This short, easy walk follows the Gynack Burn to explore the history of Kingussie. It can be linked to the Creag Bheag and Tom Baraidh route to make a much longer walk.
Bog Factor
Clear paths and minor roads.
Kingussie, free car park off Gynack Road, behind Duke of Gordon Hotel.
Bus and train service to Kingussie.
NH755007
There is a large free car park just behind the Duke of Gordon Hotel in the centre of Kingussie, off Gynack Road, where there are also toilets and information about the local path network. From here return to the road and turn left to head uphill following the sign for the Gynack Mill Trail. Soon another green sign is reached, follow the steps down to the right to reach the Gynack Burn. This burn was at the heart of the Fourth Duke of Gordon's plans to build a new town at Kingussie. The water did power a number of mills producing flax, flour and wool, however Kingussie did not develop into the industrial powerhouse the Duke had envisaged, becoming instead, a popular tourist town once the railway arrived in 1863.
Across the burn you can see one of the mills, now converted to housing. Continue to cross the footbridge. There is an interpretation board with more information about the history of Kingussie. Pass this, keeping on the main path ahead. Pass a viewing platform on the left where the remains of one of several dams built to control the water flow can be seen. The writer, Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island and many more popular books, spent his holidays in Kingussie in the 1880's and he loved to sail paper boats on the burn. Keep on the path and head uphill through the trees.
When the path forks, keep on the main path heading straight ahead. At a T junction turn left and follow the path upstream, a little way from the burn now. The path soon bends to the right between wire fences, with newly built houses on the left. When the road is reached turn left. After the last house on the left turn left at a green signpost, passing a stone cairn and heading down steps to the river.
Cross the bridge and bear left on the other side, passing an information board and then turning left onto the road to head downhill. The road passes the St Vincent Hospital on the right and soon reaches the green signed path heading down to the river on the left. Take this path for the second time and cross the bridge. Here keep straight ahead following a smaller path alongside the fence to go up a flight of steps. At the top turn right through the gate onto a track, Boa Vista Road, to pass a number of lovely houses overlooking Kingussie. When a road junction is reached turn right to head downhill towards the town. Further down there are good views over the cemetery to Creag Bheag.
When you see a clock tower on the left, head towards it for a few paces then visit the information board on the right showing an old map of the town from the viewpoint. Return to the main road and continue down to reach the High Street. Go straight across at the traffic lights and follow King Street until the T junction where you turn right along Spey Street. Here the old Post Office building can be seen on the left.
Cross the bridge over the Gynack Burn and then turn right into the park. Walk through the formal gardens, passing the war memorial, with the imposing Duke of Gordon Hotel ahead. Once out of the park cross the road and head up Gynack Road to return to the car park at the start of the walk.
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