Holiday homes & rentals in Cullen

The fishing village of Cullen is a popular and relaxing spot for a summer break and boasts a good choice of holiday accommodation. Highlights include coastal walks, sandy beaches and the historic ruins of Findlater Castle which dates back to the Normans. The town is known for Cullen Skink, its famous fish soup, and award-winning ice cream. For your accommodation, pick a colourful townhouse or a tiny holiday cottage near the waterside, probably once the home of a fishing family.

Traditional Scottish Gastronomy

Take a break from self-catering in your holiday cottage and search out a restaurant in Cullen serving the famous but humble Cullen Skink.

Created to make good use of local North Sea fish, this creamy soup now features smoked haddock, potatoes, onions and milk but in the past, strips of beef from the leg of a cow were used instead of haddock. There's even a Cullen Skink World Championship (last won locally in 2016).

Also not to be missed in Cullen is local ice cream. Cullen and the next-door village of Portsoy are great ice cream rivals. Enjoy this homemade ice cream whatever the weather, but if it's really raining, take some back to your holiday accommodation.

The Photogenic Attractions of Cullen

Stroll from your Cullen accommodation to the harbour. It's a photogenic spot with a historic viaduct in the background and a pretty low-tide beach next to it. Carry on walking around the bay and you'll come to Cullen Beach flanked by the impressive Three Kings rock stack. This part of the bay provides a safe haven for a pod of bottlenose dolphins, definitely one of Cullen's attractions.

Sitting on rocks between Cullen and Sandend are the ruins of Findlater Castle first mentioned as the seat of the Ogilvie family in the early 13th century.

Take a walk along the coast from your accommodation and you'll pass a cave where Charlie Marioni, a French World War II deserter, eluded the authorities for 13 years.

Frequently Asked Questions