Cullen

Cullen is a village and former Royal Burgh situated just over 20 miles east of Elgin on the Moray Firth coast, between Buckie and Portsoy. Rich in history and surrounded by beautiful scenery, the village’s striking coastal setting adds to its attraction as a popular residential area as well as a holiday destination. Cullen’s population currently numbers around 1,500 residents.

Homes in Cullen

The homes in Cullen range from traditional single and two storey cottages, with stone walls and pitched roofs, in the centre of the village, to more recent developments set back from the town’s old centre and the coast. Many of the homes in Cullen are just a short walk from the harbour and are surrounded by picturesque countryside to the rear of the town.

As for local schools, Cullen Primary is a great facility which benefits from the open spaces towards the outskirts of the town and, just a 10-minute drive away, Buckie offers Cluny and St. Peters Primaries. Other nearby options include Portnockie Primary School and Nursery, which is just a short car journey from the centre of the village. Buckie, also offers an excellent secondary school which boasts an onsite swimming pool and leisure complex as part of its facilities. 

History of Cullen

The village also has a long association with fishing, boasting a Thomas Telford designed harbour dating to the 19th century. In addition to its history as a bustling fishing port, Cullen gives its name to Cullen Skink - the famously rich and full-flavoured haddock soup. Such is the popularity of this traditional Scottish dish, there is even a Cullen Skink World Championships competition held there each year.

Cullen offers a number of interesting historical sites including Cullen Old Kirk, a building which partly dates back to the 13th century, and the spectacular Cullen viaduct which was built in the late 19th century to carry a single (now disused) railway. Cullen viaduct now forms part of the popular Cullen Bay and Portknockie walk which takes in some of the area’s most scenic views. Cullen is also famous for its bottlenose dolphins which are often seen in the waters of the Moray Firth – with white-sided dolphins and orca occasionally visiting too.

Things to do in Cullen

An ideal location for many outdoor pursuits including fishing and hill walking, Cullen is home to the highly-regarded Cullen Golf Club, whose challenging short eighteen-hole course begins with the first nine holes located among the cliffs before descending to beach level. The village also offers a good range of local amenities, offering a variety of shops, health services and a post office and public library.

Cullen provides many opportunities to eat out, from Indian cuisine to traditional cosy pub grub and high-end dining experiences. There are also many coffee shops and nearby bars for an evening drink. Cullen also boasts several community clubs and organisations which offer for all age groups, helping newcomers to the area to settle in quickly.

Looking to buy or rent property in Cullen, Moray? Let ASPC help. Our extensive listing of flats and homes for sale and rent range from one-bed properties to large family homes. We also have a range of retirement properties in Cullen available.