Culross
Culross is a very attractive village in Fife on the north bank of the Firth of Forth. In the 16th and 17th centuries its merchants grew rich from coal, salt and limestone, trading especially with the Low Countries, and building themselves fine town houses. Those industries moved elsewhere in the 19th century, so Culross was preserved from later development, and in the 20th century was restored. It's pronounced KOO-lross with just the faintest "l" sound. In 2020 together with Valleyfield it had a population of 2280.
Get in
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The village is 8 miles west of Dunfermline and 11 miles east of Falkirk. By car from Edinburgh, follow M90 over the Firth of Forth by Queensferry Crossing (no toll) then take exit 1C onto A985 west. From Glasgow follow M80 then M876 over Kincardine Bridge (no toll) then A985 east. From either end, stay on A985 until you see signs for Culross, near Valleyfield. It's within bicycle range of Edinburgh but cyclists must cross the Forth via the old road bridge A9000, then use B981 Ferry Toll Road onto A985 west.
The nearest railway station is Dunfermline, with frequent trains from Edinburgh.
Stagecoach Bus 8A runs hourly daily from Dunfermline to Culross (25 min) and continues to Kincardine, Clackmannan and Alloa.
Get around
editWalk, the village is small. Motorists please use the free car park at the west edge of the village, and don't clog up the narrow streets.
See
edit- Town centre is picture-perfect. Much of it is 17th century Low Countries style, with crow-stepped gables, and red pantile roofs as Dutch roof tiles were used as ballast by ships returning from trading. You can tour the Palace and ruined Abbey, and admire the exteriors of the other fine buildings.
- 1 Culross Palace, Culross KY12 8JH, ☏ +44 1383 880359. Apr-Sep daily 10AM-5PM, Mar & Oct daily 10AM-4PM. Built early 17th century by Sir George Bruce, using materials (and wealth) gathered from his European trade in timber, coal and salt. The interior is richly decorated in 17th- and 18th-century style, with a large porcelain collection, and the garden has been restored to that era. Now run by the National Trust for Scotland, it was never a royal palace but King James VI visited in 1617 and was intrigued by Sir George's ability to mine beneath the sea. (Excellent drainage was the secret.) The tour brought the king out of an air-shaft onto an islet, with his guards and courtiers mute in the distance across the water — "Treason!" he squealed. Adult £13, conc £10, NTS / NT free.
- 2 Culross Abbey, Kirk St KY12 8JF. 24 hours. Ruins of a Cistercian abbey and monastery founded in 1217: it fell derelict after the 16th century Reformation but wasn't smashed up as other abbeys were. It became the mausoleum for Sir George Bruce and family, then was incorporated into the parish church which is still in use. Free.
- 3 West Kirk is a medieval ruin reached by walking down the narrow lane west of the Abbey - don't bring a car. Already by 1633 Parliament recorded the "old kirk quhairine seruice is not nor hes not beine vsit since memorie of man, and is altogether rwinous, decayit, and falline downe in divers pairts." There's even less of it now except bosky stumps and mossy gravestones, you only come for the walk and the fun of finding it.
- 4 Dunimarle Castle, Culross KY12 8JN, ☏ +44 7713 629040. Apr-Oct Th-Su 10:00-16:00. The original medieval castle is just a ruin. The adjacent 18th century mansion can be visited by guided tour: these are weekly during summer.
- 5 Preston Island became a peninsula of reclaimed land in the 19th century, with coal mines and salt production. The area has now been landscaped; stroll here for views over the Forth.
Do
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- Walk or cycle along the coast of the Firth of Forth. West from Culross the route goes upriver to Kincardine and Clackmannan. East it swings inland past Rosyth navy base then returns to the coast under the Forth bridges and continues all the way to St Andrews.
- Devilla Forest two miles northeast along A985 has walking and cycling trails.
Buy
edit- Nelson's of Culross make ice cream at Blair Mains Farm. It's on sale in various shops but there isn't a farm shop or cafe.
- Co-op Food in High Valleyfield is the nearest convenience store, a mile east. It's open daily 6AM-10PM.
Eat
edit- Bessie's Cafe, Main Street KY12 8JQ (next to Palace), ☏ +44 1383 247381. Daily 10AM-4PM. Friendly place for coffee and light bites.
- Biscuit Cafe, Sandhaven, Culross KY12 8JG (behind Palace). Daily Apr-Oct 10AM-5PM; Nov-Mar 10AM-4PM. Cafe, pottery and gallery. Small place so at busy times it soon fills out or sells out.
Drink
edit- 1 Red Lion Inn, Low Causeway KY12 8HN, ☏ +44 1383 880225. Daily noon-9PM. Good pub with high quality meals - consider booking your table. Sizzling steaks are a specialty.
Sleep
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- Most visitors just day-trip: try Dunfermline for a better choice.
- Old Schoolhouse, West Green, Culross KY12 8JH (next to Palace), ☏ +44 7708 134770. Cosy guesthouse in village centre. B&B double £170.
- Dundonald Guesthouse, 6 Mid Causeway, Culross KY12 8HS (village centre), ☏ +44 7747 044886. Beautiful stylish guesthouse. B&B double £180.
- 1 Saorsa House B&B, Low Causeway, Culross KY12 8HL, ☏ +44 7845 693938. Small welcoming B&B, dog-friendly. B&B double £90.
- 2 West Fife Pods, Muirhead Farm, Gallows Loan KY12 8EN, ☏ +44 7854 175480. Two comfy glamping pods, each sleeps 2 adults and 2 children. Pod £140.
- 3 Bramble Brae, Balgownie Mains Farm KY12 8EL, ☏ +44 7866 739629. Self-catering cottage let Friday to Friday, shorter breaks available in winter. Four bedrooms, sleeps 8.
Connect
editCulross and the coast lane has patchy 4G from all UK carriers. You might get 5G higher up the slope on A985.
Go next
edit- Dunfermline became the royal residence and capital of Scotland in the 11th century. See the ruined Abbey, and the humble birthplace of tycoon philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
- Dollar has a walkway up a dramatic ravine to the ruins of Castle Campbell. The autumn colours here are glorious.
- Stirling, to continue the theme of towns unrelated to the currency they sound like, is a miniature Edinburgh, with its castle perched on a crag.