Nick’s rock is a hard place for weekend

A CHARTERED surveyor is to set to spend a weekend on the country’s remotest and loneliest rocky outcrop.

Nick Hancock, from Ratho, had been preparing to head to the isolated islet of Rockall – 225 miles west of the Outer Hebrides – this month to set a world record for living on it. He aimed to raise money for wounded servicemen. But he failed to raise enough of the £15,000 for the bid to go ahead this year.

Instead he will be setting off to visit the rock next week to do a reconnaissance of the lonely outpost in hope of trying for the major bid in 2013.

If weather allows he plans to land on Rockall on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend and carry out various equipment checks and tests in preparation for a future record-breaking attempt.

“Unfortunately, the cash required has not been forthcoming, despite some very generous pledges,” said Mr Hancock. “So, like so many other adventurers, I have had to officially postpone the record-breaking attempt for another year. I hope this reconnaissance expedition will raise the profile of the main objective.”