Historic Environment Scotland has designated a total of six properties across the Highlands, Islands and the north east as priority sites for investment.
Among the sites from the north and west that gained the prestigious “priority” status were Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness and Fort George on the Moray Firth.
Others named on the list for dedicated investment and development were Dallas Dhu Distillery, Duff House, Iona Abbey and Kilchurn Castle.
The sites are ranked according to the best potential gains in four main criteria: conservation improvement, enhanced visitor experience, cultural significance and wider economic and social benefits.
The William Adam-designed Duff House in Aberdeenshire will get a range of mechanical and electrical upgrades or replacements worth an estimated £440,000.
Major work will see heating upgrades, a disabled evacuation lift, the replacement of security lighting with LED lighting and a new sewage pump system.
The iconic Urquhart Castle will undergo a mix of conservation work and activity to enhance the visitor experience which has been budgeted at £365,000.
Fort George was identified as one of the most at-risk sites belonging to HES due to the impact of climate and will get £310,000.
That will include a mix of conservation work and enhancing the visitor experience including a stable block conversion and ordinance office upgrades.
The Dallas Dhu Distillery meanwhile will receive visitor research at a cost of around £15,000.
According to HES, the figures for investment are provisional pending a decision on where the £12million investment plan will go across all its 336 sites.
There are other sites and buildings that will have “must do” work as well, so that they accord with health and safety standards.
Topping the list is Edinburgh Castle which is designated as a special case, next was Glasgow Cathedral, followed by Urquhart Castle, then Linlithgow Palace and Holyrood Park.
