Kingussie: Ruthven Barracks

A ruined Jacobite era barracks in the Highland Cairngorms.

Ruthven Barracks are a one mile walk from Kingussie station. They were built by the British Army to discourage further rebellion in the years after the 1715 Jacobite Rising. The ruins sit on top of a natural hill formed by the changing course of the River Spey and the site is looked after by Historic Scotland, open all year, and free to visit.

Following the Jacobite Rising of 1715 the British Government planned four “defensible barracks” to discourage further disquiet but construction work was delayed until 1719 due in part to the team of masons being kidnapped! By 1724 General Wade had chosen Ruthven as one of the centres for his military road network and a stable block was added to allow dragoons to control those nearby.

The requirement to be defensible proved true in August 1745 when 150 Jacobite infantry failed to take the barracks against just 15 government soldiers! However defensible is not the same as full castle fortifications and so just six months later when a strength of 300 Jacobites returned with cannon the barracks surrendered and was set alight.

The final ruination of the barracks didn’t come until later that year though. After the defeat at Culloden 3,000 retreating Jacobites waited here for Bonnie Prince Charlie to join them. He did not. Instead he sent final instructions to his army here to disperse, “Let every man seek his own safety in the best way he can.”

From Kingussie to Ruthven

The walking route from Kingussie to Ruthven Barracks is about one mile. It starts by following the Gynack Burn and then joins a B-road with no separate pavement for the second half. The road is very quiet though, quite wide enough and has good verges – care should still be taken though. There is an underpass below the busy A9 so no need to navigate crossing traffic there. There is a car parking area with picnic tables for those who want a rest before returning or for those who want to make friends with the horses!