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Head for a Blue Flag beach
Celebrate the British summer by heading for the seaside. And make it a top-quality beach, with our handy list of this year's Blue Flag awards
To be awarded Blue Flag status, the beach must have high standards of cleanliness and management, promote coastal environmental care and have attained high water quality. It refers only to the busier 'resort' beaches.
This year 72 Blue Flags have been awarded in England, down on last year's total.
Keep Britain Tidy is the group responsible for Blue Flag in England. "Holidaying in this country is the perfect way of saving money and having a great time," said Phil Barton, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, which runs Blue Flag and QCA in England.
"Whether it's a question of variety, accessibility or value for money, enjoying our wonderful beaches is the ideal way to recharge your batteries.
"So instead of worrying about exchange rates, baggage handlers or forgetting passports, we're urging people in England to make the most of their own magnificent coastline."
SOUTHWEST ENGLAND
Dorset:
Poole: Sandbanks Peninsular; Shore Road; Canford Cliffs Chine; Branksome Chine
Bournemouth: Alum Chine; Durley Chine; Fisherman's Walk; Southbourne.
Swanage Central
Devon:
Torbay: Oddicombe Beach; Meadfoot Beach; Broadsands Beach; Breakwater Beach; Preston Sands
Bigbury-on-Sea; Blackpool Sands; Challaborough; Dawlish Warren; Tunnels Beaches; Westward Ho!; Woolacombe Sands.
Cornwall:
Carbis Bay; Gyllyngvase; Marazion; Polzeath; Porthmeor; Porthminster; Porthtowan; Sennen Cove.
NORTHEAST ENGLAND
East Yorkshire:
Hornsea; Withernsea; Bridlington, North Beach.
North Yorkshire:
Whitby Beach; Scarborough North Bay.
Tyne & Wear
EAST ANGLIA
Norfolk:
Cromer; Mundesley; Sea Palling; Sheringham.
Suffolk
Lowestoft, South of Claremont Pier; Lowestoft North of Claremont Pier; Felixstowe South.
MIDLANDS
Lincolnshire:
Cleethorpes Central; Central Beach, Mablethorpe; Central Beach, Skegness; Central Beach, Sutton on Sea.
SOUTHEAST ENGLAND
West Sussex:
Bognor Regis; Littlehampton Coastguards.
East Sussex:
West Street; Brighton
Hampshire:
Hayling Island West Beach; Hayling Island Central Beach.
Isle of Wight:
Ventnor; Sandown.
Kent:
Botany Bay, Broadstairs; Joss Bay; Minnis Bay; Tankerton; Ramsgate Main Sands; St Mildred's Bay, Westgate; Walpole Bay, Margate; West Bay, Westgate.
SCOTLAND
St Andrews East Sands, Fife; Broughty Ferry Beach, Dundee;Leven East Beach, Fife; Elie Harbour, Fife; Aberdour Silver Sands, Fife; Nairn Central; Highlands; Burntisland, Fife; Montrose, Angus; Kirkcudbright, Dumfries & Galloway
NORTHERN IRELAND
Murlough Beach, Down District; Downhill, Coleraine
WALES
Pembrokeshire:
Dale; Tenby North; Tenby South; St Davids, Whitesands; Newgale; Saundersfoot; Newport Sands; Poppit Sands; Broadhaven North; Lydstep.
Anglesey:
Benllech; Holyhead Marina; Llanddona; Church Bay; Llanddwyn; Newborough; Porth Dafarch.
Swansea:
Bracelet Bay; Swansea Marina; Langland Bay; Caswell Bay; Port Eynon.
Cyngor Gwynedd:
Abersoch; Fairbourne/Ffriog; Tywyn; Dinas Dinlle; Barmouth, Abermaw.
Ceredigion:
New Quay Harbour; Aberystwyth South; Aberystwyth North
Pendine, Carmarthenshire; Hafan Pwllheli,; Victoria Dock, Caernarfon; Prestatyn, Central Denbighshire; Porthcawl, Rest Bay Bridgend; Rhos on Sea / Colwyn Bay.
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