Hundreds of phone boxes across the Highlands and north-east face being consigned to the scrap heap as part of a nationwide streamlining exercise.
BT has announced a cull of payphones after finding usage has dropped by more than 90% over the last decade – in line with the popularity of mobile phones surging.
The communications company has launched a consultation proposing the removal of around 1,500 phone boxes across the country.
The Highlands is set to lose out worst, with BT proposing to cut 159 boxes.
In Aberdeenshire 106 could go, as well as 32 in Aberdeen itself.
Moray could lose 58 phone boxes, while Argyll will lose 46 payphones.
BT has also suggested 36 boxes for closure in the Cainrgorms National Park.
No closures are being suggested in the islands.
The review follows research by BT which found that of about 4,800 payphones in Scotland, fewer than five calls were made from 1,280 of them in the last year.
No calls at all were made from more than 700 kiosks.
One famous phone which is safe is the box in Pennan, Aberdeenshire, which played a key role in the enduringly popular Bill Forsyth film Local Hero.
It has been spared as it is within 1,300ft of the sea and is seen as serving a social need.
A spokesman for BT said: “BT is committed to providing a public payphone service, but with usage declining by over 90% in the last decade, we’ve continued to review and remove payphones which are no longer needed.
“Any removal of payphones is carried out in strict adherence to the Ofcom guidelines and, where appropriate, with the consent of local authorities.
“In all instances where there’s no other payphone within 400 metres (1,300ft), we’ll ask for consent from the local authority to remove the payphone.
“Where we receive objections from the local authority, we won’t remove the payphone.
“As an alternative to removal, we will continue to actively promote our Adopt a Kiosk scheme to all councils whilst being committed to maintaining the payphones that remain.”
