Christian Holiday Cottage, Cullen — In the Old Fishertown of Seatown
This Christian holiday cottage, Cullen, stands in Seatown, the old fishing quarter that gives the town’s most famous export — Cullen Skink — its name and its history. When the Earl of Seafield rebuilt the whole of Cullen half a mile from its original site in the 1820s, to give Cullen House more privacy and to escape the flooding that regularly plagued the old town, Seatown’s rows of small stone fishermen’s cottages were laid out close to the new harbour and Thomas Telford’s 1819 pier. Dellwood Cottage is one of that same tradition: a genuine fisherman’s cottage, built for people who worked the herring boats, now offering rest rather than labour. At the height of the herring boom in the 1880s, Cullen’s harbour would have been crowded with sailing boats and, later, steam drifters — a world away from the quiet fishing village Seatown has become today.
The one building spared when the rest of Old Cullen was swept away is also its most remarkable: the Auld Kirk, first recorded in 1236 and still standing today, alone, in the parkland surrounding Cullen House. In 1327, Elizabeth de Burgh, Queen of Scots and second wife of Robert the Bruce, died after a fall from her horse while visiting Cullen. Concerned her body would not survive the journey south to Dunfermline Abbey, the townspeople had her organs buried in the kirk here; Robert the Bruce, said to be “mad with mourning and woe”, endowed the church with an annual payment of five Scots pounds in perpetuity so that prayers would be said for her soul — a gift the kirk is still recorded as receiving today, its value long since reduced to a few pounds but its history unbroken for very nearly seven hundred years.
A mile along the coast, the sea has carved its own landmark: Bow Fiddle Rock, the natural sandstone arch already mentioned above, has been shaped by the Moray Firth’s waves for millennia and remains one of the most photographed sights on this stretch of coastline. Between the Auld Kirk’s seven centuries of continuous remembrance and the ever-changing rock formations along the shore, Dellwood Cottage sits at the meeting point of some genuinely old stories and some genuinely old geology, all within walking distance of its own front door. Further along the coast, at the mouth of the Cullen Burn, an isolated set of rock stacks known locally as “The Three Kings” offers one more reminder that this shoreline has been shaping stories, as well as scenery, for a very long time.
Guests based at Dellwood have all of this within a short walk or drive: the harbour and beach at the bottom of the street, Buckie’s supermarkets ten minutes away, and the whole of the Moray Coast Trail running past the door for anyone wanting to walk further afield towards Portknockie or Findochty. It’s a small, quiet base with a genuinely long memory behind it, built for guests who want their days shaped by tide and weather rather than a fixed itinerary. From medieval queens to Victorian fishing fleets, Dellwood Cottage sits at the meeting point of an unusual amount of history for such a small corner of the Moray coast.
Dellwood Cottage is perfect for:
- Families or groups of up to six, in a genuine stone fisherman’s cottage in Seatown
- Guests interested in Scotland’s Christian and royal history, from the Auld Kirk to Robert the Bruce’s 700-year-old endowment
- Walkers wanting the Moray Coast Trail and Bow Fiddle Rock right on their doorstep
- Clergy and paid church staff, with a £50 weekly discount
- Wild swimmers and beach-lovers, with Cullen’s own beach a short walk away
Location
Dellwood Cottage, 58A, Seatown, Cullen, Moray, AB56 4SJ
How to get there:
Nearest airports: Aberdeen & Inverness
Nearest railway station: Keith
Bus: 35 from Aberdeen, 35 from Elgin, 309 from Keith
Driving: Good street parking in location of Dellwood
Nearest Towns:
Cullen & Buckie
Local Area
Cullen, on the Moray Firth coast of north-east Scotland, is a small but lively town known for its harbour, beach and the famous dish Cullen Skink. It has a good range of independent shops, cafés and services.
You’ll find local several antique and collectable outlets, many showcasing work from local makers, a pharmacy, post office and a convenience store.
Cullen offers a few small restaurants and tearooms. Local highlights include places serving Cullen Skink and home-baked treats.
The beach is a major attraction, popular with walkers, families and wild swimmers, while the surrounding area provides excellent opportunities for golf, cycling and coastal walks along the Moray Coast Trail.
The nearest large supermarket is in Buckie where you’ll find Tesco, Lidl and Co-op stores.
The world famous Bow Fiddle Rock is a mile away and can be accessed by car or on foot.
Facilities
Dellwood is a charming stone fisherman’s cottage accommodating up to six guests. It features three bedrooms:
- Ground-floor king-size double with en-suite shower, basin, and WC.
- First floor includes another king-size double and a twin room
Bathrooms
There’s an en-suite shower room on the ground floor, plus a first-floor family bathroom equipped with bath, separate shower, basin, and WC.
Living & Sleeping Comforts
The kitchen and sitting room include a dining area. Gas central heating and an electric fire add cosy warmth.
TV / Wi-Fi & Entertainment
The property offers Wi-Fi and two TVs with Freeview, along with a DVD player. A selection of books, DVDs, and games is also provided.
Bedding & Linens
Bed linen and towels are included
Parking
There’s roadside parking available outside the property.
Outdoor Space
You can relax in an enclosed patio garden furnished with seating, ideal for outdoor dining or winding down.
Child-Friendly Provisions
Dellwood is family-friendly, and comes with a travel cot and highchair.
Accessibility / Disability Provisions
The ground-floor bedroom is a plus for mobility, but is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Other Equipment & Amenities
The kitchen is well-equipped with:
- Electric oven and hob
- Microwave
- Fridge and freezer
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
Additional Photos
Click to enlarge
Costs
Charges: £520 to £850+ per week
£50 per week discount is offered to clergy and paid church staff. Possible additional discount for a longer stay.
Energy Provision: Included in tariff.
Availability
Available all year round.
Arrival and Departure times:
Saturday change – 3 pm arrival and 10 am departure
Booking arrangements: Weekly stays only.
Pets: Sorry – no pets
Contact the Owner
If you are interested in making a booking, or you would like further information, please get in touch using the following contact details:
Name: Estelle Pearce
Phone Number: 07580 545109
Email Address: epearce333@gmail.com
Website: dellwoodcottage.co.uk