Sometimes the best moments in landscape photography aren’t about capturing a picture perfect sky, they’re about the quiet thrill of setting an early alarm, stepping into the morning chill, and exploring a piece of history resting in a vast, wild landscape.
I’ve been away on a family break (Sun holiday caravan park) recently near Mablethorpe and Saltfleetby. While this trip wasn’t strictly a dedicated photography expedition, it was really all about spending quality time with my daughter, partner, mum, and my two-year-old grandson. I couldn’t resist sneaking away early one morning for a quick sunrise shoot.
Scrolling through Google Maps the day before, a curious location marker caught my eye: a World War II tank rusting away in the middle of a beach inside the Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve. I knew right away I had to drag myself out of bed and check it out.
The Early Morning Trek Through the Dunes
My alarm buzzed at 4:00 AM. In the pitch-black quiet of our holiday caravan, I grabbed my gear, skipped my morning coffee, and hit the road for the short four-mile drive down from where we were staying.
Finding the location in the dark was an adventure in itself:
- Parking: I parked up in a small gravel car park right at the end of Church Hill Lane (just off the A1031, where the Mablethorpe Road turns into Saltfleet Road).
- Navigating the Dunes: From the car park, you can’t see the beach straight away. You have to walk over the massive sand dunes, which obscure the coast entirely.
- Finding the Spot: Out in the vast, open expanse, it’s easy to feel a bit disoriented. I actually had to pull up Google Maps satellite view on my phone to double-check I was trekking in the right direction!
Eventually, as I cleared the crest of the dunes, the wide-open expanse of the Lincolnshire coastline opened up before me.
Discovering the Comet I (A34) Tank
Standing alone on the wide sand flat, surrounded only by the soft sounds of distant waves and calling seabirds, was the relic itself: the rusted hull of a Comet I (A34) British cruiser tank.
A Brief Slice of History
Used by the British Army near the end of World War II and through the late 1950s, this tank has spent decades being weathered by the tide and salt air.
While no one knows the exact story of how it ended up stranded here, two primary theories exist:
- Mechanical Breakdown: The local coastal areas were heavily used as military training grounds, so it may have simply broken down and been abandoned.
- Target Practice: It may have been intentionally towed out onto the sands as a target for RAF bombing practice during the mid-20th century.
Seeing this massive piece of iron sitting quietly in the nature reserve creates an eerie, beautiful contrast between military history and nature’s gradual reclamation.
Working the Scene and Facing the Conditions
As any landscape photographer knows, nature doesn’t always play ball.
I waited for the sun to rise, hoping for a splash of golden light or vibrant purple and pink clouds across the horizon. As sunrise came and went, the sky stayed relatively flat and muted.
- The Reality of Landscape Photography: You won’t always get the dramatic sky you dreamed of.
- The Silver Lining: Flat light gives you a chance to focus on texture, form, and story. The rusted steel of the Comet tank against the smooth beach sands still makes for a compelling subject.
- Nature Reserve Surroundings: Being out on the Saltfleet Dunes at dawn with birds wheeling overhead and complete tranquility is worth the early wake-up call, regardless of the light.
Balancing Photography and Family Time
As much as I love spending hours waiting for the perfect light, this holiday had a different purpose. With our day packed full of family activities including trips to a local farm and spending time down in Skegness for my grandson it was time to head back to the car.
Before leaving, I took a moment to enjoy the panoramic silence of the reserve. It was a great reminder that getting out into nature and exploring new locations is half the fun of photography.
Campervan Update & What’s Next
For those following my channel and blog updates, you might notice I arrived in a different car for this shoot!
If you saw my previous updates, my Peugeot Partner camper suffered a breakdown recently, but was too costly to repair, So I took the plunge on a new van a Vauxhall Vivaro which unfortunately I was conned a bit and ended up having to have a new gearbox, flywheel, clutch, sensors, and brakes! The full Vauxhall Vivaro camper conversion video series is partly out on my YouTube channel and the final few parts coming soon as writing this as the van has now been converted for over 6 months , but due to health and other reasons didn’t edit them, but now getting them done, so stay tuned for those build videos.
Visiting Saltfleetby Beach Yourself
If you ever find yourself near Mablethorpe or Saltfleet, I highly recommend taking the walk out to see the beach tank:
- Location: Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
- Access: Park at the end of Church Hill Lane (off the A1031) and walk east over the dunes.
- Tips: Check tide times before walking out onto the sand, wear sturdy footwear for the dune trek, and bring a GPS or map app to navigate the open landscape!
Even on a cloudy morning without a fiery sunrise, it’s a fascinating, quiet piece of British history well worth the walk.
Watch the full video shoot above, leave a comment with your thoughts, and don’t forget to subscribe for more photography and campervan adventures!
