Carrbridge and Newtonmore, North-east Scotland

A sausage-shaped circuit that takes a whole day, but offers some dramatic mountain views from mostly level valley floors. The final stretch back to Kingussie and Newtonmore is on the B9152, a great alternative to the busy A9. Follow the link below for directions and points of interest.

Newtonmore – Coylumbridge -Carrbridge – Aviemore – Newtonmore

Start Newtonmore, Carrbridge and Aviemore are on the Highland Main Line. Newtonmore is 2 hours and 35 minutes from Edinburgh.

Essentials Planning Cafés at Newtonmore and Carrbridge; pubs and cafés at Kingussie. Choices at Aviemore.

Points of interest

FESHIEBRIDGE glorious waterfalls, short detour.

NEWTONMORE once the headquarters of Clan Macpherson. Centre for walking, bikinand fishing – and it provided locations for the TV series, Monarch of the Glen.

RUTHVEN BARRACKS This landmark was an 18thC barracks built on the ruins of Ruthven Castle. About 3,000 defeated Highlanders gathered here after the Battle of Culloden with the intention of fighting on. They decided against, and dispersed – the end, for many Highland clans, of an ancient way of life.

LOCH MORLICH Detour for a swim – sandy shore. Good for picnics, too.

LOCH GARTEN Short detour to view the famous osprey nest site.

THE CAIRNGORMS Britain’s largest national park contains these rounded granite mountains, with 18 peaks above 1,000 m. Queen Victoria climbed the highest, Ben Macdhui, in 1859.

AVIEMORE Purpose-built ski centre with a range of all-year activities.

KINGUSSIE Its shinty team are champions at their sport, deadly rivals of Newtonmore. Shinty, played with sticks and a ball, is a Highland game something like hockey and could have been the origin of ice hockey.

Staying nearby

Loch Insh, self-catering, Loch Insh, Kincraig, Kingussie. Lodge, chalet and apartment accommodation at beautiful Loch Insh. 01540 651272.

Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel, Glenmore, Aviemore. 01479 861238.

Aviemore Youth Hostel, 25 Grampian Road, Aviemore. 01479 810345.

Pine Ridge B & B, Main Street, Carrbridge. 01479 841653.