Scotland Station code KIN
Kingussie
Kingussie guide: the ruined Ruthven Barracks and the RSPB's Insh Marshes, in the heart of Badenoch on the Highland Chieftain route.
- Around 7 hours 10 minutes from London
- 1 LNER route
- 2 things to do
Ruthven Barracks, built by the government after the 1715 Jacobite rising, about a mile from KingussiePhoto: Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0
About Kingussie
Kingussie is a small town in Badenoch, 12 miles south of Aviemore, whose main street was once the A9 before the road bypassed it in 1979. Its long stone station, rebuilt by the Highland Railway in 1894, is listed Category B.
On a prominent mound near the town stand the ruins of Ruthven Barracks, built by the government after the 1715 Jacobite rising; the Jacobites rallied there after Culloden. Beyond, the RSPB's Insh Marshes reserve covers 10 square kilometres of the River Spey floodplain, rich in breeding waders.
Journey
KIN- Fastest from London King's Cross
- Around 7 hours 10 minutes
- LNER routes calling
- 1
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Inverness stop 21 of 24 | Newtonmore | Aviemore |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
Only one LNER train a day each way: the Highland Chieftain, 7 hours 7 minutes from King's Cross on Saturdays (7 hours 11 minutes on weekdays) in the May–December 2026 timetable.
Journey times are from LNER's May–December 2026 timetable and vary by train. Check yours with LNER timetables or the National Rail journey planner.
Key facts
- Opened
- 9 September 1863 (present buildings 1894)
- Architect
- William Roberts, for the Highland Railway (1894 buildings)
- Heritage status
- Category B listed
- Platforms
- 2
- Managed by
- ScotRail
- Passengers a year
- 42,000 (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- Additions made in 1913 included extra rooms for the station manager, staff dormitories and 'luncheon basket rooms'.
- The Tudor-style former stationmaster's house, just east of the station building, survives from the original station of 1863.
- The 1894 signal box is a McKenzie & Holland 'Type 3' design, extended by Network Rail in 2007.
Photos of Kingussie
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Ruthven Barracks, built by the government after the 1715 Jacobite rising, about a mile from Kingussie Photo: Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
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Kingussie station looking north towards Aviemore Photo: Colin Park, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
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Kingussie's long stone station building of 1894, designed by William Roberts for the Highland Railway Photo: Nigel Thompson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arriving at Kingussie
Platform 1, used by northbound trains, has level access from the car park to the ticket hall; platform 2, with its own waiting room, is reached only by the footbridge. The station is on Ruthven Road at the south end of the town: the High Street is a couple of hundred metres to the north, while Ruthven Barracks is about a mile to the south-east and signposted from the centre of Kingussie. There is no taxi rank.
The station has level access to the ticket hall and platform 1 from the car park; platform 2 is reached by stairs and a footbridge only. Ruthven Barracks is signposted from the centre of Kingussie, about a mile away.
Getting around
Walk to Ruthven Barracks (strong footwear recommended). The Insh Marshes reserve entrance is around 1.5 miles from Kingussie.
Other train services and connections
- ScotRail: Highland Main Line trains to Inverness, Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow
- Caledonian Sleeper: overnight to London Euston six nights a week
Station facilities
- Step-free accessLevel access to platform 1 only; platform 2 by footbridge with stairs (category B3)
- StaffStaffed Mon–Sat 08:26–15:30; unstaffed on Sundays
- Ticket officeMon–Thu 10:00–11:45, Fri 08:45–14:00, Sat 09:00–11:45; closed Sundays
- Ticket machinesNone
- ToiletsIn the waiting room, only while the ticket office is open
- Accessible toiletsUnisex accessible toilet, same hours
- Baby changingAvailable
- Waiting roomsIn the station building (Mon–Sat 08:26–15:30) and on platform 2
- Wi-fiNo station wi-fi
- Car parkingAbout 20 unmarked spaces
- Cycle storage10 stands
- TaxisNo taxi rank
- Help pointsOn both platforms
Checked September 2026. Facilities and opening hours change — see the National Rail Enquiries station page (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.
