Culross

Visiting family in Fife this weekend and today we visited Culross which is the starting point of Fife Pilgrim Way and has been a religious site since the 6th century. By the 13th century, there was a grand abbey at the top of the hill, with the village sitting beneath it. Today, Culross Abbey is in ruins but the town, which is cared for by the National Trust for Scotland, and is a spectacular example of a 16th century burgh.

In the 1500s, Culross was a thriving port, bringing such great wealth to one local laird and merchant, he built a palace for his family to live in. Today, ochre-coloured Culross Palace, with its perfectly recreated 16th century gardens, is one of the many highlights of a visit to the village. The nearby Town House, overlooking the Firth of Forth, was once Culross’ court and jail, with criminals kept in the cell while witches were incarcerated in the attic. 

Culross regularly appeared in Outlander as Cranesmuir, with the village’s Mercat Cross and surrounding buildings instantly recognisable to fans of the hit television series and books. 

We thoroughly enjoyed wandering round the streets and had very tasty lunch in Bessie’s Café which adjoins the National Trust building.