About one mile south west of the Peterculter is the site of the Roman marching camp at Normandykes. King William the Lion bestowed the church of Kulter, "iuxta Abirdene", upon the Abbey and monks of St Mary of Kelso, about 1165–1199. The gift was afterwards confirmed by Mathew, Bishop of Aberdeen, within whose diocese the church sat. Alan of Soltre, chaplain, who had probably been an ecclesiastic of the hospital, or monastery of Soutra, in Lothian, was presented by the Abbot of Kelso, to the vicarage of the church of Culter, 1239–1240. In 1287–1288, an agreement was made between the Abbot and Convent of Kelso and the brotherhood of the Knights of Jerusalem, regarding the Templars’ lands of Blairs and Kincolsi, on the south side of the Dee, by which a chapel, built by the Templars at their house of Culter, was recognised as a church, with parochial rights, for the inhabitants of the said lands. It was this agreement that changed the existing parish of Culter into two separate parishes with two separate names, the other being Maryculter.
Attractions
High up on the steep, rocky bank of the Culter Burn near the western exit of the village was a colourful and well-tended kilted wooden figure holding a broadsword and targe that represents Rob Roy Macgregor, who according to local legend leapt across the stream at that point to flee pursuing Hanoverian troops. The outlaw Gilderoy is a more likely historical figure for the story. The original statue is thought to have been a modified ship's figurehead. The statue was replaced in 2017 by a resin effigy, wearing ancient Macgregor tartan. Due to its nearness to Aberdeen City and being only about thirty miles from the Cairngorm National Park, Culter is a base for tourists. In the town itself there are chances of many local walks, including its connection to the Deeside Way at the site of the former Culter railway station, as well as the forest area known locally as 'Sandy Hilly', or 'The Muggies', the entrance to which sits beside the Bucklerburn region. For sport, there is Peterculter Golf Club and Culter Sports Centre. Each year, on the last Saturday in May is the Culter Gala, in the main playing field of the village; this event draws hundreds of people.
