Plans have been unveiled to convert an old anti-aircraft operations room in a Wester Ross village into a Gaelic heritage museum.
The lease for the existing Gairloch and District Heritage Museum, which is currently based in an old steading, is due to expire in 2018.
But development funding of £36,200 was recently awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to progress plans to convert the old World War II building in the centre of the village.
It is anticipated that the new heritage centre will open in spring 2019, and local MP Ian Blackford MP recently visited the site to see the plans for himself.
The museum intends to apply for more funding to fully renovate the building which will house its collection of artifacts, manuscripts and publications documenting the history of the communities of Gairloch parish in the last 2,000 years.
The money will also regenerate a redundant historic building, creating a valuable tourist attraction for the area.
Volunteers have run the museum since 1977 and it has become a cultural hub for the area. It houses the first Pictish stone found on the west coast of mainland Scotland, and its Gaelic language and literature resources are highly valued by Gaelic scholars.
With its future secure, the museum will also offer training opportunities for volunteers and local schoolchildren as well as creating a number of professional jobs locally.
Karen Thompson, museum curator, said: “The museum redevelopment project is a fantastic opportunity for Gairloch. “Not only will the future of the museum and the area’s heritage be secured, but we will create a centre for culture and education which will be a landmark visitor attraction in Wester Ross and benefit the whole community.
“Through their support, Heritage Lottery Fund have demonstrated their confidence in our community’s ability to realise this project.
“We are now working very hard to raise the remainder of the project costs and would love to hear from anyone who can help us.”
Ian Blackford, MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, visited the museum to view the collection and study the redevelopment plans.
Mr Blackford said: “I was delighted to visit Gairloch Heritage Museum and hear their exciting plans for the future.
“The new heritage centre will be a valuable asset to the Gairloch area both in terms of education and tourism and showcase the history of Wester Ross to a much wider audience.”