SO Charles Murray (Letters, April 23) arrives on Canna on a beautiful, hot sunny day and asks to be sold a cottage or a ruin.

Does he really think he is the first? In these islands thousands of people arrive on hot, sunny days on holiday and see somewhere they want to live. If a house or ruin is available for sale it will be on the market. If the visitor is successful the local community watches with interest to see if they will survive the first winter.

I often visit cities away from home and see houses I'd like to live in. I do not go knocking on the door and demand a sale. And what will Mr Murray do when he gets to Canna? I suggest he visits the island on several occasions including midwinter, connects with the community and moves forward from there.

Duncan MacInnes,

Ostaig House, Sleat, Isle of Skye.