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Culross
In Culross, 45 minutes northwest of Edinburgh, you’ll find cobbled streets and unique red-tile-roofed 17th and 18th-century buildings. And, you might recognise the picturesque village from the TV series Outlander. Here, you can stroll around the grounds of the beautiful palace and its period gardens. Full of charm and history, this is one of our favourite Scottish villages to visit.
Visiting Culross
The easiest way to reach Culross from Edinburgh is by car. The journey takes you across the Queensferry Crossing and over to Fife, which takes around 45 minutes. This is a fantastic day trip to enjoy during your stay with us at Parliament House Hotel. There is so much to see in this picturesque village and lots of history to explore. We recommend visiting between April and September/October, when the tours and attractions are open.
The name of the village is actually pronounced “coo·ros”. It is a former royal burgh, with pretty cottages and interesting 17th and 18th-century architecture. Culross Palace is a must-see attraction on your day trip. The striking yellow ochre-coloured building dates from around 1600, built for Sir George Bruce, the Laird of Carnock. You can also visit the ruins of Culross Abbey, an ancient monastery founded in the 1200s.
‘Absolutely loved our visit to this gorgeous, unspoilt village (pronounced ‘coo russ’). We walked along the pier when we first arrived then picked up our timed tickets for the palace. I also bought a copy of the National Trust for Scotland Culross guidebook which was very useful for the palace visit and a guided walk around the village. We will be visiting again next year.’
– Royal Burgh of Culross Tripadvisor Review
Outlander location
Visiting Culross is like stepping back in time. And its cobbled streets and historic architecture made it the perfect backdrop for the popular Outlander TV series, set partly in the 1700s. In the series, Culross became the fictional village of Cranesmuir. The Palace Gardens, village square, Study House and nearby West Kirk were all used as filming locations. This has made Culross more of a tourist attraction in recent years, as Outlander fans come to see where their favourite show was filmed.
Please note, Culross guided town tours and palace tours are closed during the winter. Please check the opening times on the palace website before visiting.
