A village in the Badenoch district of Highland Council Area, Kingussie lies on the Allt Mhor in the upper valley of the River Spey, 70 miles (113 km) north of Perth. The Cairngorm Mountains rise to the east and the Monadhliath Mountains to the west. Created a burgh of barony in 1464, Kingussie was laid out in its present form as a planned village in 1799 by the Duke and Duchess of Gordon, the Duchess having developed a linen industry to support the population. The arrival of the Highland Railway in 1863 stimulated tourism and an 18-hole golf course was created in 1890. Three years later the Camanachd Association, which regulates the game of shinty, was formed here. Between 1974 and 1996 Kingussie was the administrative centre of the Badenoch and Strathspey District of Highland Region. Bone china, precision instruments and whisky are produced.
Local shops offer fresh Highland produce, antiques, pottery and crafts, gifts and souvenirs. While previously a major tourist centre, the town is noticeably quieter since it was bypassed by the A9, which now lies a half-mile (1 km) to the SE. Nearby attractions include Ruthven Barracks.
