Desolate beach with an abandoned WW2 tank that’s just over an hour’s drive from Nottinghamshire
It’s a mystery how the tank came to be on the beach
We don’t need to tell you that there are so many interesting places to explore in Nottinghamshire.
From centuries-old castles to luscious nature reserves, each corner of the county has its own story to tell.
As good as Nottinghamshire is, sometimes it's worth broadening our horizons by venturing a little further afield.
Our neighbours in Lincolnshire are equally as blessed when it comes to beauty spots and things to do.
But Lincolnshire has something that we in Nottinghamshire sadly don’t: a coastline.
The Lincolnshire coast is packed with great beaches and nature reserves, making it ideal for a day trip from Nottinghamshire.
Many of these beaches, such as Skegness and Ingoldmells, are well-known - but others are often overlooked.
One beach in particular has a bizarre feature which makes it stand out from the rest.
Why is Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve worth visiting?
Tucked away just north of Mablethorpe is the Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve.
The internationally important site consists of several rare habitats shaped by the sea, the tide and the winds.
With sand dunes, ponds and dykes, the nature reserve is a truly beautiful part of the coast whatever time of year you choose to visit.
Home to many types of birds and wildfowl, Theddlethorpe Dunes showcase the very best of the Lincolnshire coast.
At just an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Nottinghamshire, the area makes a great daytrip
The reserve’s main selling point, however, lies on the beach.
Amongst the sand dunes and mudflats is a tank - and its backstory remains a mystery to this day.
How did the tank get on the beach?
The mystery of how the tank - a Comet I A34 - ended up on the beach has never been solved.
Comet I A34 tanks were used by the British Army between 1944 and 1958, although the history of the tank in question is not known.
The most likely theory is that the tank broke down during a training exercise on the beach and was never removed.
In the years following its abandonment it’s likely to have been used for target practice by troops from the nearby RAF Theddlethorpe.
The tank has now become a popular tourist attraction, even receiving positive reviews online.