Did you know that Yorkshire is unofficially home to the ‘highest beach in England’?
Nestled way up on the moors – somewhere between the quaint towns of Todmorden and Walsden – for many years Gaddings Dam has served as a hidden paradise for locals and visitors in the know.
Providing gorgeous views, cracking walking trails, a soft and sandy stretch of beach plus one of the best wild swimming spots in the county – it’s no wonder why Gaddings Dam continues to grow in popularity.
What is Gaddings Dam?
Originally built in 1883 as a means to supply water to the thriving mill industry of Lumbutts, over time Gaddings Dam fell into neglect as factories began making the transition towards steam power.
With the government planning to drain the historic Victorian embankment in 2001, a driven bunch of locals had other ideas…
Rather than have the disused dam be destroyed, these residents all chipped in to purchase the reservoir, grafted their backsides off to repair it and even continue to maintain it to regulation standards for us all to enjoy today.
One word comes to mind. Legends!
‘Todmorden Beach’ info
In one corner of Gaddings Dam you’ll find a small stretch of sand dubbed as ‘Todmorden Beach’ – 80 feet above sea level and 60 miles inland – making it the highest and perhaps most peculiar spot for a beach in the whole of England.
Sometimes shortened to simply ‘Tod Beach’, the dam remains open to the public, continuing to drive droves of visitors who make the journey to appreciate the secret beauty spot for themselves.
The vistas of the countryside from up top are absolutely magnificent – in the distance you can even spot the striking Stoodley Pike monument looming over the Yorkshire valley.
How do you get to Gaddings Dam?
If you want to see Todmorden beach for yourself, you best get those walking boots laced up!
There’s no parking near Gaddings Dam, so you’ll have to ascend one of the steep paths up the moorlands.
With several routes to reach the beach, the most popular tends to be the trail from Shepherd’s Rest Inn on Lumbutts Road.
Parking around here can be notoriously tricky when the weather fines up however since the dam gets so busy.
You can’t leave your car at the pub and the road is a narrow one with few available spots, often making it difficult to park without obstructing traffic.
There have even been previous instances of inconsiderate parking causing blockages on the road for buses and emergency services.
Likewise, on our most recent visit to the embankment, we actually saw a signpost discouraging walkers from now taking the trail from Lumbutts Road due to erosion causing several unfortunate accidents.
Fret not however, since we know of a lesser-known alternate route from Walsden which is safer, quieter and much more scenic!
Interested? Then check out our step-by-step picture guide below 👇👇
Gaddings Dam walk route
Difficulty: Easy/medium
Distance: 7.3km (4.5 miles)
Time: 2 hours
- Starting the walk from Walsden, find a parking spot on one of the village side streets and make your way across the canal bridge, taking the right up Birks Lane.
- Keep to the country road, walking up Hollingworth Lane, followed by a left onto Salter Rake Gate.
- Walk to the end of Salter Rake, stepping onto the public footpath and trekking through the picturesque moorland.
- Keep to the trail until you see this signpost, signaling you to take the right turning up towards Gaddings Dam.
- Ascend the footpath, following the yellow top posts until you reach the steep steps of Gaddings Dam.
- From the top, why not try your hand at wild-swimming in the crystal blue waters? Or if you don’t fancy getting wet, simply bask in the sun and admire the fantastic views from up above!
Advice when visiting Gaddings Dam
The path up to Gaddings Dam is steep, rocky and can get pretty boggy during wet conditions, so a good pair of hiking boots are strongly recommended.
Likewise, with the reservoir being situated at the top of open moorland, the beach is often exposed to chilly winds; even on sunnier days. Always check the weather beforehand and ensure you’re sufficiently prepared.
The exposed terrain also means there isn’t much protection from the sun. Be sure to pack plenty of sun cream in the summer months – especially if you’re a fair-skinned rehead like myself!
Where do you park for Gaddings Dam?
As mentioned earlier, parking near the Shepherd’s Rest Inn on Lumbutts Road isn’t always the wisest choice when trekking up to Gaddings Dam.
Instead, I’d recommend parking near Gordon Rigg’s Garden Centre in Walsden. There are plenty of quiet side streets where you should easily be able to find a spot.
Plus, you can always pop into the farm shop afterwards for one of their delicious homemade pies!
Can you swim in Gaddings Dam?
Yes! Gaddings Dam is one of the finest wild swimming spots in the county. Feel free to take a dip in the sparkling embankment, though do bear in mind that the water can get rather cold due to the high altitude.
Addressing Gaddings Dam criticisms
While doing some online research for this blog post I stumbled across a handful of negative reviews regarding Gaddings Dam which has got me somewhat baffled…
People complaining about having to climb up a hill to get to the embankment, the small size of its ‘beach’ and the lack of facilities on offer.
These are obviously folks who haven’t done their research.
Let’s be clear – Gaddings Dam is not a proper beach! The ‘beach’ is simply a small stretch of sand in one corner of a disused dam in the north of England.
Hiking to Gaddings Dam is cracking day out – just please try to bear in mind that this is Todmorden and not Thailand 😂
For more great walks in the local area, be sure to check out our list of the top walks in Hebden Bridge.
Or for those who’d like to explore more reservoirs, why not check out our blog on the best reservoirs around Manchester, Lancashire & Yorkshire?
Happy walking 🚶🚶