Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), drawn by Global Adventurer.
The walk
The walk starts at the Ardvonie car park in Kingussie and goes out and back on the Speyside Way. It follows Gynack Road and Spey Street to a footway beside the B970 (Ruthven Road), then the B970 itself, over the single-lane Ruthven Bridge, to a path that climbs the mound to Ruthven Barracks, 1.9 km from the car park. Historic Environment Scotland says George I's government built the barracks in 1719 to 1721, after the Jacobite rising of 1715, to house a garrison to police the area, and that the site is open all year round. Beyond the barracks, the Speyside Way leaves the road and runs on a gravel path to the RSPB's Insh Marshes car park, 3.4 km from the start, and the line goes on to the Lookout hide beside it. The way back is the same, without the climb to the barracks.
It is 6.6 km (4.1 miles) with 50 m (164 ft) of ascent; allow about 2 hours. The grade is Easy: the ground is flat. About 1.4 km of the way each way, between the end of the footway and the barracks, is along the B970, a 40 mph road that OpenStreetMap shows with no pavement; take care on the bridge and the bends. The rest of the way is on streets with pavements, a footway and the gravel path.
The RSPB asks that during the ground-nesting bird breeding season, 1 April to 15 August, dogs are kept on a short lead on its reserve: see the notice.
The Ardvonie car park is free (OpenStreetMap: no fee). Kingussie station is 340 m away.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- From the middle of Kingussie by the Speyside Way to Ruthven Barracks, the ruins of the barracks that George I's government built in 1719 to 1721 after the Jacobite rising of 1715, on a mound above the River Spey
- On past the barracks by a gravel path to the RSPB's Insh Marshes reserve and its Lookout hide
- About 1.4 km of the way out from Kingussie follows the B970, a 40 mph road that OpenStreetMap shows with no pavement, over the single-lane Ruthven Bridge
- Out and back on the same way: the barracks are visited on the way out only
Getting there
Start: Ardvonie car park, Kingussie · Free parking. 57.08078, -4.05439
Directions to the start
By train: Kingussie station is 0.3 km from the start.
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Ardvonie car park: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line is drawn along OpenStreetMap paths and the figures are worked out from it; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.
