‘Friendly and welcoming’ Cullen named on of the ‘best places to live in Scotland’ in prestigious national guide
A Moray town has been named among one of the top places to live in Scotland.
Cullen has joined a seven-strong list communities - including overall winner North Berwick - in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
Describing Cullen as a “postcard-pretty fishing village”, the judges noted that the community was chock full of small business owners who have set up by themselves to fill the gaps in the market that come from living away from the nearest major city.
They went on to highlight the popular local maritime-based pastimes, such as stand-up paddleboarding, sailing, surfing and fishing. The community centre is also mentioned, as are community lunches, a men’s shed and a tennis and bowling club.
The news was welcomed by David McCubbin, the chairman of the town’s voluntary tourism body Discover Cullen.
He said: “We’re thrilled to see Cullen recognised in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live .
“The key to the attractiveness of Cullen is its community, whether that’s the broad range of community groups, the independent business community, and of course the local residents.
“Cullen is friendly and welcoming with stunning seascapes and landscapes a rich events calendar including the annual Harbour Gala and the Cullen Skink World Championships”.
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: “It is easy to feel overwhelmed by everything going on in the world, but there really is so much to celebrate closer to home, from small gestures that lift the everyday from verges blooming with daffodils to volunteer-run dementia cafés, to new initiatives from repair cafés to new railway stations.
“What makes our guide unique is that we actually visit all the places we choose and talk to locals to find out what life is really like there. That means we can see what people really love about the places they live. That could be anything from exceptional schools and fast trains to beautiful houses and countryside.
“The health of the high street is important, but more than anything else, what we are looking for are towns, villages and cities with strong communities who work hard to make the best of where they live, and play hard too.
“We also consider affordability. High house prices are no barrier to inclusion - as long as they provide value for money. Different people will be looking for different qualities when they are choosing a place to live. One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home.”
