DAVE Morris made the significant point that certain landowners, such as Peter de Savary (Skibo Castle), are seeking far greater levels of privacy than the royal family require at Balmoral (Letters, July 2).

However, your photograph (June 29) of Jack McConnell and David McLetchie playing golf at Skibo Castle last Friday demonstrates just how easy it is to influence the Scottish Executive when you own that kind of property.

No doubt our first minister and his government colleagues who enjoyed their round of golf would have been told all about the needs of Skibo's guests, such as Madonna, and their right to protection under the European Convention on Human Rights.

We can only hope that MSPs also hear about the more realistic requirements of the people of Scotland, and our many visitors, who wish to enjoy the countryside and whose human rights should extend to being allowed to take responsible access for such purposes. It is vital that the Land Reform Bill confirms this basic human right on all citizens.

When the current version of the Land Reform Bill refers to "undisturbed enjoyment of the whole", one has to ask: the whole of what? Legislation should be about making clear law and removing uncertainty, but the crucial line in this bill is left hanging mid-sentence. The interpretation of this line, whereby it could be construed to mean the whole of the 7500-acre Skibo estate, must not be allowed to go unchallenged, because that would be the loophole to destroy this legislation and close off large areas of Scotland to the public.

Mike Dales,
access and conservation officer,
Mountaineering Council of Scotland,
The Old Granary,
West Mill Street,
Perth.