Coach operator D & E Coaches is to begin a new shuttle service to the Highlands top dolphin-spotting destination in the Black Isle in a bid to ease chronic parking congestion.
The ‘Dolphin Shuttle’ service, which is due to begin on Easter Sunday, will ferry tourists back and forth from Inverness to Chanonry Point until August 31.
More than 150,000 visitors travel to the tourist hotspot each year in the hope of seeing a bottle nose dolphins in the Moray Firth.
Due to the growing population, the area has over time become severely congested, sometimes blocking the access to houses and the golf club.
Donald Mathieson, founder and managing director of Inverness-based D & E Coaches said: “This is an unsubsidised service which we will be trialling for the April 1 to August 31, the period when tourists are most keen to visit Chanonry Point.
“The community council asked for a bus service to stop the nuisance parking. We investigated and decided to go ahead with a shuttle. It is also beneficial to visitors who don’t have cars.
“Highland Council have been extremely helpful as they, too, want to solve the parking problem. The council is also to erect signs to promote our service.”
The new service is scheduled to run throughout the summer until August 31 on a trial basis.
Councillor Gordon Adam welcomed the news saying: “It will help to reduce congestion at Chanonry Point and also links in to the regular buses from Inverness and Cromarty to Fortrose.”
Almost two years ago, the attraction underwent a £273,000 revamp to include disabled parking, cycle stands and new seating.