Travel photographers know a thing or two about the most picturesque destinations around the world, so it’s no surprise they are the people to ask when it comes to finding out about some of the most gorgeous villages in the UK. Big 7 Travel asked travel photographers to weigh in on some of their favourite villages for snapping beautiful photographs in the UK, with one Scottish destination being named for its “pastel-hued cottages” which date back to the 16th century.
Culross in Fife is “renowned as one of Scotland’s most picturesque villages”, according to the local tourism board Visit Fife.
Made up of steep cobbled causeways, with quaint step-gabled buildings, the village has made many appearances in film and on TV. Culross regularly appeared on Outlander as Cranesmuir, with the village’s Mercat Cross and surrounding buildings instantly recognisable to fans of the hit TV series.
In the 1500s, the village was a thriving port, which brought wealth to one local laird and merchant who eventually built the famous Culross Palace.
The National Trust of Scotland has ensured the village is frozen in time, perfectly preserving this slice of pretty history. You can still pay a visit to Culross Palace and its recreated 16th-century gardens.
According to Big 7 Travel: “Despite being a small village, there’s a lot to see in Culross – and no visit is complete without exploring the Palace. The distinctive bright mustard grand house was originally constructed in 1597, and visitors can go inside to marvel at the painted ceilings, Dutch floor tiles, and 17th-century furniture.”
Keen photographers should be sure to capture the view across the terracotta rooftops from Mercat Cross, and Culross Abbey is just a short walk from here, according to the photographers who spoke to Big 7.
“Legend has it that St. Mungo, Glasgow’s Patron Saint, often visited the Abbey,” said the Big 7 report. “Parts are in ruins, but you can still see the refectory, the vaulted ceilings, and the cloisters.”
For those who are considering relocating to the charming village, house prices average at under £275,000. This is almost the same as the national average which was provisionally estimated at £285,000 in December 2023.
According to RightMove data: “Properties in Culross had an overall average price of £275,500 over the last year.
“Overall, sold prices in Culross over the last year were 23% up on the previous year and 44 percent down on the 2011 peak of £491,333.”
Though prices are somewhere around the national average, it’s significantly less than other beautiful villages in the UK. Studland, in Dorset, was recently named the UK’s “poshest village” where the average house price will set you back £1,925,500, according to Right Move data.
