An inquiry is to be held into the death of a Highland shepherd who plunged 40ft from a cliff on his quad bike.
Father-of-three Sandy Robbins was tending sheep near Durness in Sutherland when the tragedy happened on April 1 this year.
A passerby raised the alarm after spotting his bike on a beach below the area where he was working at Daill on Cape Wrath.
The Stornoway coastguard helicopter was sent to the scene to airlift him to hospital, but Mr Robbins could not be saved.
And now, a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) is to be held at Tain Sheriff COurt on August 22 and 23.
Mr Robbins, who was in his 60s, lived at Rhigolter, about nine miles from Durness.
He worked for Balnakiel Farm looking after the flock of David Elliot, who has grazing rights at Cape Wrath.
The cape is accessed by boat across the narrow Kyle of Durness.
At the time, local Highland council member Hugh Morrison said Mr Robbins had lived in the area for more than 20 years.
“The community is in shock – people are devastated at the news,” he said. “We do not know exactly what happened, but he went over the cliff somewhere between Daill and Achimore. It is a drop of between 40ft-45ft.
“Someone saw the quad on the beach and raised the alarm.
“Sandy was a lovely man, dedicated to his work and his family and people are in shock. It is a tragic accident.
“The community sends its deepest sympathy to Anne and the family. It is obviously a devastating thing to happen to them.”
A police spokeswoman confirmed at the time that he had died at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
He added: “There are no apparent suspicious circumstances and, as with all sudden deaths, a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.”
