Highland Council has opened the doors to show the work in progress at what could soon become one of the biggest tourist attractions in the north.
Craftsmen are edging towards completion of a project to open up the north tower at Inverness Castle to visitors with a head for heights.
All going well, the new viewing platform should be open for business from October.
The experience will be free for a spell before an as yet undecided charge will be introduced for those willing to clamber up the steps for spectacular sights east and west high above the city.
The project is the first stage of an ambitious long-term plan to shift the region’s main court complex to a state of the art purpose-built justice centre elsewhere in the city allowing the ancient castle to be accessed by all.
The first stage has been funded jointly by the council, the city’s common good fund, the development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the UK Government’s City Deal.
A £15million chunk of City Deal money is being invested in the wider £360,000 castle redevelopment.
Council chiefs hope to double the investment through council and lottery funding to create a “game-changing” city attraction.
City councillor Thomas Prag, who has played an instrumental part in opening up the castle for public enjoyment, said: “It’s a really important first step for bringing the castle into genuine local public use for to give visitors something they expect and have never had from the castle in the past.
“It’s just a first step. The exciting bit comes next.”
The council has yet to establish what ticket price will be set for the new attaction.
Several senior councillors have made it clear that it should be a “modest” amount.
Acknowledging that the tower must pay its way, Mr Prag said: “It has to pay for itself but you pay to access any tower across the world, so there’s nothing exceptional about that.”
The Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS) has offered a commitment to move out of the castle once a suitable replacement is found.
The latest proposed site for a new justice centre is the former Stagecoach depot near Burnett Road police station. A public consultation will be held on the choice at the end of this month.
