Proposals to turn a lookout tower at Inverness Castle into a top tourist attraction have taken a major step forward.
Under the plans, two viewing platforms offering panoramic views of the city and beyond would be created at the iconic site.
Artist’s impressions of the new feature show people standing on top of one of the turrets of the North Tower complex.
It is hoped that visitors would enjoy views across the city as far as Loch Ness.
The plans have been months in the making as efforts to open up the castle to the public gather momentum.
Highland Council has now submitted a formal planning application to open up part of the North Tower complex to the public.
Chairman of the development and infrastructure committee, Councillor Thomas Prag said: “This is an important first step towards the exciting project of opening up part of the castle to tourists and to local people.
“Like many others in our city, I have been dreaming of the day we might get to do something like this.
“The tower will be an excellent attraction for tourists and will help to boost visits to the city centre.”
In the long term, the council hopes to open the castle to the public permanently if the Scottish Court Service moves out.
The castle was built as a prison in the 1840s but is currently used as a courthouse for the city.
The plans, which were submitted yesterday, include creating a tourist shop and exhibition.
The public will now have a chance to have their say before they are decided by councillors.
It is hoped that the tower could be open to visitors in late 2015 at the earliest.
Earlier this month, the Inverness Castle Working Group agreed to commission a feasibility study which would identify and analyse a viable and economically sustainable alternative use or uses for the castle.
The group was formed to maximise the castle’s status in the heart of the city to the benefit of the tourism economy.
At the time, Scottish Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing MSP, who jointly chairs the group, said: “The council’s development of the viewpoint in the North Tower is hugely welcome as it highlights the tourism opportunities the castle presents – not to mention giving the public access to what has been pronounced as the grandest view in Britain.”
The results of the feasibility study will be reported in May next year.