Ruthven Barracks

Ruthven Barracks is a fortified military compound in the Scottish Highlands near Kingussie, built with two three-story stone blocks positioned on a raised mound. The structure features firing positions for muskets and defensive corner towers.

The barracks were built in 1719 by the British government right after the 1715 Jacobite uprising to exert control over the Scottish Highlands. Construction was part of a broader military strategy to suppress local Highland culture.

The site marks where government soldiers were stationed to control the local population after the 1715 uprising, and visitors walking through the ruins today can sense this military presence that shaped the region. The stone walls speak to a period when Highland life was under close watch.

The ruins can be freely visited and explored year-round, with information panels explaining the different areas and functions of the former compound. Access is straightforward, and the panels help visitors understand how each section was used.

The structure remains the best preserved of four infantry barracks built across Scotland from 1719 to 1730 as part of efforts to disarm the local population. The other three sites are far less visible or have deteriorated significantly.