A KIND-HEARTED man is set to brave the elements and travel more than 350 miles on a vintage tractor in a daring challenge.
Robert Wilson, from Houston, will be driving a Fordson Super Dexta and starting the long journey in Ullapool on Monday, April 15.
The challenge will see Robert take on the Outer Hebrides where he will pass places such as Stornoway and Castlebay before travelling across to Oban.
The final part of the challenge will see the tractor make its way to the Isle of Bute where its life originally began in Rothesay more than 60 years ago.
The journey will be a total of 368 miles, with Robert taking six ferries over six days.
The money raised will be split equally between Beatson Cancer Charity, British Heart Foundation and Calum's Cabin.
Robert's wife Lesley says it is a challenge her husband is excited about but knows it will be hard.
She said: "He is dead excited about the challenge and he can't wait to go.
"He has always been roundabout tractors and that is what his business is about, so he has dealt with tractors all his life.
"The thing about this tractor is it has no cab on it, so he is open to the elements.
"That is the main thing that is going to prove a challenge and we are hoping that the weather will be kind to him."
Robert, who also recently turned 60, felt the challenge was meant to be as he and the tractor are the same age.
In April 2022, he did a similar challenge as he drove a tractor from Houston to Orkney and back and raised more than £26,000 for charity.
The farm vehicle was originally owned by his dad Andy in 1964 and was sold on the Isle of Bute, where it remained until last December when Robert bought it back and took it off the island for the first time in 59 years.
Robert spent a lot of time in his younger days working as a tractor mechanic on Bute, so he already had a connection with the island.
The vintage tractor has a top speed of 18 miles per hour and the most it can do in one day is 50 miles.
He is expected to arrive in Rothesay on Saturday, April 20, and is set to be met with members of the Bute Vintage Tractor Club at Rhubodach to complete the last leg of the journey.
The three charities which the challenge is in aid of are ones that are dear to the Wilson family.
Beatson Cancer Charity was chosen because several friends of Robert have been treated there, and more recently his step-mum.
Calum's Cabin was also chosen after Robert's step-daughter was treated for cancer as a three-year-old in 2007 and is now a healthy 20-year-old.
And the British Heart Foundation was chosen as Robert's dad has heart issues, as well as Lesley's late mum.
Lesley said: "There are so many deserving charities around.
"Robert chose Beatson Cancer Charity because it is one of these places where everyone seems to know someone who has been there, sadly.
"The support he received from the charity at his last fundraising event was amazing, and it really makes a difference to know that we are helping.
"We hope the money will make a huge difference to them all in one way or another.
"It is something we are all excited for and we hope to raise as much money as we possibly can."
The fundraising page can be viewed HERE
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here