A team of kilted trekkers who climbed to base camp on Mount Everest in aid of the Highland Hospice have returned home safely from the Himalayas.
The foursome – John Urquhart, from Ullapool; Alex Mackenzie from Cawdor; Mark Bain, from Nairn and Susan Drew, from Kirkhill – arrived at Inverness Airport today.
The three men in the team have been wearing their kilts for the entire challenge, battling the cold temperatures and effects of altitude on their way up to the camp at 17,600ft.
The foursome started their ascent on Tuesday, November 11, and it took them eight days to reach the camp.
Mr Urquhart – whose wife, Rene, was cared for at the hospice until she died in 2009 – was first to sign up for the challenge.
He previously canoed down the River Zambezi in 2012 with Mr Bain and Mr Mackenzie and the intrepid trio jumped at the chance to raise more cash for the hospice, along with their new member.
The four trekkers are all keen hillwalkers but have very little mountaineering experience between them, and trained for about six months for the challenge.
Mr Mackenzie said: “It feels good to be home. It was certainly quite a hard three weeks. It got to about minus 10 at night but during the day it was nice and sunny. We were actually really lucky with the weather conditions.
“It was a great experience and there were so many photos taken by people who passed us on the trek, and these people wanted to know about the Highland Hospice and their work as well, which is great.”
Mrs Drew added: “It was a great sense of exhilaration when we finally reached base camp.”
Amanda Burt, Highland Hospice events fundraiser, said: “I am very proud of them for their achievement. They have done a fantastic job, especially with the time they have given through training and being away for three weeks.”
The foursome have so far raised more than £10,000 through the challenge. To donate visit
https://www.justgiving.com/kiltedchallenge/