I AM a Scottish tourist guide and on Wednesday, August 18, at 8.30am we left the Alexandra Hotel, Fort William, making our way south in a foreign-registered coach with 50 tourists on board.

MAY I, through your columns, raise some concerns I have regarding the Caledonian Canal and its operators.

ONCE upon a time in a small country, there was a far away town between two cities, one to the south and one to the north.

SO now the tired walkers of the West Highland Way are expected to walk the extra mile to the "new end" of the Way at the West End of Fort William.

AT the full Highland Council meeting last Thursday, we didn't witness a "burden shared", as David Cameron and Nick Clegg cynically frame the austerity measures, we witnessed a burden shifted.

THANK you to the Lochaber News for publishing the piece on various issues connected with the new housing development above our home at Heathercroft.

AS a regular walker in the most beautiful areas of Lochaber, my friend, dog and I went up to Leanachan Forest at the weekend to do the Red Trail.

I WAS totally enraged to read the headlines in Lochaber News, week ending 29/5/10.

ASan exile who still gets the LN, I have followed the struggles around Invernevis House.

WE would like, through your columns, to bring to the attention of all the voters of the Highlands the significance of what is happening in the decision-making of our council.

As one of the descendants of the earliest known families, the Macgillonies who were living in Lochaber during the 13th century - we are now known as the Camerons of Strone - I was extremely disappointed to read that there is the possibility that the Fort William Archives could be closed down and shifted elsewhere.

I REFER to last week's front page article (Lochaber News, w/e May 29) regarding the young dancers at Onich Hotel.

AS the owners of Onich Hotel we would like to make the following comments regarding our marquee at Onich hotel.

I NOTE from the Citrac sign at the West End roundabout that, once again, the A82 is to be closed overnight between the 10th and 27th of May.

I MUST admit I was elated and angry when word came through that the plug had at last been pulled on the waterfront development.

THE inevitable demise of the ridiculous waterfront development has won Highland Council in Lochaber the coveted "Stupidest Local Authority of the Year" award, despite formidable opposition from other ham-fisted councils.

MY colleague and I read with interest your article regarding the litter problem at the Commando Memorial in Spean Bridge.

I HAVE just been on a visit to Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway.

I REFER to the article on Invernevis House care home in last week's Lochaber News (w/e March 27).

WOW! The officials are at it again. A bronze guy with "sore feet" at the west end of our High Street to finish the end of West Highland Way.

THE stratagem to move the finishing point of the West Highland Way will result in hordes of heavily shod, weary walkers having to hobble an extra mile through Fort William High Street to complete the route officially.

ON Saturday, my husband and I travelled from Helensburgh to Mallaig on the "World's Best Train Journey". I now know why it is so named.

RE John Dempster's Christian Viewpoint in last week's paper (Lochaber News, w/e Feb 13), Mr Dempster "doubts that the indiscriminate, across the board judgement of which Pat Robertson speaks is consistent" with a loving god.

I'M sure I speak for many others when I declare that I am totally deflated by the "decision" to extend the Fort William end of the West Highland Way.

NEARLY three years ago, Scottish Water Solutions proposed an extension to the North Ballachulish sewage works, in response to an EU directive concerning the quality of shellfish waters, in this case at Loch Leven.

I REFER to my letter in the Lochaber News last November and to the letter from Simon Andrews in last week's paper (LN, week ending January 23).

I WRITE to express my concern at the proposal for the 17-night closure around Easter of the A82 southbound from Fort William (Lochaber News, week ending January 9).

I READ with interest on numerous occasions last year of plans to move the end of the West Highland Way. What a brilliant idea to boost shops at the west end of town!

THE closure of the Corran-Ardgour Ferry for at least four weeks, as proposed by Highland Council at a public meeting in Strontian last week, is completely unacceptable to the communities of Sunart, Acharacle, Ardnamurchan and Morvern.

AFTER reading about it in the Lochaber News (Double blow for Lochaber motorists, LN, week ending January 9), I attended the meeting at the Sunart Centre to hear about the plans to close the Corran Ferry for essential repairs.

ACCORDING to the media, December 19 was "panic Saturday" as far as shopping in the run-up to Christmas was concerned.

I WOULD like to begin by voicing my agreement with Mr Ian Chisholm's letter, but I would like to look at the waterfront project from the angle of the developers having the backing in place.

FOR what it's worth, my view is to leave the West Highland Way as it is (Lochaber News w/e November 21 and letters w/e November 28).

I READ with interest the comments by Councillor Murphy regarding the finish of the West Highland Way being moved to the West end of town (Lochaber News, w/e November 21).

THE observation that all tragedy ultimately ends in farce might have been made with this wretched waterfront development in mind.

IN the wake of Fort William FC's disappointing defeat at Strathspey Thistle on Saturday, I can only conclude that the progress of the club is now being hampered by one thing, the state of the pitch at Claggan Park.

I WRITE in response to your front page article (Lochaber News, November 5) reporting the recent flood which once again threatened our homes.

I WAS pleased to read in last week's Lochaber News (November 19) that Fort William is to receive £317,000 for improvements to the west end of the High Street.

JUST like the Lochaber News, ScotRail is committed to the communities it serves.

I RECENTLY attended a meeting in Kilmallie Hall, Corpach, to consider wind turbines on Druim Fada.

I FEEL the reasons for refusal put forward by objectors and councillors regarding the proposed wind farm at Druim Fada are unjustifiable and riddled with inaccuracies.

NEVIS Radio is now 15 years old and broadcasting to the people of Lochaber and beyond.