The viewing platform from the North Tower at Inverness Castle which opened its doors on Easter Monday was fully booked for the week by lunchtime on Tuesday.
Free access to Inverness castle viewpoint was being offered to the public until the end of Friday – but all 1,100 slots have now been filled following a recent surge of inquiries.
And it has left operators High Life Highland delighted with the initial response to the city’s newest visitor attraction.
The viewing platform gives 360 degree views of the city and beyond, and marks the first phase of wider plans to turn the whole castle into a tourist attraction.
Highland Council’s director of development and infrastructure, Stuart Black, revealed on Monday that the team are working in partnership with the National Gallery and National Museum of Scotland, to develop plans to turn the castle into a V&A of the north that will be a tourist draw for the whole of the Highlands.
A total of £15million from the City Region Deal will be used to convert the castle, and Mr Black said that an application will also be submitted for lottery funding as part for the project.
Yesterday, High Life Highland chief executive Ian Murray said: “We knew that Inverness Castle Viewpoint would be a popular attraction and that demand would be high. The phones started ringing at 8.30am on our first day and we have been operating at capacity since opening the doors at 11am right through to closing at 6pm on Monday evening.
“The high level of demand has continued for the rest of the week and as of lunchtime on Tuesday, all 11,00 free slots are now full.”
From Saturday, admission to the castle viewpoint will be priced at £5 for adults and £3 for children and spaces will be available on a first come first served basis.
Key city landmarks are explained in interpretation maps for visitors.
The viewpoint is housed over three floors and, while climbing the 95 steps to the top, visitors van enjoy various attractions including learning about the prophecies of The Brahan Seer, a legendary 17th century Highland mystic, many of which came true.
