5 things to do in Kingussie

If you’re staying in Railway Cottage, you’ll have the Highland village of Kingussie on your doorstep – and it’s only a 20-minute drive from Aviemore. Whether you’re into cheese and wine, or Scottish history, there’s plenty of things to see in this little town. Here’s five things to do in Kingussie.

1. Stock up on cheese and wine at the Cheese Neuk

Founded by Aviemore-local Skye Johnston, this is an independent cheese and wine shop, on the main high street. Packed with hand-picked cheeses, fine wines, fresh bread and local produce, it’s a great place to stock up your fridge. The friendly staff are on-hand to talk you through the huge array of cheeses, and there’s a small seating area at the back where you can enjoy some of your purchases – if you can’t wait until you get home.

 2. Head to the Farmers’ Market

Set in Gynack Gardens, in the heart of Kingussie, is a monthly farmers’ market selling locally produced foods and quality crafts from The Cairngorms National Park area. You can expect to see Ann Davidson Butchers, The Isle of Skye Baking Company, The Damn Fine Cheese Company, The Crab Company, Fodderty Woodturning and many more. It’s held on the third Sunday of every month from June to September, from 10am until 3pm.

3. Visit Ruthven Barracks

Easily visible from the A9, these iconic barracks were built to house British troops following the failed Jacobite uprising of 1715. They were set alight by the Jacobites following the 1745 uprising and all that’s left now is the impressive stone exterior. Today you can explore the remains of the barracks, as well as getting a great view of the Badenoch flood plain and Spey valley. Admission is free and it’s an easy 1-mile walk from Kingussie, or you can park nearby.

4.  Watch a game of Shinty

Shinty is a competitive amateur sport which has been played in the Highlands since ancient times. There are 12 players in each team and the rules loosely resemble those of field hockey or the Irish sport of hurling. It’s been played in Kingussie since the earliest days of the settlement in 1800. The first newspaper reports of a competitive match are from 1866 when Cluny Macpherson organised a New Year game on the Dell. To this day Kingussie still play shinty on the Dell, on Ruthven Road about half a mile from the centre of the town.

5. Visit the Highland Folk Museum

The Highland Folk Museum was the first open-air museum in the UK and was voted the best open-air museum by The Guardian in 2018. It began life in the 1930s on the island of Iona and was then moved to Kingussie, before being relocated to its current site on the edge of Newtonmore – just 3 miles south.

The museum shows what life was like for people in the Highlands, from the 1700s through to the 20th century. You can explore the homes, farms, shops and schools of the past – and many of the attractions are interactive. There’s a play park for the kids and a café for refreshments. As well as the museum, the site is also home to Am Fasgadh, which is a collection of over 12,000 historical artefacts, collected and donated over the years.

 *Banner photo credit: Visit Scotland