History of the station
The Inverness and Perth Junction Railway opened its line between Aviemore and Pitlochry on 9 September 1863, completing the route from Forres to Dunkeld, and Kingussie was one of the original stations. The Tudor-style stationmaster's house built at that time still stands. The company became part of the Highland Railway in 1865, and in 1923 of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.
The Highland Railway rebuilt the station in 1891–94 to designs by William Roberts, with a long stone range on the down platform, a cast-iron lattice footbridge and a signal box, and in 1913 it added rooms for staff and luncheon baskets at the rear. Camping coaches were stationed here for holidaymakers in the 1930s and again from 1953 to 1967. In 2017 the southbound platform was rebuilt to standard height, and planning permission for a new accessible footbridge was granted in 2023.
A day in Kingussie
A Jacobite ruin and a wetland reserve on foot, then a dram back in town.
-
Morning
Ruthven Barracks
Walk out to the barracks on their mound, about a mile from the station; strong footwear helps. They are free to visit and open all year.
-
Late morning
Insh Marshes
Continue to the RSPB reserve for curlews, lapwings and other waders on the Spey floodplain. There are no toilets on site.
-
Evening
A dram at the Duke
Back in town, settle into Ghillies Rest, the Duke of Gordon Hotel's bar with more than 50 malt whiskies, or stay on for dinner in its Balmoral Restaurant.
Things to do near Kingussie
Ruthven Barracks
Government barracks built in the early 1700s to police the Highlands. A Jacobite attack failed in 1745, but a stronger one forced its surrender the following year. Free to visit and open all year.
RSPB Insh Marshes
Ten square kilometres of River Spey floodplain between Kingussie and Kincraig, home to breeding curlews, lapwings, redshanks and snipe. There are no toilets on site.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Eat & drink near the station
-
Restaurant
Duke of Gordon Hotel
A family-run hotel that began as an 18th-century stagecoach stop, with more than 50 malt whiskies in its Ghillies Rest bar and Peddie murals of Highland history in the dining room.
Day trips from Kingussie
-
Aviemore
Strathspey steam trains, Rothiemurchus forest and the road to Cairngorm Mountain.
ScotRail trains take about 12 minutes.
-
Newtonmore
The open-air Highland Folk Museum and the Clan Macpherson Museum.
ScotRail trains take about 5 minutes; the Highland Folk Museum is a walk of just under a mile from Newtonmore station.
Where to stay in Kingussie
Hotels and guest houses in the town, with Aviemore a short train ride north.
Tips for your visit
- The Highland Chieftain is LNER's only through train on this line: it leaves London King's Cross at 12.03 every day and Inverness at 07.55 Monday to Saturday (09.40 on Sundays) in the May–December 2026 timetable, so plan around it and reserve a seat.
Questions about Kingussie station
How far is Ruthven Barracks from Kingussie station?
About a mile to the south-east. Historic Environment Scotland says the barracks are signposted from the centre of Kingussie and recommends strong footwear.
Is Kingussie station step-free?
Only platform 1, used by northbound trains, has level access. Platform 2 is reached by a footbridge with stairs.
When is the ticket office open?
Only for short spells: Mon–Thu 10:00–11:45, Fri 08:45–14:00 and Sat 09:00–11:45, and never on Sundays (September 2026). There is no ticket machine, so buy in advance or on the train.
Are there toilets at the station?
Yes, including an accessible toilet, but only while the ticket office is open.
Where is the town centre?
Very close: the High Street is a couple of hundred metres north of the station.
Sources we checked (September 2026)
We researched this page using the sources below. They are listed for transparency and are not links; always check official websites for the latest details.
- assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/7jQOjS38muWdVQbPCRGxyV/809f4c4fe0a29fcd38233147ab0f48…
- lner.co.uk/travel-information/timetables/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingussie_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingussie
- historicenvironment.scot/visit/all/ruthven-barracks/
- historicenvironment.scot/visit/all/ruthven-barracks/plan-your-visit/
- rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/insh-marshes
- thetrainline.com/stations/kingussie
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/kin/
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage/
- portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB36282
- dukeofgordonhotel.co.uk/
- dukeofgordonhotel.co.uk/about-us/
- opentraintimes.com/schedule/C14674/2026-09-29
- opentraintimes.com/schedule/L87271/2026-09-29
Travelling to Kingussie?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.