SIR – I am holidaying once again at the top end of Scotland and enjoying the fantastic beaches, clear water and beautiful scenery.

SIR – I regularly travel between Thurso and Edinburgh, and I have noticed on several occasions now on the way down to Inverness and back to Thurso, that there are no toilet facilities on board.

SIR – I write to congratulate Morag Mackenzie for bucking the current trend in Wick town centre ("Retailer aims to buck trend, Caithness Courier, July 21).

SIR – I would like to disagree wholeheartedly with our MSP Jamie Stone who says that he "would not begrudge anyone a bonus", as reported in your article 'NDA staff earn bumper bonuses'.

SIR – I am delighted at the news of the planning application for the biomass plant at Georgemas junction, as reported in last week's John O'Groat Journal on page three.

SIR – I am a resident of Caithness and, through your letters page, would like to highlight some things that could and would discourage visitors to our county to stay or to recommend it to others.

SIR - On these letter pages I have expressed my disagreements with the campaigning style adopted by John MacKay, of the Scottish Labour Party, but I cannot fail to disagree less with his most recent letter ( John O'Groat Journal, July 2).

SIR - Deaf Care in Thurso started sometime in 1980 thanks to the dedication and determination of one person, Helena "Ena" McCallum. She had been told that she was going profoundly deaf but found that the only deaf care service available in Caithness was supply of hearing-aid batteries that could be ordered from the local hospital's outpatient department.

SIR - I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the generous people and businesses of Caithness and beyond who gave a whooping £2247, with still more to come in, to the Scallywags Everest Base Camp Challenge which was raising funds for new windows for our nursery at Crossroads.

SIR - I am writing in my capacity as chair of the Viewfirth Redevelopment Steering Group (VRSG) to advise your readers on the progress of the Viewfirth project.

SIR – Far too often we hear bad things about the young of today.

SIR – I feel that I am compelled to reply to Professor Baikie's continual inaccurate, leading press statements.

SIR – As many readers will know, over the past two years members of the Wick High School Parent Council have spearheaded a campaign for a new school.

SIR – During family holidays in the '50s and '60s I fell in love with the distinctive character of the Caithness countryside and, as a result, moved to the area in the 1970s.

SIR – Can I just say that contrary to the assumption reported in the Caithness Courier on June 9, that the person Councillor Fernie referred to as having fallen off a float in Wick and needing hospital treatment was drunk, that is not the case.

SIR - I am sure, like many, it was disappointing to see the comments by John Brown relating to our agreement with Watten Community Council over local community ownership of a turbine ("Protestors angry over wind farm U-turn by council", John O'Groat Journal , May 28).

SIR - I write in response to the recent decision of the Watten Community Council to support Spittal Hill wind farm.

SIR - HAPIS (Highland ante/postnatal illness and depression support) is a Highland-based charity reaching out to women and families affected by postnatal depression.

SIR - I have just completed some repair work to drystone walls at Spittal on the A9.

SIR – I recently travelled with my family for a short break to Pitlochry, a quaint Scottish town that has a thriving tourist industry.

SIR – I write with reference to your front-page article in the Caithness Courier on April 28 ("Backlash likely over plan for cuts in health service").

SIR – I have studiously kept out of the ongoing debate regarding the appointment process for a new rector for Wick High School.

SIR – Once again there is no "suitable" candidate for the post of rector of Wick High and a decision might not be made until December (Caithness Courier, May 12).

SIR - In a letter to the John O'Groat Journal of March 26, entitled "Online reports of council reports needs improving", I identified a problem I have had when using the Highland Council website.

SIR - So, this country has its first Tory/Whig coalition since Sir Robert Peel in the 1850s. Although my political heart beats with the iterations of both British and New Labour - and would almost certainly not have voted Lib Dem in any other constituency - I cast my vote for Lord Thurso without fear.

SIR - I refer to recent articles about the Dunbar Hospital.

SIR – I note with interest your article in Friday's John O'Groat Journal, "'Use it or lose it' plea over Wick Airport".

SIR – Reading in Friday's Groat (April 30) about installing more speed bumps to curtail drivers' speed appears to punish the innocent.

SIR – Voters next week have a simple and straightforward choice.

SIR – I am very concerned about the way in which the coastguard officials have acted towards the Wick section leader and volunteers in the service.

SIR - May I, through your newspaper, thank everyone who attended and participated in the recent Gaelic debate in Mackay's Hotel, Wick?

SIR - I read emotionally and with complete disbelief at the way in which my uncle, station officer Norman Macleod, has been treated by HM coastguard ( John O'Groat Journal , April 2).

SIR - I write over my quest to find out what happened to the Spirit of Lockheed-Vega Employees Hudson aircraft which was donated to the people of England as a Christmas gift, scheduled to arrive on December 30, 1940.

SIR - I am writing in response to Jean Urquhart, the SNP's candidate at the general election, and her comments regarding the scrapping of attendance allowance ( John O'Groat Journal , March 12).

SIR – Further to the latest adventures by "Ralph", our Highland explorer, I would like to thank him for the pleasure received over many years reading these articles.

SIR – Ormlie Community Association is delighted with the Ormlie Drama Group's recent success in the Highland Youth Festival with their winning play Kids in Tights.

SIR – One million pounds for a level crossing! What planet does Network Rail live on?

