Ruthven Barracks
The ruins of a barracks built in 1719 by the British to suppress the Jacobites, standing on a mound. Remnants of the army defeated at Culloden in 1746 disbanded here.
Ruthven Barracks stands on an ancient castle mound south of Kingussie in the Spey Valley and is one of four Highland barracks built by the British government after the Jacobite rising of 1715. After the Battle of Culloden in 1746, some 3,000 Jacobite survivors gathered here. On receiving Bonnie Prince Charlie’s order to make their own way, they set fire to the barracks and dispersed. Today roofless stone barrack blocks and stable walls survive. It is managed by Historic Environment Scotland and open free of charge. It is atmospheric when lit at night and in the morning mist. It is about 20 km from Aviemore, close to the A9 road.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Highland Wildlife Park
- Uath Lochans
- Craigellachie National Nature Reserve
- Loch an Eilein
- Dalwhinnie Distillery
- Aviemore & Cairngorms National Park
- Rothiemurchus Estate
- Strathspey Railway