Work could soon start on a new cycle route between Fort William and Inverness.
RJ McLeod is the successful tender for the £2.9 million Great Glen Cycle Route, which will provide cyclists with a safe alternative to the A82 Inverness-Fort William trunk road.
The new route will allow cyclists to enjoy the beautiful scenery while improving their fitness, as well as reducing emissions and tackling congestion.
The 66-mile long route will pass along the length of the Great Glen, taking in local roads, canal towpaths and forestry roads.
Canal towpaths and forestry roads will be upgraded to link up with newly constructed sections of the route which will also benefit from new signing and path markings.
When finished it will form part of a longer route from Oban to Inverness.
Transport minister Keith Brown said: “It is great to see progress is being made on the Great Glen Cycle Route. Not only will it attract visitors to the area, it will improve local economies along the whole length as a result.
“We have some of the most iconic landscapes in the world in Scotland and people want to get out there to enjoy them. This is a fantastic example of how Transport Scotland, working in partnership with Sustrans, local authorities, Scottish Canals, Forestry Commission and private landowners, is allowing them to do so.
“Cycling is already a hugely popular sport in the Highlands and the new route will help cyclists access other nearby attractions, which include the downhill course at the Nevis Range gondola, the world cup mountain bike course at Leanachan Forest and many other off-road sections of mountain bike trails developed by the Forestry Commission.
“I am looking forward to seeing work progress in the near future and to have cyclists from across the world coming here to enjoy, what I am sure will become a tremendous asset for Scotland’s adventure tourism industry, in years to come.”