The creation of a walking/cycling trail based on a scale model of the solar system, extending from Gynack Gardens (the Sun), to RSPB Insh (Neptune) and potentially Tromie Bridge (Pluto).
Estimated Price
£25,000
Kingussie's Community Action Plan 2025 contained many suggestions about making the town more attractive to visitors and for the creation of additional "themed" trails to add to our network of paths around the town. KCDC has developed an idea to create a model of the solar system, extending from the town's Gynack Gardens along the Speyside Way to RSPB Insh and (potentially) as far as Tromie Bridge, Drumguish, and with planetary models located at their correct scaled positions.
This overall distance gives convenient and accessible scaled positions of the planets within Gynack Gardens, along Jubilee Way, adjacent to the shinty ground and Ruthven Barracks and finishing alongside the picnic benches at RSPB Insh. For cyclists and hardier walkers there'll be an extension to the final "planet" (Pluto) at Tromie Bridge.
The trail follows the established Speyside Way and highlights a link from the town to local attractions all readily accessible by walking or cycling. The overall distance means the trail to Neptune is do-able, there and back, in a few hours. Even allowing for a stopover at the Barracks and a picnic at the RSPB site before returning!
The route passes our primary and secondary schools, generating potential for learning opportunities/projects.
The idea has received positive feedback in community surveys and KCDC has already secured (informal) permissions from landowners along the route.
KCDC is intending that the planet sculptures reflect aspects of the town and that we involve local people in their design and manufacture as far as possible. To that end we have recently held an open call for design ideas from school children and all the town's creatives. We also intend to include information boards as part of the route, giving more information about the planets and with links to an accompanying web page. The final design choices will be influenced by buildability and cost and these assessments are due to take place over the next few weeks, with selections being confirmed for a planning application submission in June or July 2026. Our intent would be to have a planning approval in place to coincide with the partial solar eclipse on the 12th August 2026!
The aim is to promote the town, highlight local attractions and make this trail something for locals and tourists to enjoy. There are only a handful of solar system trails across the UK and our intent is that this adds to the appeal of the area as a destination. With the railway crossing between Mars and Jupiter, we can tell rail passengers to change at Kingussie for the solar system!
No quotes have yet been obtained - this is the next step. The estimated figure is expected to be sufficient to cover all planetary models and noticeboards. Where possible KCDC would utilise volunteer labour to erect sculpted pieces and noticeboards.
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