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Ruthven Barracks, the roofless Hanoverian barracks near Kingussie, on its green mound under a heavy grey sky, a gravel path climbing to it.
Cairngorms

Ruthven Barracks

The ruins of a government barracks on a grassy mound across the River Spey from Kingussie.

Welcome

There's a real sense of history on the mound at Ruthven.

Long before the soldiers came, it carried a medieval castle, held first by the Comyns and later by Alexander Stewart, the Wolf of Badenoch. The government began building the barracks here in 1719, after the Jacobite rising of 1715. In 1745 the garrison held off a Jacobite attack, but in 1746, after Culloden, the Jacobites set the barracks on fire to keep them out of government hands, and they have stood roofless ever since. Step inside and you can wander between the two barrack blocks where the soldiers lived. From the top, the view runs down to the Spey, out over the wetlands of Insh Marshes and away to the Cairngorms. The path up the mound is short but steep, so wear good shoes.

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The Daily for 29 October, from Scotland with love. An aerial view from a garden staircase looks down a formal garden's central path, statues and cherub urns lining the balustrade in the foreground.
A little further outLaggan Stores Coffee BothyThe village café, shop and gallery in Laggan, on the upper Spey in Badenoch, serving breakfast, lunch and homemade cakes.19 min by roadSee itA toasted sandwich with crisps and a dressed salad on a dark blue plate.
Before you go

Free to visit, in daylight, all year round.

Parking
A car park below the barracks.
On foot
About a mile from Kingussie, following the Speyside Way.
Facilities
None at the barracks. Kingussie has places to eat and drink.

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Where it is

At Ruthven, on the B970 south of Kingussie, PH21 1NS.

Close byKincraig, Laggan and round Aviemore.
  1. Two Japanese macaques huddled in the snow.The Highland Wildlife ParkThe Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's park at Kincraig, with Scotland's only polar bears, snow leopards, wolves and a drive-through reserve.5 miles 9 min by road
  2. Loch an Eilein CastleLoch an Eilein CastleA ruined island castle of the late 14th century on Loch an Eilein, a place of safety from the war bands of the Thieves' Road.13 miles 17 min by road
  3. Loch an EileinLoch an EileinA loch in the Rothiemurchus pinewoods, with a castle ruin on its island and a three-mile path round the shore.13 miles 17 min by road
  4. The Barn at RothiemurchusThe Barn at RothiemurchusThe café at the Rothiemurchus Centre by Aviemore, with a wood-burning stove, Cullen skink and cheese scones, and a corner for dogs.13 miles 18 min by road
  5. RothiemurchusRothiemurchusA Highland estate of ancient pinewood, lochs and hill by Aviemore, cared for by the Grant family since the 16th century.13 miles 18 min by road
  6. A steam train at Boat of Garten.Strathspey RailwayHeritage steam trains through the Spey Valley from Aviemore to Boat of Garten and Broomhill, running since 1978.13 miles 20 min by road
Directions
Insh Marshes in winter, the Spey's floodplain under water around a low wooded knoll, with snow on the hills beyond under a blue sky.AttractionsRSPB Insh Marshes0.7 miles
A rowan tree heavy with red berries hangs before a white harled house, a round table and chairs set on the gravel behind.KingussieCairngorms Church Hill HouseSleeps 4 · 1.2 miles
A tall cairn on the rocky crest of Creag Bheag, the path running through the heather and the Spey valley and the snow-streaked Cairngorms beyond.WalksCreag Bheag1.7 miles
A row of stone cottages with a slated roof and four chimneys sits behind a gravel courtyard, hills visible in the distance.CairngormsKilliehuntly BothySleeps 4 · 2.2 miles
A stone barn with a red door and a steep slate roof stands among trees turning gold in autumn.CairngormsThe HayloftSleeps 2 · 2.2 miles
Stone farmhouse surrounded by autumn trees and hills in the Scottish countrysideCairngormsKilliehuntly FarmhouseSleeps 10 · 2.2 miles
A stone and dark timber house sits beneath autumn trees, logs stacked in an open store and hills visible in the distance.CairngormsGeordie’s CottageSleeps 5 · 2.2 miles
Autumn trees line a wide loch with forested hills beyondAttractionsUath Lochans7.2 miles
A landscape view of Park Cottage in the snow, its windows lit, forest and a white hill behind.KincraigPark CottageSleeps 6 · 8.4 miles

Recommend to a friend

Stay nearby

Places to stay near the barracks, and when each is next free.

A rowan tree heavy with red berries hangs before a white harled house, a round table and chairs set on the gravel behind.Cairngorms Church Hill House
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Kingussie
  • Under a mile from Ruthven Barracks
Check datesA row of stone cottages with a slated roof and four chimneys sits behind a gravel courtyard, hills visible in the distance.Killiehuntly Bothy
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Cairngorms
  • 2 miles from Ruthven Barracks
Check datesA stone barn with a red door and a steep slate roof stands among trees turning gold in autumn.The Hayloft
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Cairngorms
  • 2 miles from Ruthven Barracks
Check datesStone farmhouse surrounded by autumn trees and hills in the Scottish countrysideKilliehuntly Farmhouse
  • Sleeps 10
  • In Cairngorms
  • 2 miles from Ruthven Barracks
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in the CairngormsAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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