My recent exhortation to visitors to the UK to look beyond London, a particular pentagon and Edinburgh shouldn't be taken as meaning that I have anything against these places. I certainly regard Edinburgh as the best city in Scotland by a long chalk and as one of Europe's greats.

Often people ask about places to visit near Edinburgh and those with mre than two nights in Edinburgh should make every effort to see the Royal Burgh [or little village if you're not yet into Scottish history] of Culross. I admit to having reached the age of 60 before learning of its existence from the handbook of the National Trust for Scotland.

Anywhere less likely to provide a gem of this brilliance than the north side of the Forth would be hard to imagine. My wife and I were realy captivated.

I'll leave you to find out about it for yourself from the Culross website at www.culross.org or from the NTS site at http://www.nts.org.uk/web/site/home/visit/places/Proper...age=10035&NavId=5113.

The first site tells you how to get there by car and the second adds information on buses. Both provide substantial information on the attractions. Enjoy

I will join in with this recommendation. Culross is a fabulous site!