These are glorious views from the top of Inverness Castle, previously seen by only a few fortunate people.
The panoramic vista will soon be available to all when the castle’s north tower is opened up to visitors.
Council chiefs have promised a spell of free admission to the tower for a brief period from October before an admission charge is introduced to help with its upkeep.
The project has been publicly funded jointly by the council, the city’s common good fund, the development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the UK Government’s so-called city deal.
Planning chairman Stuart Black said: “The views are pretty spectacular and we think it’ll prove a great success because visitor numbers this summer have been impressive.
“I think a lot of local people will also want to go and see it.”
A £15million chunk of city deal money is being invested in a wider £360,000 castle redevelopment as it evolves from a courts complex into a proper tourist destination.
Planning chiefs hope to double the investment through council and lottery funding to create a “game-changing” city attraction.
Part of the castle complex has been shrouded in scaffolding for some time to assist the transformation.
Much is still up in the air in terms of the broader picture at the castle complex.
It currently houses the city’s sheriff court and an array of offices.
The Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS) is committed to vacate the building once a suitable replacement is found.
The Press and Journal revealed earlier this month that an indicative planning application for a site for a new justice centre, near the city’s Burnett Road police station, had been submitted to the council.
A public consultation on the proposals for the former Stagecoach depot is expected this month.
In May, the SCTS withdrew from a deal to buy a former bakery opposite Burnett Road police station because certain conditions could not be met by the deal’s closing date.
