For Nessie is set to appear on the world's most popular family board game, Monopoly.

The makers of Monopoly are inviting people from around the Highlands to come up with 30 Highland and Inverness landmarks to replace the traditional familiar London streets of Mayfair, Old Kent Road and landmarks such as Trafalgar Square and Euston Station for inclusion in a customised Highland edition of the game.

Top of the list for a new home would of course be Nessie, and Inverness Town House is also being tipped for a top slot.

Whitehall, one of the original addresses on the Monopoly board, could be replaced by Highland Council's Glenurquhart Road HQ.

There's even a place for utility companies on a Monopoly board, so Scottish Water's Waste Water treatment works at Arturlie Point could even be a contender.

Formally announcing the news today (Thursday) will be Mark Marriot, commercial director of Winning Moves UK - a London games company with an official licence from Monopoly owners Hasbro to produce regional variations of the world's most famous board game, which is 75-years-old this year.

Mark told the Highland News Group: "The race to Whitehall - and Mayfair - starts today. We are very excited and are looking forward to public input for the game in general and the top Mayfair slot in particular.

"The spirit and shape of the board will remain the same as with the traditional Monopoly - including the prices. It will be mainly the streets which change and take on a regional flavour and feel. It may also appear in both English and Gaelic languages."

The new game is already being tipped to be a massive tourism boost for the region.

Inverness Provost Jimmy Gray said: "This is fantastic news for the city of Inverness and the Highlands too.

"I am certain the Monopoly Highland Edition will be a great hit and with Nessie set to appear very prominently - as we are assured by the makers - then it really will have international appeal."

Willie Cameron, Head of Loch Ness Marketing, also welcomed the news.

"Monopoly is a household name and its a brand that's almost as big as Loch Ness itself," he said. "It has universal appeal to all ages internationally and the local tourist industry will be delighted Nessie will have a place on the new game."

So what other tourist hotspots or local landmarks can we expect to see on the Highland Monopoly board?

Top contenders in Lochaber could be Harry Potter's Glenfinnan Viaduct, Neptune's Staircase on the Caledonian Canal or would-be property moguls might even want a slice of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis.

Or how about Ben Wyvis, Strathpeffer Spa Pavilion, Cromarty Courthouse or Fortrose Cathedral in Ross-shire?

The Monopoly Highlands Edition is expected to hit High Street and virtual shop shelves in October or November of this year.

Voting gets under way today (Thursday) at 10am. Polls will close at 10am on Friday, April 2.

To vote, email monopoly@winningmoves.co.uk and for further details on voting visit www.winningmoves.co.uk

d.wilson@highland-news.co.uk

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