Doug Beattie of Farm And Forestry Equipment based in Ardersier, Inverness-shire, is planning to drive the North Coast 500 on his Massey Ferguson 135.

Doug Beatie of Farm And Forestry Equipment photographed at the recent Black Isle Agricultural Show by BAGMA's Alasdair Straker

Doug will be raising funds and awareness for MND and MS. He calculates it will take him 5 days at 20 mph!

The planned trip came about Doug says, following the sad news that a close friend had been recently diagnosed with MND and Doug's wife Helen has two sisters who unfortunately suffer from MS.

Doug has had his Massey Ferguson 135 on display this summer at Nairn and the Black Isle shows and has already raised £2,500.

He told Service Dealer, "We would just like to say huge thanks to everyone for their generosity and contributions so far. If we can get to £3,000 we’d be delighted. I’ve chosen September for the journey as this immensely popular tourist route will hopefully have less traffic on it by then.

"I started as an apprentice mechanic with Hamilton Bros, Inverness in 1969 and the 100 series Masseys were selling in large numbers, especially the 135 and 165 models. So, all things considered this had to my tractor of choice! The one I have has got 2074 genuine hours and came from a farm near Beauly. We still use it for moving machinery around in our yard. I just need to give it a service and we’ll be 'on the road'."

Doug's adventure is due to commence on September 25th 2018.