Wild swimming in the sea or a lake can be incredibly invigorating. And if it's a bit of a trek to find that special location it only adds to the sense of adventure.
Distant and isolated, Gaddings Dam, the secret beach on the moors above Littleborough and Todmorden, fits the bill perfectly. Once parked up, you are faced with a steep climb up a rutted and uneven makeshift path that takes around 15 minutes and adds to the perception of entering a secluded 'secret' place.
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I visited on Sunday afternoon and was greeted by the sight of around 50 people, including families and little children, enjoying the little sandy beach in one corner of the dam. Some were sunbathing, others were sitting on camping chairs they had dragged up from the roadside parking spots near the Shepherd's Rest Inn on Lumbutts Road, high above the centre of Todmorden.
A couple of people were paddleboarding. It's a recognised location for swimming but I didn't see a soul taking a dip.
It was a hot and sunny day, in sharp contrast to the frigid water which takes your breath away. I took a few tentative steps down the gently sloping dam wall before taking the plunge.
My son and I managed to stay in the water for around 10 minutes which felt safe and sensible given the temperature. When swimming in open water, it is important to enter slowly to allow your body to get used to the cold.
So don't just jump straight in - and try to avoid swimming alone. As I got out, I felt tingly and elated; there is a definite 'rush' to open water swimming that leaves you feeling a bit hyper and 'buzzing'.
After drying off and getting changed, I went for a wander around the dam and found a little tunnel/passageway which had a date stone engraved with the year, 1855. Sadly, the tunnel appeared to have been used as a toilet by at least one visitor, with excrement and toilet paper on the stone flags.
The walk back down was a bit trickier than coming up and I did see one person slip, fall and graze their knee. There is a warning sign at the bottom of the path which reminds visitors that people have been hurt in the past and to take extra care.
As we made our way through the gate, the final sight was an unwelcome one and it left me feeling a bit nauseous. The bins by the gate were not only overflowing but the smell coming from the rubbish was foul.
The floor was littered with bits of clothing, drinks cans, plastic bottles, and food containers. Leaving your trash beside an overwhelmed bin is no better than fly-tipping and the culprits should feel ashamed of themselves - but of course, they don't give a damn.
Seeing and smelling the piles of rotting waste, particularly after encountering the faeces in the tunnel, was something of a 'come down' after the highs of the wild swim. Having said that, I cannot wait to go back for another bracing dip, although I would probably avoid the weekend as there are usually so many day trippers that it feels more like Torremolinos than Todmorden.
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