Part of Cairngorms National Park, this pretty town offers thrilling outdoor activities and beguiling Highland culture.
Kingussie is set in a picturesque location beside the River Spey, offering lovely views of the Cairngorms in the distance. An outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, Kingussie is a wonderful spot for cycling, fishing, golfing, pony trekking and serene riverside walks. Watch demonstrations of woodcarving and other traditional trades at the town’s folk museum, visit the exciting wildlife park nearby or cheer on Kingussie’s shinty team playing at the Dell.
Learn about Highland life at the open-air Highland Folk Museum. This living history museum is modeled after an 18th-century farming township, with walking paths leading visitors past thatch-roofed cottages. Old-fashioned buildings include a water-powered sawmill, a shepherd’s bothy (hut), a clockmaker’s workshop and a schoolhouse. Listen to recitals with traditional Highland instruments and watch demonstrations of peat-fire baking and wool-spinning.
Enjoy the scenic walk from town to the Ruthven Barracks ruins. Set imposingly on a river terrace, the barracks were one of four garrisons built by the British government after the first Jacobite rebellion in 1715. Visit at night when the crumbling barracks are illuminated by floodlight.
Tee off at the Kingussie Golf Club, a challenging 18-hole hillside course. Set high above sea level, the course offers excellent views of the national park. Watch shinty at the Dell. This amateur sport played in the Highlands is somewhat similar to field hockey.
See rare and endangered Scottish animals at Highland Wildlife Park. Drive through the reserve or take advantage of the park’s free Land Rover tours. See yak, European bison and Bactrian camels roaming freely. Listen to informative daily feeding talks presented by the animal keepers. Follow nature trails and spot more wildlife at the Insh Marshes RSPB Reserve with diverse birds including curlew, snipe and whooper swan.
Kingussie is 44 miles (71 kilometers) south of Inverness and 13 miles (21 kilometers) southwest of Aviemore. Reach the town easily by bus or train. It lies along several cycling routes. Experience some of the Highland’s best hospitality and outdoor entertainment in Kingussie.