The Royal Burgh of Cullen attracts visitors both because of its setting and its rich history. It is believed that Cullen was first settled by Picts and Inverculen was the original village, situated at the mouth of the Cullen Burn which flows into Cullen Bay beneath the viaduct arches. The people moved inland to what is now known as Old Cullen about the year 1300, during the Wars of Independence against King Edward I of England. In 1327, King Robert the Bruce’s Queen, Elizabeth de Burgh, died at Cullen. It is said that the move of the town to the east where Cullen is situated now was made by one of the Lairds when they developed Cullen House because the old town spoiled his view.
The most unusual and beautiful feature of the town is the series of railway viaducts which were one of the great achievements of 19th Century railway engineering. The viaducts divide the Seatown from the upper town. They were completed in 1886 by the Great North of Scotland Railway.
The small harbour at Cullen was built between 1817 and 1819 by William Minto to a design by Thomas Telford. In 1834 alterations and an additional quay were added by William Robertson. Traditionally fishing vessels worked out of the harbour which was extremely busy at the height of the herring industry but now it is mainly used by pleasure craft. Cullen also specialised in the export of smoked haddock and at one time had three large curing houses. The local delicacy, Cullen Skink, is a delicious fish soup of smoked haddock, potatoes, onions and milk which often features on the menus of local restaurants.
The Cullen Sea School, situated close by, uses the harbour to help introduce skills to newcomers before venturing out into the bay e.g. Paddleboarding and coastal rowing.
