Gaddings Dam

Most people go in from the beach in the north-east corner - said to be the highest beach in England. Connoiseurs will use the rocky 'flats' of the west wall, which is a little more sheltered from the wind and goes quickly into deep water. Determined regulars will, on a wild day, use the south wall to escape from the wind.

Avoid diving in until you've surveyed the stones that lie beneath some of the more broken parts of the dam walls.

Waves can be a problem if the wind is more than about 25 mph - not so much the height, but the frequency with which they wash over you can make breathing in a matter for careful timing.

Gaddings is owned by a dedicated group of local people who bought the reservoir a few years ago in order to prevent the safety-paranoid authorities from draining it. They now have the daunting task of maintaining and preserving the reservoir while satisfying the requirements of the Reservoir's Act.