WHEN you think private beaches, you're imagining a stretch of golden sand on a tropical island somewhere far from home. But I've discovered the perfect place for paddling, taking a dip and enjoying an ice cream on a sandy shore that's nowhere near the sea. 5 The UK has a private inland beach - and it's nowhere near the sea Credit: Spring Lakes Watersports and Leisure Centre 5 My kids loved the beach as well as all the activities Credit: catherine lofthouse 5 It does come with a price so some parents may prefer to go to the free UK coastline Credit: catherine lofthouse In my bit of the East Midlands , we're a couple of hours away from the coast, so every bit of beach, even if it's inland, is bound to be a bonus.
Spring Lakes in Long Eaton is only half an hour away from home, so the money saved on travel costs helps towards the £30 ticket to access the 50m shoreline for a family of four. The pros of paying to come to a private beach for the day include having a lifeguard on duty to keep swimmers safe in the water and the fact that the area isn't overcrowded as you have to book a timeslot for entrance. You enter through a gate tucked away at one end of the car park and once you're on the beach, you can stay as long as you like.
There's a section of water cordoned off for visitors to enjoy a paddle or take a dip, although I did spot a nosy swan making its way over the barrier to check out what was happening closer to land. If you're well up for sharing the water with wildlife, t.
