Ben Nevis has been voted a national treasure in an online survey, but it was beaten to first place by the largest equine sculptures in the world.
The Kelpies in Falkirk gained more votes than the UK’s highest mountain in a poll to discover people’s favourite venue or landmark to have benefited from National Lottery funding.
And the results of the National Treasures survey were announced today to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the first National Lottery draw, which took place on November 19, 1994.
The 4,409ft peak in Lochaber has been awarded more than £1.8million of lottery funding, via the Heritage Lottery Fund, to help conserve its unique mountain landscape.
Nevis Landscape Partnership programme manager, Lizzie Cooper, said: “We are delighted that Ben Nevis has been recognised as such an iconic part of Scotland and are very grateful to everyone who voted for us.
“National Lottery funding has ensured that we can safeguard Ben Nevis for future generations and over the next five years there will be many opportunities for people to get involved in caring for this national treasure.”
The National Treasures survey, which was carried out on a social networking site in May, attracted more than 66,000 votes.
And the shortlist of “iconic places” also included Gigha in the Western Isles.
The public were also asked to vote for their favourite “iconic face” and they chose Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy as their national treasure.
Director at the National Lottery Promotions Unit, Jackie O’Sullivan, said: “Scotland is home to some of the best museums, sports facilities, visitor attractions and venues in the world and National Lottery players should be proud that they are supporting so many.
“The National Treasures survey was a fun way of celebrating these places and recognising the contribution Lottery players make towards them.”
Since the National Lottery began, players have raised over £32billion for more than 450,000 projects across the UK.
More than £53billion has been paid out in prizes and more than 3,700 millionaires have been created.