Kingussie Area

Cottages Near Dalwhinnie

St Bride's Parish Church, Newtonmore

Kingussie

Area Main Page

Kingussie attracts visitors all year round and is home to one of Scotland's finest folk museums. Just 12 miles south of Aviemore it is also provides a popular winter destination for skiers.

The Highland Folk Museum, shared between Kingussie and nearby Newtonmore is open all year and its collection of buildings and artefacts combine to give a fascinating insight into Highland life. During the summer months demonstrations of traditional crafts take place most days in the 'streets' of the village-like grounds.

Across the river to the east of the town are the ruins of Ruthven Barracks. The site offers excellent views of the surrounding countryside and was first occupied by a castle in the 13th Century. The Barracks were built in 1721 by the Government as part of a scheme to keep control of the Highlands after the 1715 Jacobite rebellion. See our historical timeline for the wider background.

The Monadhliath mountains to the north-west of Kingussie offer some excellent walking. A circular walk starting just north of the village takes in the twin summits of Carn an Fheiceadain and Beinn Bhreac. To the south are the more rolling mountains flanking the Pass of Drumochter. These include the very accessible Geal Charn and A'Mharconaich.

Nearby Newtonmore is a linear settlement which benefits greatly from the A9 bypass. A full range of tourist services are to be found here including the Clan Macpherson Museum with its display of clan artefacts (summer months only).

Twelve miles south is Dalwhinnie. This is home to Dalwhinnie Distillery, Scotland's highest distillery. Its visitor centre is open all year and the distillery is well worth seeing.

North from Kingussie the A9 remains in use as the B9125, making a superb alternative route to the modern main road. En route to Aviemore, it passes the attractive little village of Kincraig.