Everest hero Sir Ranulph accused of speeding on the A9 in the Highlands

By ANGUS HOWARTH
Published on 13/09/2012 01:25

EXPLORER Sir Ranulph Fiennes has been accused of speeding on the A9 in the Highlands.

It is alleged that the ­68-year-old, from Exford, ­Somerset, drove at 98mph in a 70mph zone at Daviot, south of ­Inverness, on 20 June.

Sir Ranulph, who has not yet lodged a plea, was ordained to appear at Inverness Justice of the Peace Court on 3 October.

Described by the Guinness Book of World Records as one of the world’s greatest living explorers, he was the first man to reach both North and South Poles by land.

Sir Ranulph was also the ­oldest Briton to climb Everest in 2009, at the age of 65.

In 2003 he ran seven ­marathons on seven continents in seven days, and in 2007 he climbed the treacherous north face of the Eiger in Switzerland.

He served in the British Army for eight years – including a ­period of counter-insurgency service while attached to the army of the Sultanate of Oman.

Sir Ranulph is also a prolific writer – choosing his time in army service and his numerous expeditions as the main subject of his literary efforts.

He also published a book ­defending Royal Navy officer and ill-fated Antarctic ­explorer Robert Falcon Scott from ­modern revisionists.