Blue Flag beaches 2008

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.

 

Keep Britain Tidy is the group responsible for Blue Flag in England. Chief executive Phil Barton, said: ‘We keep being told that our love affair with the seaside has been on the rocks. But as far as we are concerned England's beach resorts go from strength to strength.

‘Now is the time for the English to rekindle passion for traditional beach holidays in this country. Our beaches are fabulous places to visit and that's official. Blue Flag is only awarded to beaches that have good access, top notch facilities, are litter free and have clean sea-water.

‘We are challenging people to avoid overseas air travel and be kind to the environment by holidaying at home.'

 

England and Northern Ireland

 

Southwest

Bantham; Bigbury-on-Sea; Blackpool Sands; Bournemouth, Alum Chine; Bournemouth, Durley Chine; Bournemouth, Fisherman's Walk; Bournemouth, Southbourne Beach; Carbis Bay; Challaborough; Crooklets; Dawlish Warren; Gyllyngvase; Marazion; Polzeath; Poole, Branksome Chine; Poole, Canford Cliffs Chine; Poole, Sandbanks Peninsular; Poole, Shore Road; Porthmeor; Porthminster; Porthtowan; Sandy Bay; Sennen Cove; Swanage Central; Torbay, Breakwater Beach; Torbay, Broadsands Beach; Torbay, Goodrington South Sands; Torbay, Meadfoot Beach; Torbay, Oddicombe Beach; Torbay, Paignton Beach; Torbay, Preston Beach; Tunnels Beaches; Westward Ho!; Woolacombe Sands.

 

Northeast

Bridlington, North Beach ; Filey; Hornsea; Sandhaven, South Shields; Scarborough North Bay; Seaton Carew Foreshore; Tynemouth, King Edwards Bay; Tynemouth, Longsands South; Whitby West Cliff; Whitley Bay; Withernsea.

 

East Anglia

Brightlingsea Beach; Cromer; Dovercourt Bay; East Beach, Shoeburyness; Felixstowe South; Jubilee Beach; Lowestoft North of Claremont Pier; Lowestoft South of Claremont Pier; Mundesley; Sea Palling; Shoebury Common Beach; Southwold Pier Beach.

 

Midlands

Central Beach, Mablethorpe; Central Beach, Skegness; Central Beach, Sutton on Sea.

 

Northern Ireland

Cranfield West; Downhill; Magilligan, Benone Strand; Portrush West Strand; Portstewart Strand;

Whiterocks.

 

Southeast

Botany Bay, Broadstairs; Eastbourne Pier to Wish Tower; Hayling Island Central Beach; Hayling Island West Beach; Herne Bay; Hove Lawns; Joss Bay; Littlehampton Coastguards; Margate Main Sands; Minnis Bay; Ramsgate Main Sands; Sandown; Shanklin; St Mildred's Bay, Westgate; Stone Bay, Broadstairs; Tankerton; Ventnor; Walpole Bay, Margate; West Bay, Westgate; West Street; West Wittering Beach; Westbrook Bay.

 

Scotland

Aberdour Silver Sands, Fife; Burntisland Beach, Fife; Elie Harbour, Fife; Kirkcudbright Marina, Dumfries and Galloway; Leven East, Fife; Montrose Seafront, Angus; St Andrews West Sands, Fife.

 

 

 

 

Wales

Anglesey: Benllech, Holyhead Marina (Marina); Llanddona; Llanddwyn, Newborough; Porth Dafarch; Trearddur Bay

Bridgend: Porthcawl, Rest Bay; Trecco Bay

Carmarthenshire: Pembrey Country Park, Cefn Sidan; Pendine

Ceredigion: Aberporth; Aberystwyth North; Aberystwyth South; Borth; Llangrannog; New Quay; Traeth Yr Harbwr; Tresaith

Conwy: Deganwy Quay Marina (Marina); Llandudno North Shore; Llandudno West Shore; Penmaenmawr

Denbighshire: Prestatyn Central

Gwynedd: Abersoch; Aberdyfi; Barmouth, Abermaw; Criccieth; Dinas Dinlle (Morfa Dinlle); Fairbourne, Ffriog; Hafan, Pwllheli  (Marina); Pwllhelli, Marian y De; Tywyn; Victoria Dock, Caernarfon (Marina)

Pembrokeshire: Amroth; Broadhaven North; Dale; Lydstep; Newgale Sands; Poppit Sands; St David's Whitesands; Saundersfoot; Tenby Castle; Tenby North; Tenby South

Swansea: Bracelet Bay; Caswell Bay; Langland Bay; Port Eynon; Swansea Marina (Marina)

Vale Of Glamorgan: Barry, Whitmore Bay.