Gaddings Dam

The highest beach in the country is also probably the smallest, thanks to excessive rainfall since the summer of 2006. The owners are bringing the level down slowly to restore things to their former glory.

A great place to swim at night, the wind often drops and Todmorden's light pollution reflecting from the clouds provides plenty of light for dark-adapted eyes. On a still, moonlit night, the place is awesome as you float motionless on a perfect black mirror of the sky. Ignore your friends when they declare you insane as you set off for a solitary skinny dip at midnight.