Kingussie
Ceann a' Ghiùthsaich
Sandwiched between Craig Bheag (487m) and the main north-south railway line, Kingussie grew throughout the 19th century thanks to a thriving local linen industry and its status as a resort town for those seeking fresh Highland air. Its location near the River Spey, the creation of an 18-hole golf course and the formation of a highly successful shinty team cemented its appeal. These days, people continue to enjoy these elements of Kingussie life - and much more besides.
There are views of the Cairngorms and Monadhliath mountain ranges from the numerous walking, cycling and horse-riding trails that crisscross the surrounding hills and strath (low-lying land next to a river). It’s a place for keeping binoculars handy, as Kingussie’s surroundings are a haven for wildlife, particularly in the important wetland area of Insh Marshes Nature Reserve.
The area around Kingussie has a long settlement history: the curlews, lapwings, redshanks and snipes that breed in the marsh are watched over by the ruins of Ruthven Barracks, which were built by George I’s government in the early 1700s to guard against Jacobite uprisings. Around two thousand years earlier, the site, which sits atop a prominent mound, was the area’s main Pictish settlement.
Memories of this historic past haven’t been lost in Kingussie. The town is making a name for itself as a hub of storytelling and ceilidh culture, in part thanks to the Storylands Sessions, a monthly live event supported by additional writing and musical performance workshops. Local creativity is also apparent in the town’s commerce: Kingussie is home to several galleries, a bookshop and a speciality cheese shop. There are also cafes and restaurants, a supermarket and a high school - all of which you might expect from Badenoch’s capital.
Sandwiched between Craig Bheag (487m) and the main north-south railway line, Kingussie grew throughout the 19th century thanks to a thriving local linen industry and its status as a resort town for those seeking fresh Highland air. Its location near the River Spey, the creation of an 18-hole golf course and the formation of a highly successful shinty team cemented its appeal. These days, people continue to enjoy these elements of Kingussie life - and much more besides.
There are views of the Cairngorms and Monadhliath mountain ranges from the numerous walking, cycling and horse-riding trails that crisscross the surrounding hills and strath (low-lying land next to a river). It’s a place for keeping binoculars handy, as Kingussie’s surroundings are a haven for wildlife, particularly in the important wetland area of Insh Marshes Nature Reserve.
The area around Kingussie has a long settlement history: the curlews, lapwings, redshanks and snipes that breed in the marsh are watched over by the ruins of Ruthven Barracks, which were built by George I’s government in the early 1700s to guard against Jacobite uprisings. Around two thousand years earlier, the site, which sits atop a prominent mound, was the area’s main Pictish settlement.
Memories of this historic past haven’t been lost in Kingussie. The town is making a name for itself as a hub of storytelling and ceilidh culture, in part thanks to the Storylands Sessions, a monthly live event supported by additional writing and musical performance workshops. Local creativity is also apparent in the town’s commerce: Kingussie is home to several galleries, a bookshop and a speciality cheese shop. There are also cafes and restaurants, a supermarket and a high school - all of which you might expect from Badenoch’s capital.
Kingussie
key
facts
Elevation
249m
Location
W
Location
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