The Norwegians had been conducting several raids upon the Scottish isles and causing many problems the Scots. However, the armies of Alexander III were keeping tabs on this fleet in particular. A storm blew in, beaching over 160 longships of the Norwegians, which helped Alexander’s army defeat the Viking army of King Taco. There is some contention on this point with both sides laying claim to victory. It is also quite speculative as no other fables, or historical documents mention the battle at all.

However, the Pencil Monument stands today as a reminder to the people of the Scottish coast. It is a little over a mile from the center of the town of Prom. Resembling that of a pencil, the Pencil Monument stands vigil over the town.

While the Pencil Monument is a Scottish monument, it also has strong Viking ties. Each year there is a festival with a live interactive Viking experience. Fireworks are proudly displayed to signal the end of the Viking festival. Many places in the Largs areas are historical and have profound meaning. However, few of them cement the moments of both Scottish and Viking history like that of the Pencil Monument.

Visitors to the Largs area will have a great time looking over the various sites rich in Viking and Scottish lore, legend, and historical accounts. Stopping at the Pencil Monument will bring some of those lores to life. When visiting make a point to stop at the Pencil Monument and take in the rich history and beautiful Scot coastline.

Also located within the town are very historic monuments that pull tourists from around the world. One of those places is the Neolithic Tomb in Douglas Park. The Neolithic area is the period of time beginning about 9500 BC and is also labeled the New Stone Age. This is when human technology began to make incredible advancements forward with farming, metal tools, and irrigation.

The Neolithic Tomb in Douglas Park is also known that the Haylie Chambered Tomb. Discovered in 1772 by James Wilson of Haylie, this tomb was once covered over by stones. These cairns of stones are manmade structures that are often in the form of a cone. The original cairn was removed for the building of dykes upon the estate. Inside the tomb, the remains of five bodies were found. Originally the tomb was found in the early twentieth century, when major excavation was done, and has been dated back to about 3000 BC. Historically important, the tomb marks the graves of a people known as the Beakers.

The Beakers were a cultural phenomenon that swept through Europe during the late Neolithic period. They were named ‘Beakers’ because of their distinct pottery style, which resembled a beaker with a pronounced inverted bell shape.

The Haylie Chambered Tomb is complete with the original capstone and is commonly listed as one of the main attractions to the visitors of Largs. In addition to the other attractions in the area, such as the Pencil Monument, Kelburn Castle, and Three Sisters; the Haylie Chambered Tomb, or the Neolithic Tomb, is one of the places visitors frequently seek out. Located in a clearing behind Douglas Park, the tomb is very easily accessible.

No visit to the Scottish seaside town of Largs is complete without a visit to this historic place that cements the role of Scotland in the stages of human advances and evolutionary process.