A STEWARTY dairy farmer has completed a marathon trip around Scotland, all in the name of charity. Over the last two and a half years, Douglas Kerr from Crochmore, Crocketford, has visited every Scottish island and climbed to its highest point.

Douglas completed his 93-island-trip recently, after he climbed Goat Fell on Arran. having started his challenge on April 17, 2018 – his birthday – by climbing the Glaid Stane on Cumbrae.

He explained: "The big group of islands I did that year was the Shetlands – including Fair Isle, where we were storm bound for a day because it was so warm and the plane could not fly!

"The toughest hill that year was Sgurr Alisdair on Cuillin ridge on Skye, one of two Munroes I tackled. Two highlights were flying into both Coll and Tiree with David Archibald, a friend from our local village, Milton, who just happens to have a share in a two seater plane, and having a ‘lock in’ at Kilchoman distillery – Islay whisky festival just happened to be on when we did Islay/Jura – good timing!"

Douglas postponed his challenge in 2020, because of Covid, but this year it has taken him all over Scotland, finishing on Arran with a turnout of 80 friends and family – 36 of whom climbed Goat Fell with him.

Having climbed the same cumulative height as Everest twice in doing all this, Douglas has now raised almost £14,000 for three great charities – Dumfries and Galloway Befriending, Marys Meals, and the Dalbeattie Rotary Club Trust.

Donations are still welcome at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/93islands