Kingussie

Kingussie
Scottish Gaelic: Ceann a' Ghiùthsaich[1]
Scots: Kineussie[2]

Kingussie Market Cross near the Railway Station
Kingussie
 Kingussie shown within the Badenoch and Strathspey area
Population 1,410 [3]
LanguageEnglish
Scottish Gaelic
OS grid referenceNH755005
Council areaHighland
Lieutenancy areaInverness
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town KINGUSSIE
Postcode district PH21
Dialling code 01540
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK ParliamentInverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
Scottish ParliamentSkye, Lochaber and Badenoch
Websitehttp://www.kingussie.co.uk/
List of places
UK
Scotland

Coordinates: 57°05′N 4°03′W / 57.08°N 4.05°W

Kingussie (i/kɪŋˈjuːsi/ king-EW-see; Scottish Gaelic: Ceann a' Ghiùthsaich pronounced [ˈkʲʰaun̴̪ ə ˈʝuːs̪ɪç] ) is a small town in the Highland region of Scotland. It is one settlement in the Highland Council ward of Badenoch and Strathspey, and is the capital of the district of Badenoch. It lies beside the A9 road, although the old route of the A9 serves as the town's main street which has been bypassed since 1979. Kingussie is 42 miles (68 km) south of Inverness, 12 miles (19 km) south of Aviemore, and 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Newtonmore, which is its greatest rival in the game of shinty.

History

A former church in Kingussie

The name "Kingussie" comes from the Gaelic, "Ceann a' Ghiuthsaich" which means "Head of the Pine forest".

The ruins of the early 18th century Ruthven Barracks (Historic Scotland; open to visitors at all times) lie near the original site of the village which was moved to avoid the flood plain of the River Spey. The Hanoverian Barracks were built on the site of Ruthven Castle, the seat of the Comyns, Lords of Badenoch in the Middle Ages.

Shinty

For more info, see article on Kingussie Camanachd

According to the Guinness Book of Records 2005, Kingussie is World sport's most successful sporting team of all time, winning 20 consecutive leagues and going 4 years unbeaten at one stage in the early 1990s.

Tourism

The main railway line to Inverness passes through from Edinburgh, Glasgow and points south. Kingussie railway station is about 200 metres south east of the High Street. In the past few years, the TV series Monarch of the Glen has been filmed in and around the area of Kingussie. Ardverikie Estate, where Monarch of the Glen was filmed, is about 12 miles (19 km) from Kingussie. You can park in a lay-by across from the Gatehouse and hike back to the 'Big House'. It is about an 8-mile (13 km) round trip hike but is well worth the effort, especially if you are a Monarch of the Glen fan.

The Highland Wildlife Park is sited very close by. The Highland Folk Museum is in Newtonmore, 3 miles (4.8 km) from Kingussie.

Speyside Way

The Speyside Way is a long distance route which currently has its southern terminus at Aviemore, north of Kingussie. There is, however, a proposed extension to the route to Newtonmore, going through Kingussie on the way. See the link below for more information:

Kingussie in film

Kingussie featured in the 8-time Oscar winning Danny Boyle film 'Slumdog Millionaire'. A woman's voice calling a call-centre, where the main character was working, was shown to be making the phonecall from '4 Ruthven Road, Kingussie'.[4]

Kingussie in literature

Kingussie is mentioned in Compton Mackenzie's book The Monarch of the Glen, on which the BBC TV series is based. In chapter 8 Kingussie Sanatorium, now St. Vincent's Hospital, is mentioned.

Activities

Football

Although the village is more famous for its Shinty club, it also has a successful football side which plays its games in the local Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare FA.

References

  1. ↑ Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba ~ Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland
  2. ↑ Scots Language Centre: Scottish Place Names in Scots
  3. ↑ http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=Kingussie&mainLevel=Locality
  4. ↑ http://www.kingussie.co.uk/Whats%20on/News/slumdog_millionaire.jpg

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kingussie.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kingussie.