SIR – I find myself once again put in the position of having to voice my utter disgust at the state of the roads in our towns, Wick to be specific although Thurso is affected also.

SIR – In your sister paper, the Caithness Courier, on February 17, I read with great dismay and a heavy heart the grim findings and conclusions of the drastic cuts to the budget of the infrastructure of the Caithness community.

SIR – With reference to the letter from Fiona Matthews in last week's John O'Groat Journal, "Midwife-led unit is not downgrading".

SIR – In July 2008, in a move which was supposed to stop vandalism in Wick's Harmsworth Park, £2400 towards the cost of erecting gates at the Harrowhill end of the park was allocated from the Highland Council's discretionary budget for the ward.

SIR – As a Caithness mother whose baby is due in three weeks' time, I was interested to read your front-page article last week in the John O'Groat Journal.

SIR – It is beyond belief to think that the Bignold Park is being considered as a site for building a new high school.

SIR – The rumour train gathers momentum from the incident at Castletown Primary School.

SIR – I could hardly take in what I was reading concerning the arrogance of a Castletown headmistress behaving so stupidly over a toilet issue at the school for which she was responsible.

SIR – My wife and I had two purebred Scottish terrier bitch puppies disappear from our indoor/outdoor whelping area on Saturday, January 23.

SIR – I am sure that many local people share the concerns expressed by our local and national politicians following the recent incidents on railway level crossings.

SIR – After reading the headline "Bignold Park option for new high school 'could cause turmoil'" (Caithness Courier, January 13) I almost pinched myself to make sure I had woken up that morning.

SIR – In September 2009 the Scottish Government announced a funding package of two-thirds for a new Wick High School.

SIR – I completely agree with the letter from Bruce Burrowes from Surrey in last week's John O'Groat Journal.

SIR – Having endured an appalling lack of heating on the ScotRail service from Inverness to Thurso, I feel I must share my experiences of the even worse return journey.

SIR – I noted with interest John Thurso's comments in last week's Caithness Courier, where he questioned the Labour Government's commitment to offshore renewable energy.

SIR – As chairman of the Highland Council's Caithness ward business meetings, I would like to respond to recent correspondence in your columns surrounding our meetings.

SIR – Through your columns, Thurso Players would like to say a huge thank-you to everyone who voted for the Mill Theatre extension project in the recent People's Millions competition featured on STV.

SIR – Wick Academy's scintillating cup performance on Saturday was magic!

SIR – I would like through the columns of your paper to comment on the decision by my fellow elected councillors in Caithness to remove me from the position of chairing the council's area business meetings.

SIR – Wick Academy FC are the team this season feared by most sides.

SIR – Invicta New Park Limited's plans for biomass-fuelled combined heat and power schemes at Forss and Georgemas (Caithness Courier, November 11, "£35m scheme to give jobs boost) appear to be good news.

SIR – We must all be aware that the voluntary contributions of the people of Caithness is wonderful.

SIR – I write in reference to the letters "Councillor's assessment of Gaelic is seriously flawed" and "A deep-rooted opposition to all things Gaelic" published in last week's John O'Groat Journal.

SIR – In response to recently reported comments from Thurso Highland councillor John Rosie and parliamentary candidate John MacKay concerning funding for a Gaelic development post in Caithness, I would like to make a number of points.

SIR – First, I would like to thank John Cairns for replying to my letter and inviting me to attend Grey Coast's production of Fields of Barley on October 30.

SIR – Having an appointment in Inverness on Saturday, October 17, I bought return tickets beforehand with First ScotRail to travel on the 6.52am morning train.

SIR – I am writing in response to your article on October 16 about the "drug diktat".

SIR – I write in response to the letter from the "born and bred Glaswegian" Jean Sutherland which appeared in last week's John O'Groat Journal.

SIR – I would like to take this opportunity to put forward the reasons for any strike action which may be taken by Royal Mail staff in the wake of statements released by the CWU (Communication Workers' Union).

SIR – Leslie Rowe has rightly pointed out the Boundary Commission's disregard for county boundaries in its first review of Scottish Parliament constituency boundaries ("One size must fit all is just irrational", Caithness Courier, October 7).

SIR – Time flattens the perspective of the past and if the timing of one's recollections are even slightly out, history gets wrongly recorded.

SIR – I have just returned from a week in Pitlochry to see all the plays in the Festival Theatre.

SIR – I was delighted to hear that Wick Academy are taking on Girvan in the Scottish Cup, with the experience of Richard Hughes, Ian Munro, Pat Miller and background staff at Harmsworth Park behind them.

SIR – For the last year and a half, we and our dedicated staff have worked hard to try and ensure that our business remained viable.

SIR – Does Thurso want a superstore? Yes. Do we want it to be Tesco? No. And why not? Because another Tesco opening in Caithness would give the supermarket giant a monopoly in the area which would allow it to charge any price it likes for goods provided.

SIR – I am writing regarding Duncan Ross's article, "Play review is 'insult' to local culture", which appeared in last week's John O'Groat Journal.

SIR – I fully support the controversial pilot project launched this week by justice secretary Kenny MacAskill.

SIR – Rob Gibson (Holyrood Diary, John O'Groat Journal, August 28) speaks of an illogic in opposing the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, and proceeds to deliver priori errors of his own.

SIR – At the time of writing I am enjoying a holiday near Wick and would like to congratulate the residents on the way they care for their town.