Thousands of visits to Inverness Castle's North Tower

The new viewpoint at Inverness Castle was opened to the public earlier this year

Inverness Castle Viewpoint has had more than 22,000 visits since it opened in April, according to a Highland Council report.

The tourist attraction on the North Tower allows for 360 degree views of Inverness and surrounding area.

Highland Council, which owns the tower, plans to eventually transform the rest of the castle into a visitor attraction.

The 175-year-old property is currently the base for the city's courts service.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service plans to move out of the castle and into a new building on a site between the city's Longman Road and Burnett Road.

The popularity of the North Tower viewpoint is expected to mean it will remain open to visitors throughout the coming winter.

A view from Inverness Castle's North Tower