Tours of Inverness Town House get go-ahead

Public tours of The Highland Council’s Town House could soon be starting with a pilot programme in autumn 2008 and a wider programme of tours starting in 2009.

Members of the Council’s Inverness City Committee yesterday agreed that the pilot programme will incorporate pre-arranged group tours organised through the Council Officer (as at present) and in addition tours will be operated with approved guides at pre-arranged times for individual visitors. These pre-arranged tours will be subject to agreement with VisitScotland, bookable through the Tourist Information Centre with no charge levied by the Council.

Speaking to members of the Inverness City Committee, Colin Simpson Highland Council’s Tourism Co-ordinator said: “By offering guided tours of the Town House, visitors and locals will be able to gain an increased understanding of the history and culture of Inverness and the Highlands.

“Inverness and its beautiful natural environment have a wide range of outdoor activities, events, places and venues for our visitors to attend. What we hope to provide through the tours at the Town House are an addition to our wet-weather indoors market for visitor attractions providing an all year round visitor activity that is not weather dependent.

“The general day to day business and security of the Town House has been taken into consideration within these proposals and we are confident that we can enhance the visitor experience to Inverness without compromising Council business.”

The proposals for public tours will complement the existing on–line virtual tour of the Town House on the Council’s award-winning Am Baile highland history and culture website at www.ambaile.org. The Council is also publishing a guide book which provides details on some of the paintings, sculptures, artefacts and history of the Town House.

For further information please contact: Colin Simpson, Tourism Co-ordinator, The Highland Council tel: 01997 423032.