Kingussie

Kingussie

Kingussie is the capital of Badenoch, situated in the west of the Cairngorms National Park. The community area extends from the Monadhliath Mountains in the north-west, to Insh Marshes in the east through Glen Tromie in the south. The name Kingussie is derived from the Scottish Gaelic name Ceann a’ Ghiùthsaich meaning ‘head of the pine forest’.

The community area of Kingussie, covered by Kingussie and Vicinity Community Council, also encompasses Ruthven, Gaick and Pitmain, which together constitute a community of approximately 1470 people, making Kingussie the most populous settlement in Badenoch.

Kingussie has a long and interesting history. On the site of the ruins of Ruthven Barracks, a castle stood from 1229, which became home to Alexander Stewart, ‘The Wolf of Badenoch’, in 1371. Ruthven Barracks was built on the site in 1719 and was destroyed by the Jacobites after their retreat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. In 1464 Kingussie was created a burgh of barony by King James III in favour of Alexander Gordon, 1st Earl of Huntly. The Duke of Gordon led the development of the planned settlement of Kingussie in 1799, which grew slowly initially but was boosted by the building of bridges over River Spey and River Laggan in 1808 and 1815 respectively, placing Kingussie on the new main roads from Inverness to Perth, and to Fort William. Kingussie then became a Police Burgh in 1867.

Kingussie railway station was opened in 1863, marking the settlement’s transformation into a Highland resort for winter and summer tourism. Tourism still makes up an important part of the local economy with multiple hotels and other hospitality and accommodation providers running businesses in Kingussie.

Kingussie has a rich sporting heritage. Kingussie Camanachd Club was founded in 1893 and is based at the Dell, next to the River Spey. According to the 2005 Guinness World Records, Kingussie Camanachd is the most successful sports club in the world after 20 consecutive league wins and 4 unbeaten years in the1990s. Kingussie Golf Course, an 18-hole course adjacent to the River Gynack, was first opened as a 9-hole course in 1891 and remains popular today.