfect coastal town, in my opinion (Image: Nicola Roy)
Summer is well and truly over here in the UK, but it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom for the next few months – although the thought of a long, dark winter can be daunting. Embracing the cosy season with open arms is something I try to do every year, but this time around, I’m determined to make it stick.
This involves actually going out and exploring more of the lovely places our country has to offer and not be put off by the miserable weather. And there’s one place I’ve been going to since I was little that is hugely popular in summer, yet not so much in the winter. But after spending a rainy weekend there recently, I can confirm that it’s just as great – and maybe even more charming.
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Don’t let the gloomy weather put you off visiting Largs this autumn (Image: Nicola Roy)
Largs is a lovely coastal town in the west of Scotland, around an hour away from Glasgow. Known for its Viking museum, old-fashioned amusement arcades and ferry rides across to the isle of Cumbrae, it’s a place that many Scots will likely have visited during the warm summer months.
My family has been huge fans of Largs for many years, which meant as soon as the weather forecast looked promising enough, off we went in the car when my brother and I were kids.
It’s one of those places that I had such fond memories of that I knew it probably wasn’t as good as I thought it once was—and definitely not when the clouds rolled in and the air turned chilly.
But I actually couldn’t have been more wrong. Last weekend, on a family trip, we embarked on plenty of rainy beach walks, ate some gorgeous food, and even saw a couple of Vikings out in the wild – and the sun was nowhere to be seen.
Largs has everything you’d want from a seaside town, including freshly made donuts (Image: Nicola Roy)
This pretty town situated right by the Firth of Clyde has everything you’d ever want from a seaside town, including plenty of lovely hotels and accommodation options.
We stayed at the Old Rectory, a gorgeous holiday home that sleeps up to 14 people, with a hot tub out the back and plenty of space to relax in.
The best part about Largs is that no matter where you’re staying, you’re not far from the waterfront. Along the Victorian-style promenade, you’ll find so much to see and do, not to mention the brilliant food and drink options serving up everything from classic fish and chips to delicious Thai food.
Largs is famous for being the site of a historical battle way back in 1263 that marked the end of the extensive Viking influence in Scotland.
You can learn all about it at the Vikingar museum, or if you want to really get involved in the action, you can pay a visit to the Largs Viking Festival that takes place annually.
It just so happened to be on when we were visiting, and featured battle re-enactions, plenty of live music, and some pretty interesting costumes.
You can’t go to Largs without visiting Nardini’s for an ice cream (Image: Nicola Roy)
Aside from the Vikings, one of the other things Largs is most famous for is its art deco-style ice cream parlour that has been drawing in visitors for years.
Nardini’s, fondly known as Scotland’s most famous cafe, is so popular for a reason – it’s so warm and cosy on the inside, and of course the ice cream is not to be missed.
Like Vikingar, it’s also right on the waterfront, and it’s the perfect place to sit and enjoy a scoop or two of your favourite flavour.
They also sell a huge array of cakes and other light bites, making it ideal for lunch or just a snack to fuel your beachfront walks.
If you head into the town itself, you’ll find charming little winding streets packed full of independent gift shops, eateries and more ice cream.
For brunch one morning, we stopped at Perk – a brightly-coloured cafe with plants and books lining the walls, and a pretty impressive menu too.
Largs might have a retro vibe, but its eateries are definitely keeping up to date with foodie trends (Image: Nicola Roy)
The vanilla matcha was to die for, and I couldn’t resist ordering the decadent feta and avocado waffles from the menu.
And, just in case you’re still full after your meal, there’s a cake cabinet stuffed full of pastries and other delights for you to take away.
While you might not find any high street giants on the streets of Largs, what you will find is plenty of independent sellers all with their own unique products to show off.
There’s a good-sized market tent that’s lined with retailers stocking everything from organic dog food to wooden lamps, jewellery, soaps and even tarot-reading – I could have wandered around all day.
Be sure to pay the Largs market hall a visit (Image: Nicola Roy)
If you want to venture slightly more further afield, you can hop on a short ferry from the port and head on over to the Isle of Cumbrae, known for its bustling little town of Millport.
The island is small enough that you can cycle all the way around it in a couple of hours, stopping for a well-deserved pint at the end before sailing back over to the mainland in just 10 minutes.
There’s also the nearby Kelburn Castle, a gorgeous park and estate that hosts its own music festival in the summer. It’s perfect for families too, since there’s plenty of playparks, waterfalls and so much more to explore – and it’s less than 10 minutes away from Largs too.
But honestly, there is more than enough in Largs to keep you entertained for the day or even the weekend. Do not let the grey and drizzly Scottish weather put you off – it makes those seafront walks all the more refreshing, and the ice-cream parlours even more cosy.