Famous explorer fined after speeding at nearly 100mph on A9
Renowned explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes was on his way to Inverness to give a talk at Eden Court Theatre about his adventures when he was trapped by a speed camera on the A9.
Fiennes who is currently on a year-long expedition in the Antarctic, had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing at Inverness JP Court to speeding at 98mph at Daviot on June 20 last year.
At that hearing, depute fiscal Alison Wylie had told the court Fiennes would not be liable to a ban under the totting up licence points procedure, but the speed he was driving at could have resulted in him being banned from driving.
Depute Fiscal Kevin Corrins said there was little to say about the incident other than Fiennes’ car was caught by a mobile camera travelling at 98mph on a stretch of dual carriageway with a 70mph speed limit at 12.55pm.
Road conditions were good and the weather was clear.
Solicitor Graham Walker, who has represented famous sports stars including David Lloyd, Shane Warne and Steven Fletcher in road traffic cases, told JP Richard Syred: "He is particularly embarrassed by this matter and has asked me to intimate that to the court.
"I understand he was travelling to Inverness where he was to take part in a public speaking engagement.
"It was a beautiful summer’s day and traffic was light but that doesn’t excuse the fact his speed was 98mph."
Mr Walker said Fiennes was reaching the end of a long journey from his home in Exford in Somerset and the incident was likely down to a lapse in concentration on his part.
He commented: "He is currently traversing the Antarctic on an expedition. He is an explorer of some note but what may not be known is he is a man who has raised a great deal for charity."
The solicitor said Fiennes, who already had four penalty points on his licence, had personally raised £2.5 million for Marie Curie Cancer Care and £14.5 million for various other charities.
"He is held in the highest regard," said Mr Walker, who added it was open to the court to consider a ban.
JP Syred said: "I am well aware of the adventures he has done and admire him greatly for that and his charitable work. However, he has in this case broken the law."
He imposed a £450 fine with 28 days to pay and the explorer’s licence was endorsed with a further five penalty points.
Fiennes was the first man to reach both North and South Poles by land and was also the oldest Briton ever to climb Everest when he was aged 65 in 2009.
Two years prior to that he climbed the notorious north face of the Eiger in Switzerland and his present adventure "The Coldest Journey" is an attempt to cross the Antarctic in winter in temperatures as low as 70C.
