Sir, - Forbidden Corner (pictured above) is a great attraction for families staying in the Dales but why have the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the tourist information centre dreamed up such an environmentally-unfriendly way of getting tickets.

I fully understand the need for limiting numbers and booking places but the present system defies belief.

We live in Gayle and last week our daughter, son in law and two young grandchildren were staying with us.

On Friday we decided to book to visit Forbidden Corner on Saturday when the weather was forecast to be better. A phone call to Forbidden Corner ascertained that all bookable tickets for entry before 4pm on Saturday were already sold but that there would be a supply of tickets (30 per hour) available from 9.30am on Saturday from the tourist information office in Leyburn. These however could not be reserved in advance.

As we still wished to visit on Saturday afternoon my son-in-law was forced to drive to Leyburn early that morning to buy tickets from the TIC; a round trip of nearly 40 miles putting another gallon of fuel pollutants into the atmosphere as well as costing about a fiver.

At a time when one can book or buy more or less anything online or by telephone with a credit card, one would have thought that somebody could have thought up a method of booking for Forbidden Corner that was a little more user and environment friendly.

Don't be put off from making the visit as it's worth the obstacles put in your way.

TONY PHILPOTT

Gayle.