Why seeing red in the Dales is vital

Bright red telephone boxes in the Dales, like this one at Arncliffe, need to be preserved. Too many of the old pay-phones all around the countryside are being disconnected and removed. In the Dales some have been developed into tiny book-swap-shops, art galleries etc, and in the Lake District I’ve even seen one turned into a fish tank. I’m not just some old fart wanting to wallow in nostalgia. I can see the logic behind getting rid of some urban boxes but in the countryside where mobile reception is poor, or where walkers and campers have no way of recharging their mobiles’ batteries, the old red boxes can help save lives. I read this week that Keswick Mountain Rescue Team are asking people to help keep a kiosk at Seathwaite on a popular route to Scafell Pike. Surely the saving of just one person during the whole life of a phonebox is more important than the minutest of dents made in the profit margins of a communications giant like BT? Comments can be made at:
http://planning.allerdale.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=148110

Dales arncliffe3 — Another shot of the kiosk in Arncliffe.

I popped into Arncliffe this week during a superb Dales drive from Langcliffe in Ribblesdale, over the Silverdale road to Halton Gill and down Littondale. From there I doubled back along the dodgy road via Darnbrook to Malham Tarn. Then it was back to Langcliffe via Cowside and Winskill. Here’s a selection of pics on the journey…

Dales arncliffe — Looking back over Arncliffe from the Darnbrook road

Dales dalehead — Looking towards Penyghent from the Silverdale road at Dalehead Farm.

Dales silverroad — Further along the road to Halton Gill at the ‘backside’ of Penyghent.

littondale1 — The breathtaking Dales view down Littondale. One of my favourites.

Dales littonbw — I like it so much here’s a black and white shot.

Dales haltongill — Little Halton Gill snuggles between Littondale’s steep hills.

Dales arncliffe1 — The beck at Arncliffe.

Dales arncliffe4 — There are some fascinating tombstones at St Oswald’s church, Arncliffe.

Dales stocks — Bring back the village stocks, I say. Not enough time for me to list who I’d throw rotten tomatoes at. Arncliffe.

Dales arncliffe5 — It’s not always as tranquil as this in the Dales – the river Skirfare near St Oswald’s in Arncliffe.

Whenever I drive through Rathmell in Ribblesdale, as I did one day this week, I wonder about the origins of the term ‘Reading Room’. I realise it is the equivalent of a village hall but why was it so called? Is it a Dales thing?