An unwanted tourist information centre has been snapped up by a bakery.
Subject to a lease being signed, Harry Gow’s is preparing to breathe life into the vacant facility just north of the Kessock Bridge.
The building, at a popular stop-off point overlooking the Beauly Firth just off the northbound A9 Inverness-Scrabster road, was put on the market to let in May.
The baker has plans for the 1,500sq ft space and a single-storey venue.
It expects to retain the 20 parking spaces currently there.
The pull-in is a well established magnet for dolphin spotters.
Thousands of vehicles pass the spot each day on the busy dual carriageway and hundreds of marine lovers make a pilgrimage there each year.
Tourism agency VisitScotland recently revealed that it had decided to not to renew its lease on the site after visitor numbers plummeted.
There was “considerable interest”, however, from a range of organisations keen to take over the site.
VisitScotland hopes to work with the new tenant to ensure an element of tourist information is maintained at the spot.
Gow’s declined to comment yesterday (FRI) until the formal paperwork had been signed.
Scott Armstrong, VisitScotland’s regional director for the Highlands, said: “We’re constantly reviewing how we provide information to make sure it best meets visitors’ needs.
“Visitors increasingly use online resources, leading to less demand for face-to-face information provision in some locations.
“In line with this trend, North Kessock iCentre (CORRECT) has experienced a 46% decline in visitor footfall over the last 10 years to just over 14,000.
“Our current lease is coming to an end and we’ve been working with our partners, including Highland Council, to ensure we continue to provide the most efficient and effective visitor information in the area by diversifying and reacting to consumer demands.”
