The Wildpack Collective
Cullen Coastal Walk and Viaduct
Walk

Cullen Coastal Walk and Viaduct

Moray

Dog Friendly Rating:9/10A superb coastal circular between the fishing villages of Cullen and Portknockie, with beach, cliffs, sea stacks and a handsome railway viaduct return.

Dog friendly and endlessly varied, this Moray coast classic drops from Cullen Square to Seatown beach, follows the shore past the Three Kings sea stacks to Bow Fiddle Rock, climbs into Portknockie for views along the cliffs, then returns along the bed of the disused Cullen to Portknockie railway and across the landmark viaduct high above town. The beach section is broad and firm, the cliff top path has benches and sea views throughout, and the viaduct is a striking late Victorian arch.

Dogs can be off the lead on the beach and cliff path where they are under good control, and Cullen is a notably dog welcoming village with several pubs accepting them indoors. Keep dogs on the lead on the short road sections through Seatown and Portknockie and near the farmland above Bow Fiddle Rock. There is a risk of steep drops on the clifftop sections, so keep younger or bouncier dogs close by. Parking is plentiful in Cullen Square with public toilets a minute away.

At a Glance

Distance
7.7 km (4.8 miles)
Difficulty
Easy
Duration
2 hr
Walk Type
Coastal, Historic
Route Type
Circular
Off Lead Potential
High
Livestock Risk
Low
Facilities
Toilets, cafes, pubs, fish and chip shops and ice cream parlours in Cullen; ice cream and a pub in Portknockie.
Parking
Free parking in Cullen Square and along the seafront (capacity around 40); paid car park at the beach at busy times.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is Cullen Coastal Walk and Viaduct dog friendly?

    Cullen Coastal Walk and Viaduct earns a 9 out of 10 for dog friendliness, and it really does deliver on that score. The route combines a broad, firm beach, open clifftop paths and a dramatic Victorian viaduct return, and Cullen itself is a notably welcoming village with several pubs that accept dogs indoors.

  • Can dogs be off lead at Cullen Coastal Walk and Viaduct?

    Dogs can be off the lead on the beach and clifftop path, provided they are under good control. You'll need to put them back on the lead for the short road sections through Seatown and Portknockie and near the farmland above Bow Fiddle Rock.

  • What should I know before visiting Cullen Coastal Walk and Viaduct with my dog?

    The clifftop sections have some steep drops, so it's worth keeping younger or more excitable dogs close by on those stretches. Parking is free and plentiful at Cullen Square, with public toilets just a minute away, and there are cafes, pubs and fish and chip shops in Cullen if you want to make a day of it.

Visitor Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience.

Write a review

Seatown, Cullen

57.6911, -2.8185

Get Directions

What’s Nearby?

Pennan and the Troup Head Seabird ColonyWalk19.1 mi away

Pennan and the Troup Head Seabird Colony

Aberdeenshire

Dog Friendly Rating:6/10

A short clifftop walk from Northfield Farm to mainland Scotland's only gannetry, teeming with seabirds from spring through summer.

View Listing2.5 km · 1 hr · Easy
Speyside Way: Craigellachie to AberlourWalk19.3 mi away

Speyside Way: Craigellachie to Aberlour

Moray

Dog Friendly Rating:8/10

A flat, scenic riverside stretch of the Speyside Way linking two handsome distillery villages, ideal for dog owners wanting an easy day out beside the Spey.

View Listing6.5 km · 2 hr · Easy
Bennachie: Mither Tap Summit WalkWalk30.3 mi away

Bennachie: Mither Tap Summit Walk

Aberdeenshire

Dog Friendly Rating:9/10

The iconic Aberdeenshire summit walk up Mither Tap from the Bennachie Visitor Centre, rewarding dogs and owners with a big Iron Age hill fort and enormous views.

View Listing5.6 km · 2 hr 30 min · Moderate
Forvie Sands and the Ythan EstuaryWalk40.2 mi away

Forvie Sands and the Ythan Estuary

Aberdeenshire

Dog Friendly Rating:6/10

A circular walk through dunes, estuary and sandy beach at Forvie National Nature Reserve, with strong dog restrictions during the bird breeding season.

View Listing6.0 km · 2 hr · Easy
Slains Castle and Cruden Bay Coastal WalkWalk40.8 mi away

Slains Castle and Cruden Bay Coastal Walk

Aberdeenshire

Dog Friendly Rating:7/10

A dramatic coastal walk from Cruden Bay beach past the Gothic ruins of Slains Castle to the blow hole and sea arches of the Bullers of Buchan.

View Listing8.9 km · 3 hr · Moderate
Muir of Dinnet Loch Kinord CircularWalk42.1 mi away

Muir of Dinnet Loch Kinord Circular

Aberdeenshire

Dog Friendly Rating:8/10

A gentle circuit of Loch Kinord in the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve, pairing birch woodland, a spectacular glacial pothole and early Christian carved stones.

View Listing7.7 km · 2 hr · Easy

The Wildpack 100

Bag this one. Then 99 more.

The UK's first dog friendly challenge. Be the first to bag all 100 locations. Join the pack and get your free downloadable PDF.

Join the pack
The Wildpack 100 — UK's first dog-friendly challenge