The widow of a former local doctor has cut the first turf for the new £1.8million health centre in Drumnadrochit.
Dr Joanne Sutherland, wife of former village GP Dr Peter Sutherland had the honour of officially starting work on the centre.
Wick-based contractor MM Miller started work on the site earlier this month.
Last week the workers uncovered “historic human remains” on the site, which are believed to date from the Bronze Age.
The find is not expected to delay progress on the health centre.
The new complex will include five GP consulting rooms, a dedicated nurse and healthcare assistant consulting rooms and two treatment rooms.
It was designed after work by NHS Highland and a community group, made up of members of the community council, GPs, local councillors and representatives from social service.
NHS Highland south area manager, Jean Pierre Sieczkarek, said: “We were delighted to welcome a host of NHS Highland staff and representatives from the community group to mark the official sod-cutting.
“It is appropriate that Dr Joanne Sutherland was on hand to cut the sod alongside Mrs Pamela Fraser, a member of the Drumnadrochit Patient Participation Group.
“This is a very important project for NHS Highland and for the local community in the Drumnadrochit area and indicates our growing commitment to provide the best service and facilities for the people of Highland.”
NHS Highland senior project manager, Heather Cameron, said: “The waiting room at the replacement health centre has been designed to be secured from the rest of the building for out-of-hours use by various groups.
“There will also be a hot-desking office for use by visiting health and social care workers and bookable consulting space for visiting services.
“The building has been designed to maximise the natural light and energy efficiency, with a biomass boiler and high levels of insulation, and to accommodate future expansion if needed.”
The Drumnadrochit development is the latest in a series of major projects by NHS Highland, which have included the provision of a £1.3million health centre at Broadford on Skye, a £4million replacement health centre in Tain and the £1.5million redevelopment of Dingwall health centre.