A little geography and history first: Because the village of Culross needs a bit of explaining. It is located on the Firth of Forth, a fjord that flows into the North Sea. Sip a fine Scotch by the water here in those balmy summer days. Boats are moored in the neighboring harbors ready to set sail with their owners.
Culross itself not only looks like a film set, it actually is one. During our visit, we met two groups who were visiting locations from the well-known movie Outlander. The entire town has been spared from modern architectural sins. Every house in Culross qualifies as a landmark, everything looks tidy and is rich with history.
THE DUNDONALD
In the centre of it all, in a tiny side street, lies the Dundonald. A truly beautiful gem that you should visit once in your life. Laura Wilson “invented” it together with her husband and daughter. As they are absolute hotel aficionados themselves, they have channelled their best experiences into this gem. The main house consists of currently two guest rooms. And next door: Find a cottage that can accommodate six people and where the walls date back to the 17th century.
The two guest rooms are called Serfs and Kentigerns. Both are located on the top floor of the house and the view extends over the fjord and the roofs of the small village. The design is very bright, the beds are heavenly and the duvets are made of high-quality linens. In the bathroom there are beauty products by Laura Thomas (with local ingredients, at home in the west of Edinburgh), on the walls we found wonderful art that you would also hang in your living room at home.
The cottage is right next door to The Dundonald in the same street. It has its own entrance, so you are completely on your own. As in The Dundonald, the rooms and spaces here are very bright and, above all, very harmoniously designed. A perfect place for an extended stay. In summer, you can relax on the terrace in the inner courtyard. A breakfast basket is brought to you in the morning, but you can also come over to the main building and have breakfast with the other guests.
The host
Laura is the epitome of the perfect host and inn-keeper you like to run into when traveling abroad. She truly cares about her guests and wants them to enjoy their trip as much as possible. After ten years living near Toronto in Canada, she dedicated her life to welcoming guests at The Dundonald. “My two grannies, mum, and four aunties, have influenced me and how I choose to live my life. True homemakers in every sense of the word, they’re always decorating, upcycling, cleaning, gardening, raising families, and hosting. An inspiration, still”, she says.
The area
Culross is only 40 minutes from Edinburgh and 35 mins from Glasgow. We would therefore recommend setting up your basecamp here and taking day trips to both cities (especially because we haven’t found a Pretty Hôtel in both cities yet). Culross itself is a great place to spend a few days and it is part of the National Trust of Scotland due to its film-ready houses and location on the fjord. Some people also set off on a walk towards St Andrews – the Fife Pilgrim Way.
Ideal for
Couples, families, single travelers who want a perfect start to a great Scotland experience.
Combine with
On our trip we also discovered Banchory Farm – an ensemble of currently three cottages with sea views near Kircaldy. People who like The Dundonald will also feel at home at Banchory Farm. The Dundonald host Laura is also a fan of Killyhuntly House and Lundies House in the far north, both part of the luxurious wildland family.
Prices
Doubles from around 200 euros per night including breakfast. The cottage is from around 300 euros per night.
Booking & Contacts
The Dundonald
Laura Wilson
6 Mid Causeway
Culross, Dunfermline KY128HS
Scotland / UK
