Castle Hill Cullen Walk

The picturesque seaside town of Cullen has no end of lovely walks, but one of my favourites is Castle Hill, which is a short distance from Seatown and the historic Cullen Viaduct.

We had taken in the New Year at my brother's home in Cullen, and it was a beautiful sunny New Year's Day morning. What better way to start our new year than taking the short walk to Castle Hill and taking in the panoramic views?

Starting the walk

We started the walk from its eastern side at the entrance to the Cullen House grounds. This tree-lined walk is on the road to Cullen House (a private residence) but soon forks off to the right, giving access to the Castle Hill path. It's very well signposted!

 

 

 

 

Local volunteers immaculately keep the paths leading to Castle Hill in pea gravel. They have erected a brilliant information board all about the project and history of the local area; there's a wee donation box stuck to the right-hand side if you fancy supporting this fantastic project.

 

 

 

 

As we got closer, the path braches in multiple directions, left and right both take you to the summit of the hill, but another path takes you to the Cullen Viaduct and back into Cullen itself.

We took the right fork and kept climbing the hill. The views along this path are stunning, taking in scenic views of the Cullen Bay, Seatown and Cullen itself.

 

 

 

At the top is a stone folly with a flagpole and numerous benches and picnic tables.

 

Instead of retracing our steps, we took the path across the Cullen Viaduct and back into the town.

The Castle Hill Project

Before 2016, Castle Hill was overgrown, with no paths to the summit. A dense layer of gorse bush covered 80% of the hill, making it challenging to get to the top.

Working with Historic Environment Scotland, the present volunteer group obtained permission to reinstate the old paths as they were seen in an old photograph from 1949. £20,000 was crowdfunded for the project.

The volunteer group have done an absolutely amazing job of bringing this wonderful landmark back to Cullen; the views from the summit are truly spectacular.

Cullen Castle

The castle on the summit of Castle Hill no longer exists, but it's easy to see where it once stood on its artificial earth mound and perimeter ditch. The original castle would have been a motte and bailey-style castle and existed from the 12th to 14th centuries; the earlier castle would have been made from wood.

Cullen Castle has links to Robert the Bruce and his wife, Elizabeth De Burgh, who possibly died at the castle in 1327. Organs from her body are buried at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin (The Auld Kirk) in Cullen. The last remnants of the castle succumbed to a landslide in the 19th century.

The ruin currently at the top is just a folly and a point for a flag to be flown; I don't believe this is part of the original castle.

Videos from Castle Hill Cullen

Here are a few video clips from our trip to Castle Hill:

 

 

How difficult is the Castle Hill walk?

It's very easy but does have some mildly steep paths. Most people with poor to moderate fitness should manage this walk.

Can the Castle Hill Walk be accessed from Cullen Viaduct?

Yes, it can be accessed from the walk along the old railway viaduct or from the entrance to the Cullen House grounds. See the photo below for the access point.

What can be seen from the Castle Hill summit?

A great deal can be seen, including Cullen's historic Seatown, harbour, beach, and viaduct. Further afield, it's possible to see part of Bow Fiddle Rock, the town of Portknockie, offshore wind farms and the Bin of Cullen.

What other walks are there in Cullen?

Check out my other articles on the Crannog Walk and Cullen Caves Walk.

The Bin of Cullen Walk, a short distance by car from Cullen, gives some of the best views in the area; you can see from Elgin/Lossiemouth all the way to Macduff and beyond!

Is Cullen House open to the public?

Cullen House is a short distance from Castle Hill, but it is a private residence and not open to the public. However, the roads around the house are open to pedestrians on Tuesday and Friday afternoons between 1 pm and 5 pm. It's possible to take in the Auld Kirk nearby too!

Key information on Castle Hill Cullen Walk

• The Castle Hill Cullen Walk is a short route accessible from multiple paths, leading to where Cullen Castle once stood.

• The walk is accessible from the Cullen House road or the Cullen Viaduct.

• The walk is short, easy, and accessible for most fitness levels.

• The walk is not suitable for wheelchairs.

• The walk was reinstated in 2016 by local volunteers as part of the "Castle Hill Project".

• There is no castle on the hill but a stone folly, flagpole, benches and picnic tables.

Conclusion

If you're visiting Cullen, the walk up Castle Hill is a must in fine weather. It's a very short walk and an ideal detour when walking the old railway line coastal path. If you fancy a longer walk, you can continue onwards to the Temple of Pomona, which is now open to the public again.