PICTURES: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited Highlands numerous times during SNP leadership
Nicola Sturgeon was no stranger to the Highlands while First Minister – visiting the region on multiple occasions during her eight years as leader of the SNP.
From trips to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness to see the work of the children's unit, to stops at primary schools for interviews with the pupils, to speeches at the likes of the STUC trade union conference in Aviemore, she visited the region numerous times.
Her trips also tied into the region's growing importance within the energy and renewables sector – including an official trip to Nigg in 2016 to view the first turbine destined for the Pentland Firth's Maygen scheme, and a journey to Inverness just last month where she met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as the UK and Scottish Governments announced that the Cromarty Firth's freeport bid had been successful.
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Other business sectors were also visited by the First Minister during her tenure, with her stopping off in Dalcross in 2018 to open the £95 million expansion of the then Norbord factory; and also addressing the National Economic Forum during a past trip to the Kingsmills Hotel.
Past visits also included the naming ceremony for a new Caledonian Sleeper train in 2015, and popular walkabouts in Inverness High Street while on the electoral campaign trail with local MP Drew Hendry.
