PhOtOs=World's Secret Beach=780ft Above Sea Level
High But Not Dry! Sunseekers Flock to Britain's HIGHEST Beach - Next to a Dam Which is 780ft Above Sea Level and 60 miles Inland
Daily Mail UK 18 July 2013 http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...30_964x350.jpg The secret beach, pictured right, can only be found after a 40-minute walk up steep footpaths in the South Pennines hills above the town of Todmorden, West Yorkshire UK. Located next to the Gaddings Dam, pictured left, from the air, the beach is over 60 miles from the nearest sea and a half-hour walk from the closest village. Kelly Weston and Nicole Marsden, pictured centre, were among the few locals to make the journey to enjoy the sun on an inland beach today.
As Britons across the country head to the coast to make the most of the heatwave, these lucky sun-seekers have discovered a secret beach on their doorstep - 780ft above sea level and 60 miles inland. The sandy beach is not signposted and is generally only known to local people who have spread the word via Twitter and Facebook. It can be found after a 40-minute walk up steep footpaths in the South Pennines hills above the town of Todmorden, West Yorkshire. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...77_634x391.jpg Secret beach: Sun-seekers enjoy the warm weather on Britain's highest beach located at the Gaddings Reservoir almost 800ft above sea level in the South Pennines hills, West Yorkshire http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...21_634x488.jpg In the middle of nowhere: The little-known cove situated near the market town of Todmorden is a haven for local sun worshippers wanting to get away from it all http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...62_634x424.jpg It doesn't get better than this: Kelly Weston and Nicole Marsden make the most of having the Gaddings Reservoir beach almost completely to themselves Located next to the Gaddings Dam, the beach is over 60 miles from the nearest sea and more than a half-hour walk from the closest town. Despite its remote location visitors have been surging to the triangular inlet of sand during the heatwave armed with beachwear, lilos and buckets and spades. Lauren Hurst, 24, works at the nearest pub, the Shepherd's Rest, three miles away. She has lived in Todmorden all of her life but only visited the beach for the first time last week and has fallen in love with it. Lauren said: 'I have been to the beach three times in the past week, and although I knew it was there I didn't know how nice it actually was. 'Even though it's relatively quiet during the week, the beach is absolutely packed with local people on a weekend.' http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...11_634x427.jpg Relaxing in the sun: Kelly Weston and Nicole Marsden bask in the sunshine at the quiet beach by Gaddings Reservoir in the South Pennines http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...17_634x633.jpg Worth the wait: Determined locals have to climb up steep footpaths for 40 minutes from the nearest village Todmorden to reach the isolated beach http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...61_634x423.jpg Exclusive: The difficulty of the climb to the beach and its location means that only a handful of people visit it even on the hottest days of the year http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...29_634x389.jpg Who needs a swimming pool? Teenager Alyssiea Endley baths in the Gaddings Reservoir in the South Pennines as temperatures around Britain top 30C Janet Sefton, 55, landlady at the pub, said the beach is almost as popular with residents as nearby seaside destination Blackpool. She said: 'We have seen families absolutely pack the beach out recently, with barbecues and canoes being brought up to the spot. It's incredible that we have a beach so high up and miles away from the nearest coast. 'It does take a good walk to get to the beach, and it's not for the faint hearted but it is totally worth it in the end. 'It's a fantastic spot and such a unique and secluded beach, and it brings us great trade to our pub from visitors to the area.' Gaddings Dam is approximately four acres and contains 100,000 cubic metres of water. The dam has been emptied in the past but by the 1960s was full again and has remained so ever since. The sand in the north-east corner is thought to be naturally occuring, as sandstone dominates the local geology. Another theory is the sand was a by-product of dressing the stones for the dam's wall. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...43_634x424.jpg Local knowledge: The picturesque spot was found by local walkers who then spread the word via Twitter and Facebook http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...15_634x377.jpg Splashing around: Alyssiea Endley and Lauren Hurst were among those to brave the long walk to the beach to enjoy the cool water in the reservoir http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...18_634x423.jpg Beauty spot: The sandy beach also offers stunning views across the South Pennines in West Yorkshire http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...68_634x423.jpg Pennines rock: Alyssiea Endley and Lauren Hurst relax in the sunshine on a rock formation in the middle of the reservoir |
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