Royal Burgh of Cullen

Cullen is not only located in a beautiful part of the country, but also enjoys a rich history - with links to Robert the Bruce, the Findlater and Seafield families and Thomas Telford (who designed and built the harbour).  The series of railway viaducts represent the success of 19th century railway engineering, completed in 1886.  Closed to railway traffic, they now form part of the coastal footpath.

Cullen Auld Kirk dates from the 14th Century;  it is believed that the internal parts of Queen Elizabeth de Burgh (wife of Robert the Bruce) were buried here in 1327.  The church is open from the beginning of June to the end of  September on Tuesdays and Fridays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., with guided tours available.  Church services are held each Sunday at 10.30 (with the exception of the first Sunday in the month).

Cullen is an ideal base for walking along the coast (to both the east and west) and inland to the Crannoch and Bin Hills;  a Leisure Trails leaflet is available giving detailed directions for nine walks in the area.  These walks will take you along the sandy beach (awarded the Blue Flag Award in 2003 for clean bathing water) and Cullen Bay (with the rock strata known as "The Three Kings").  Other features of note are the Pets Cemetery (a scenic resting place for animals), Cullen House and Grounds, the Giant's Steps (created by one man), Sunnyside Beach and Findlater Castle.

And, if you are lucky, when walking along the cliffs or whilst playing Cullen's Tom Morris designed Links Golf Course , you will catch sight of one of only two resident populations of bottle-nosed dolphins in Britain.

With a history of fishing, the burgh is probably best known for the local delicacy of Cullen Skink - a delicious fish soup of smoked haddock, potatoes, onions and milk.  

And not to be missed is a visit to the Cullen Ice Cream Shop to savour the "best ice cream in Scotland".