Speyside residents are celebrating a successful first summer season in control of their village’s visitor centre.
The Aberlour Community Association took over the visitor centre at the old railway station from Moray Council earlier this year.
And, following a busy summer period, members say they are on track to transforming the centre into a tourist attraction in its own right.
The association’s chairman, John Nicol, said holidaymakers from all over Europe had flocked to the historic rail station to learn more about the Speyside region.
Mr Nicol said: “At the moment the building is a visitor centre but ultimately we hope it will become a visitor attraction as well.
“Last summer was the first we had managed the centre, while it was still under council control, and that was so successful it convinced us we could run it ourselves.
“Numbers were good last year, and they are equally good this year.”
He added: “I think the proportion of overseas visitors is higher than before though, and most of our tourists come from Germany or Holland.”
Exhibitions from the Spey fishery board were a popular draw over the summer months, Mr Nicol added.
The Aberlour team also borrowed an exhibition of vintage grocery items from colleagues at the Falconer Museum in Forres.
Mr Nicol added: “We created a display along the lines of an old-fashioned shop with those bits and pieces, and that was of interest for local people and visitors.”
Over the coming years the centre aspires to expand the way it documents life in the surrounding area.
The visitor centre will remain open until at least the end of this month, with members then to decide whether to extend the season.
In March, Moray Council’s policy and resources committee approved plans for a community asset transfer on the visitor centre at the site.
Councillors heard that last summer the venue welcomed 4,000 visitors from 32 countries.
Aberlour railway station was opened in 1923 but fell into disuse in 1971. As well as the visitor centre, the venue also now hosts a tea shop.