The colourful Scots village that’s charmed film and TV crews just named the best to visit in spring
Looking for a hidden gem for a fun day out to escape the city? Then head out east to the pretty village of Culross, which fans regularly describe as one of the most beautiful in the UK.
The stunning village of Culross (Image: Getty )
There’s a wee village just 40 minutes from Glasgow that has an incredible link to the city that’s just been named among the best to visit in spring.
According to the study from LNER, the picturesque village of Culross (pronounced coo-riss) in Fife is the spot you should be heading to, as the countryside comes into bloom.
The study ranked villages across each UK region based on factors including the number of nearby gardens, flowering plant species, walking trails, and ease of access by rail. It also evaluated each location’s spring visual appeal by using image-based analysis, focusing on visible greenery, floral presence and overall landscape. Each factor was weighted and combined to produce a final score out of 100.
Culross, which is often picked by TV and film scouts who love to use it for filming thanks to its pastel houses and cobbled streets, leads the list, and is often considered by visitors to be one of the “most magical” in the UK.
Easily accessible via the M80, it also has strong historic links to our fair city, in fact, it was the birthplace of Glasgow’s very own founder, St Mungo.
Packed with history, things to do and see and of course, plenty of Instagram-able moments, there’s plenty of excuses for making the trip east.
Where is it?
The ancient and colourful streets are much photographed and filmed(Image: Getty)
Located on the northern banks of the Firth of Forth across the water from Bo’Ness and close to the city of Dunfermline, this stunning Georgian village can be a bit like stepping back in time four centuries or so.
Dripping with history, the village is thought to be the birthplace of St Mungo after his mother Teneu arrived here following her banishment by her father, a king of Lothian.
Kentigern as he was then known, was even given his pet name of Mungo while living in Culross by Saint Serf, before moving west to become the founder and Patron Saint of Glasgow.
Where to stay
A popular tourist spot, this means there are plenty of places to stay nearby, including the pretty Dundonald Guesthouse, which is located in the village and hugely popular, while the Saorsa House B&B, which is another much-loved option for people visiting the town.
TV and film appearances
Jamie and Claire (Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe) during filming in Culross (Image: Starz)
As we mentioned before, it’s one of the most picturesque villages in Scotland and is no stranger to TV appearances, having shown up in the hit series Outlander as well as the recent BBC archaeology series, ‘Villages by the Sea’.
It’s been used as a location in films such as The Little Vampire and even the Marvel smash hit Captain America: The First Avenger.
However, it will be the starring role in Outlander, which has seen it really hit the map, with thousands of tourists now descending on its streets each year.
The fictional village of Cransemuir it portrayed, is the closest to Castle Leoch in the show, and the town square is home to the villainous Geillis Duncan.
Interestingly, the buildings around Culross’ Mercat Cross are actually whitewashed, but during filming, they were painted a dark charcoal grey colour to make them look more grimy and authentic for the time.
Things to see and do
TikTokers and other influencers regularly describe it as Scotland’s “most magical” place.
As well as roving the beautiful cobbled streets and pastel-hued houses, you can visit both the historic Town House, where witches were tried and held while awaiting executions, the Abbey and of course the Palace.
Currently, Culross Palace is open to tourists from 10am to 4pm, offering an exploration of history and even a small market stall in the palace gardens where fresh seasonal herbs, fruits, and vegetables are available for purchase.
The nearby 19th-century gardens at Dunimarle Castle are perfect for those who want to gaze upon acres of snowdrops.
The estate features a tranquil woodland walk that is bordered by thousands of snowdrops in late winter.
How to visit Culross
With many of the town’s more famous buildings under the ownership of the National Trust for Scotland, visitors are welcome to come and see both the grounds of the Palace and the Palace itself.
