A long-awaited tourist attraction offering views over Inverness will finally open to the public today.
Installing a viewpoint at the top of the North Tower at Inverness Castle was first mooted in 2014 – and it had initially been slated to open before last year.
But the much-anticipated attraction, expected to prove a major hit with tourists, will finally open today.
It is the first phase of wider plans to turn the castle, primarily used today as the city’s sheriff court, into a tourist trap.
The viewpoint is at the top of the castle’s north tower and offers wide-ranging views over the city, down the Great Glen and over the Moray Firth.
Interpretation boards have been installed explaining the views as people climb to the top.
Stuart Black, Highland Council’s director of development and infrastructure, said: “Highland Council owns the North Tower of the castle and is delighted to be working with High Life Highland who are managing the Castle Viewpoint on our behalf.
“The council, Inverness Common Good Fund, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and city-region deal funding have all contributed to the cost of the Castle Viewpoint.
“We have also improved the approaches to the North Tower and castle. This can be seen as the first phase in the exciting transformation of Inverness Castle into a major tourist attraction for Inverness and the Highlands.”
The viewpoint is free for the first week until Friday and will then cost £5 for adults and £3 for children
Numbers are limited to 59 at any one time in the viewpoint and slots can be booked from the nearby Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.
High Life Highland chief executive Ian Murray said, “We are really pleased to be working with the Highland Council and other partners on this brand new Highland visitor attraction.
“We are looking forward to opening during the Easter holiday period and welcoming our first guests when the doors to the Inverness Castle Viewpoint open on Monday morning.
“The view from the top is stunning and I am sure will be enjoyed by many local residents as well as visitors over the coming months.”