Phoebe Fox, 43, and Fi Grist, 43, attended a fundraiser together for The Highland Hospice Build. During the event they bid on an ArgoCat adventure up Ben Wyvis. The sprawling mountain range, located near Easter Ross, north-west of Dingwall, forms a ridge of about 5km long.
The adventure was sponsored by Aird Motors of Beauly and involved Phoebe and Fi travelling up Ben Wyvis on a Haaglund and down in ArgoCat.
Phoebe, who is an owner of Sutor Creek and Couper’s Creek in Cromarty, said: “My husband and I own a restaurant in Cromarty and very rarely take a weekend off. The fundraiser was a rare opportunity to spend time with friends and enjoy the food and music while contributing to a good cause.”
Fi has been raising money for the Highland Hospice for the last couple of years and is a palliative care nurse at Highland Hospice as well as being a former Army major in the nursing corps.
Phoebe said: “Fi works for the Highland Hospice as a palliative care nurse and suggested going to their Winter Ball fundraiser. We thought the adventure would be a great day out for our children – Gregor, 12, Alistair, 9, and Fi’s daughter Tilly, 11.”
Included in the winning lot was a day out on Ben Wyvis with the Wyvis Estate manager and a champagne picnic at the top. Their route was from the Wyvis Estate near Evanton and took about two-and-a half hours each way.
Having been in the Army, Fi had experience with similar vehicles before, although the others were novices. They said that the ride was more enjoyable than it was comfortable but they still loved it.
Phoebe said: “The Haaglund was basically like being in a tank and very exciting. The ArgoCat made it over every obstacle in its way and there were lots to overcome including bogs, rivers and vertical drops.
“If I had a reason to purchase an ArgoCat I would.”
The winter ball for the Highland Hospice raised £44,000 with £24,000 of that from the silent auction. This year’s winter ball, A Night in Paris, will be held on November 26 at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness.