With so many fun activities from the door in Kingussie you’ll be spoilt for choice. Hike, run, bike, swim, golf, fish and so much more. What will you do on your holiday in the Cairngorm National Park? For up to date information on what’s open in the local area during lockdown easing please see the National Park webpage: https://status.visitcairngorms.com
Biking
It's a playground! Kingussie lies at the heart of a network of off-road trails and quiet minor roads. Sustrans Route 7 runs through the town. For on and off-road routes and to join Tuesday night ride outs check out Cycle Friendly Kingussie. Detailed local mountain bike routes can be found at MTBTrails.info and you may want to download TRAILFORKS app. We are keen cyclists and will be happy to introduce you local routes. Download the Kingussie cycling map here.
Should you have enough energy left you can head north to explore the cycling around Aviemore, Boat of Garten/Carrbridge and Granton on Spey. For trail centres head south to Laggan Wolftrax or north to Bike Glenlivet.
Walking/running
There's a great set of community paths in and around the village where you can explore town and the surrounding woodlands. We recommend a walk (or run) up our local hill, Creag Bheag, where you will be rewarded with a 360 degree panorama of the Mondaliath and Cairngorm mountains. There's even a wee stone shelter at the top for having a picnic and taking in the views up and down the valley. For a comprehensive guide to local walks and walking/hiking in the Cairngorm check out the Walk Highlands webpage.
We are both keen hill runners and can happily recommend some great trails. If you are up for racing up and down the hills there are lots of trail and hill races in the area. Check out Scottish Athletics and Scottish Hill Racing for upcoming events. In the summer months we recommend entering the hill running races at local Highland Games’- a great way to remember your Highland Holiday (honest!).
Fishing
Badenoch Angling Association waters lie between Spey Dam at Laggan to the mouth of the River Tromie as it enters the Spey. Fishing is also available on the A86 side of Loch Laggan and part of Loch Ericht. Badenoch Angling Association has two boats available on Spey Dam for fly only.
Fishing is mostly brown trout and occasional salmon and permits are mandatory. You can get a permit from the paper shop in Kingussie and various locations in Newtonmore and Laggan. The salmon and trout season is March 15th - Sept 30th.
Image: Andrew Tyron
Golf
Cairngorm National Park offers 12 courses of both 9 and 18-holes. The local Kingussie Golf Club originated in June 1891 and the club welcomes visitors. It’s a challenging 18 hole course with rewarding views of the Cairngorm that will make it all worthwhile! For a flatter round head to Newtonmore Golf Club that is situated on the Spey Valley floor just a couple of miles away.
Search for Highland Gold Clubs with open competitions here.
Image: Dave Fergusson
snowsports
The Cairngorms National Park is home to 3 of Scotland’s 5 ski centres: CairnGorm Mountain, Glenshee and The Lecht.
CairnGorm Mountain is the best known resort. It has 12 lifts and there are 7 green runs, 6 blue, 8 red and 1 black run and a fun park for freestyle fans.
On the A939 between Tomintoul and Strathdon you will find The Lecht. It is well known as a good spot for families and beginners with great nursery slopes. There are also jumps and rails for the more adventurous.
Glenshee is the largest ski and snowboard area in Scotland featuring both natural and manmade terrain. It lies on the A93 near Braemar on the road from Blairgowrie.
For touring and back country exploring the Cairngorm National Park offers endless adventures
With Nevis Range to the west is only an hour’s drive Kingussie. It has a variety of terrain from gentle beginner slopes by the top gondola station to advanced off piste runs in the back corries. Glencoe Mountain Resort also offers a range of winter activities.
Image: Nigel Corby