Largo

Largo is a Parish in the Fife area of Scotland, 40 miles north of Edinburgh, 3 miles north of Leven. Largo is made up of three Villages, Lower Largo, Upper Largo, and Lundin to the south.

Lower Largo is popular for the Harbour and Beach with the Crusoe Hotel for meals, and Robinson Crusoe Statue on the Main Street. The real life Robinson Crusoe, stranded on an Island for years, was born in Lower Largo.

The Standing Stones of Lundin are in the Lundin Ladies Golf Course, and Lundin Beach runs from Lundin Golf Club 3 miles south to Leven. Largo is also on the top section of the Fife Coastal Path, north to Elie, St Monans, Pittenweem, and Anstruther.

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The image top is looking over Lower Largo Harbour to the Crusoe Hotel, with the Beach running from the Hotel north. The Crusoe Hotel was originally built in 1824 as a Granary. Soon after, an Inn was opened at the end of the Building. The Granary was converted to a Tea Room in 1920, then to the Crusoe Hotel soon after.

The Castaway Restaurant in the Crusoe Hotel has a Nautical Theme, after the Book and Film about Robinson Crusoe being stranded on an Island for years. The Book is said to have been based on Alexander Selkirk, a Sailor from Largo, that was stranded on an Island for four years from 1704. A Statue of Selkirk can be found at a House on the Main Street of Lower Largo.

The second image is looking across the Harbour to the Railway Inn and Railway Viaduct. The Viaduct was completed around 1863, allowing Trains to run between Leven and Anstruther. This line closed in 1966, with the Viaduct now expected to be converted to a foot/cycle path.

The Railway Inn opened in 1749 with its original name hard to find. The Inn only sells drinks, popular with Walkers on the Fife Coastal Path.

Upper Largo is on the Main Coastal Road running north to Elie, St Monans, Pittenweem, Anstruther, Crail, Kings Barns, and St Andrews, one of the most scenic areas in Scotland, with great Beaches and picturesque Fishing Villages.

The main attractions in Upper Largo are the Parish Church built from 1623, and Upper Largo Hotel with a Restaurant.

The Standing Stones of Lundin are on the second hole of Lundin Ladies Golf Club, top side of the main road running through Lundin. The Stones are dated to about the 2nd Millennium BC. There used to be four Stones, with one said to have been lost around 1792, after Treasure Hunters were involved in that Stone breaking.

The Lundin Ladies Golf Club was established in 1891 by the Beach. The Ladies Club moved to Standing Stanes Park in 1910, with this 9 Hole Course designed by five times Open Champion, James Braid.

Lundin Golf Club is on the low side of the Main Road by the Beach, established in 1886.

The Beach by Lundin Golf Club runs three miles south to Leven. The Fife Coastal Path runs along side the Beach.

Largo History

1500s - there was a Settlement by the Harbour at Lower Largo, probably based around Fishing.

1820s - a Pier was built at the Harbour for Fishing Vessels, with about 40 Boats at one time Fishing for Herring, Haddock, Salmon, and Shellfish.

1821 - a Steam Ferry Service was operated between Largo and Newhaven at Edinburgh. This was the best way to travel between Fife and Edinburgh until the Railway reached the area in the 1860s.

1800s - Largo produced Linen Cloth from the Flax Plant, and Linseed Oil from the Seads of Flax. Flax was grown in Scotland for centuries, also imported from Baltic countries from the 1800s.

1800s mid - Fife Coal Mines began producing vast amounts of Coal, with the Harbour at Lower Largo used to export some of this Coal.

Making Linen from Flax seemed to reduce dramatically in the early 1900s, with only one company in Fife left today, Peter Greig & Co Ltd of Kirkcaldy.

The Fife Coal Mines closed between the late 1900s and early 2000s, with little evidence left they ever existed.