Newtonmore, Kingussie

5½ miles

North of Dalwhinnie and 2½ miles past the signpost to Crubenmore, turn left on the road marked with a brown sign to Ralia. This road was part of the Old A9 and joins what is now the A86 which can also be reached by continuing on the new road for half a mile and turning left. This then takes us over the railway and into Newtonmore. We are now in Strathspey, the great valley between the Monadhliath, the Grey Mountains and the Cairngorms, otherwise known as the Monadh Ruadh, the Red Mountains.
Newtonmore was the first place in the Highlands where pony-trekking was organised and also has one of the most successful shinty teams. This is the heart of the MacPherson country and the Clan MacPherson museum, which is open from April until the end of October, is in the village. The area was also the location for the long-running BBC television series ‘Monarch of the Glen’. As we leave the village, we pass the Highland Folk Museum, which is set in 80 acres and has a variety of buildings and a 1700’s Highland Township. It is open from Easter until the end of October and is well worth a visit.
We then reach Kingussie, the capital of the district of Badenoch. Across the Spey is the ruin of Ruthven Barracks, built in Jacobite times on the site of a 14th century castle. It was here that the remnants of the Jacobite army disbanded on the 20th April 1746 after the Battle of Culloden, on receiving a message from the fugitive Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Kingussie has a very successful shinty team and the town hall doubled as the Glenbogle Town Hall in the Monarch of the Glen. Leaving Kingussie we can then rejoin the new road or pass under it and travel on the Old A9 to Aviemore and Carrbridge.