THIRTY years ago, a man called Stephen Young came to visit me in Kincraig, where I was living at the time.

Stephen was the owner of the little newspaper group that owned the 'Strathy', and we had chatted on the telephone, but now he'd come to formally ask me if I would consider contributing a weekly column to the Strathspey and Badenoch Herald.

At that time I was editing a magazine called 'Footloose', and writing regularly for a Scottish newspaper called the 'Sunday Standard', a sister paper to the 'Glasgow Herald' and a forerunner of the 'Sunday Herald'.

Stephen was well aware that the readership of the 'Strathy' included a lot of outdoor folk - mountaineers, ornithologists, skiers and many people who had chosen to leave their native towns and move to Badenoch and Strathspey for the beauty and healthier lifestyles they could enjoy here. He was keen that I try to reflect those interests in my 600 or 700 words every week.

A few years later, Ken Jones, who was editor of the 'Strathy' at the time, was well aware that the Cairngorms had become a hotbed of conservation issues, and he encouraged me to comment on these issues, sometimes supporting them, sometimes being critical of them.

It was at that time, in recognition of the slightly different editorial brief, that the column became 'McNeish at Large'.

Eventually the column settled down into a combination of walk descriptions and comment with the odd book review thrown in for good measure.

Responses in the letters pages of the paper have never been slow to appear - the sign of a good local paper - and I'm very happy to say that I'm still on speaking terms with most of those who took umbrage at some of my comments and criticisms.

I think it's been a successful column.

It has raised awareness in the area of many issues that could affect the lives of those who enjoy wild places and hills and I know, from the emails and comments that people have made to me, that there have been plenty of ideas for walks and climbs that people have taken up.

I've been amazed at how often the theme of some of my columns has been picked up by radio stations and other newspapers and when that happens, the name of 'The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald' becomes recognised as more than just the local squeak.

Now, as I pen the final 'McNeish at Large' after 30 years, I'd like to thank the editors I have worked under - Ken Jones, Ken Smith and Gavin Musgrove.

They are the people who have made the 'Strathy' one of the finest and most successful local papers in the country.

They have all been very patient and highly supportive of my writings despite the flak they inevitably took from time to time from proprietors, shareholders and readers.

Times are currently very hard for the newspaper industry, as they are for many industries.

Money is in short supply and executives have to balance the books and throughout the country freelance writers like myself have to tighten the belt and look for other opportunities.

I'm delighted to say I'm not too short on those and I'm afraid you'll still see me pop up on television programmes and in various other publications.

And now that I'm freed of the constraints of the regular newspaper columnist, I daresay you'll be seeing plenty of comment from me in the 'Strathy's' letters page.

So thanks for keeping me company on what has been a long, eventful and very happy journey.

Best wishes to you all, and of course, best wishes for the future of 'The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald'.