Virtual reality could be coming to Largs under exciting new plans unveiled at a recent North Coast council meeting.

3D Vikings explaining The Battle of Largs could be appearing on your mobile phones under the exciting plans which were presented at Brooksby in front of councillors last week.

The presentation was provided by Bruce Macaulay of 6274 Public Art on the use of state-of-the-art interpretative signage and augmented reality technology to promote tourism.

Under the proposals, you would be able to point your mobile phone at various locations, and not only upload facts and historic information, but also see images from the past - including animated Vikings!

One of the impressive photos shown to the audience was if you pointed your picture at Largs shoreline, and on the screen, you will be transported to 1263 and see Viking ships on the coast.

Mr Macaulay provided examples of mobile ‘phone applications and QR codes used in a variety of different settings to link to web information, virtual figures and graphics, and set out the potential for using this type of technology to promote tourism within Largs.

Councillors asked questions, and received information, on the potential cost of such a project within Largs. the availability of funding, the benefits of this type of tourism promotion, particularly in the context of the regeneration of Largs Main Street; and the level of mobile phone reception required to support such an initiative.

The council committee have agreed to record its interest in the use of augmented reality technology to promote tourism in Largs; and that the Streetscene officer at North Ayrshire Council investigate the position in terms of the provision of 4G mobile ‘phone reception in the Largs area.

Council officers told councillors funds could be provided from profits generated from the seafront car park towards the project.

Mr Macaulay said: “Potentially it is very exciting, and could provide a lot of buzz, if councillors go ahead with the concept. There are various industry mobile phone apps, such as Blippar, and it allows us to use animation and photos, as your phone will recognise your location using GPS (Global Positioning System) and you have a wireframe of the landscape in the programme. Your phone would be able to recognise the shape of Millport for instance. The technology has already been used at famous London sites such as Picadilly Circus. You could point your phone in Largs Town Centre, and as well as uploading various different details and information, you could upload black and white images from the town’s past with all the various details about the local area.” Councillors were told that Historic Viking Trails could be offered via the project, linking up with the St Columba’s Heritage Centre, to the former Observatory site, and the Neolithic tomb in Douglas Park.

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.

Proposals are also underway to relaunch the former Sir Thomas Brisbane Observatory which was originally built in 1808. Sir Thomas Brisbane, who went on to be governor of Brisbane in Australia, catalogued over 7000 stars in the night sky, and has a crater named after him on the Moon.