An interesting walk combining the impressive ruins of Ruthven Barracks, open heather moorland with a “get away from it all” feel, the beautiful Glen Tromie and finally a walk through the RSPB reserve overlooking the Insh Marshes.
Summary
Paths throughout; some of the old right of way between Ruthven and Glen Tromie is a little overgrown or boggy; the rest of the walk is on a tarred private road and well-waymarked trails. Two streams near the start could be hard to cross in wet weather.
Terrain
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1. Start the walk at Ruthven barracks where there is parking. The ruins of the 1719 barracks, built as a base to stop rebellion after the Jacobite rising and used by General Wade when building his military roads, can be seen clearly on the natural mound above Insh Marshes. Turn away from the barracks and walk a short distance uphill from the parking area. Turn left onto a farm track immediately passing through a metal farm gate. The track forks, keep to the right and follow the faint track as it keeps just left of a stone wall and climbs gently.
2. Continue on the track as it climbs and passes through a gap between two small hills. Just before the track turns right and reaches a ruined house continue straight ahead passing a tree on your right. Go through a wooden farm gate and onto the open moorland. Follow a small path as it crosses the undulating grassy and then heathery ground heading for a clearer track rising diagonally across the hillock opposite. The ground can be wet underfoot here at times.
3. Cross a small stream (could be difficult in spate conditions) and join a wider path heading gently uphill and slightly to the right. This is the remains of an ancient paved route. The track climbs gently but always skirts Beinn Bhuidhe keeping to the west side rather than going to the top. There is a good view back of Kingussie. For a short distance the path becomes waterlogged and it is necessary to walk on the heather at the sides. Eventually the path reaches a line of old fence posts and the path becomes indistinct but is marked by a series of stone cairns. The route then starts to descend with good open views across the Cairngorms.
4. As the path nears the Woods of Glentromie it heads towards a high stile over the deer fence. Cross this stile and follow the path into the birch and mixed native wood. The path weaves downhill through the wood, it is wet underfoot at times. Eventually the path reaches a smaller stile and then goes left and crosses a larger stile to emerge onto a road. Turn left and follow the road past a house and over the River Tromie.
5. After the bridge turn left and follow the tarmacced road down Glen Tromie eventually reaching the B970 at Tromie Bridge. The route now follows a section of the Badenoch Way which is signed with round white markers and arrows. Turn left at the road and cross the bridge. Immediately turn right through a wooden gate into the RSPB reserve Tromie Bridge Meadow. The route follows a grassy track through woods and then around the edge of the meadow next to the River Tromie. Tromie Mills can be seen on the far bank. Climb up a gentle bank and pass through a kissing gate marked nature trail. Follow the path next to a wall and then turn left uphill following the white markers.
6. Cross some sparse birch woods with heather underfoot on a clear path along a small ridge. Keep following the white circular markers and pass through another kissing gate. Turn right at a small marker post and then cross a vehicular track and go through a small gate. Continue on the path and pass through another gate and you soon reach a sign where you can make a diversion to a good viewpoint and picnic area. To continue on the trail turn left at this sign and follow the path as it contours along the edge of the higher ground above the Insh Marshes. It passes through a gate and over a footbridge just after the diversion down to Invertromie Hide. Just before the carpark there is an information centre about the birdlife on the reserve. Continue down to the parking area and turn left and left again to emerge onto the B970. Here turn right and walk along the road for 1km until you reach the parking area at Ruthven Barracks.
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