2022 Blue Flag Award beaches
There are 206 Blue Flag Award in the British Isles (UK & Ireland) all of which have met the stringent criteria to qualify
-
England Blue Flag Award beaches
- Alum Chine Bournemouth
- Beachlands - Hayling Island
- Blackpool Sands
- Branksome Chine Poole
- Breakwater Beach
- Brightlingsea
- Brighton Beach
- Broadsands Beach
- Canford Cliffs Poole
- Carbis Bay Beach
- Challaborough
- Cleethorpes
- Cromer
- Crooklets Bude
- Dawlish Warren
- Dovercourt Bay
- Durley Chine Bournemouth
- East Runton
- Exmouth
- Felixstowe South
- Fishermans Walk Bournemouth
- Great Western Newquay
- Gyllyngvase
- Hornsea
- Hove
- King Edwards Bay (Tynemouth)
- Leysdown
- Long Sands South Tynemouth
- Mablethorpe Town
- Manor Steps Bournemouth
- Minnis Bay
- Minster Leas
- Mundesley
- Oddicombe Beach
- Polzeath
- Porthmeor St Ives
- Porthtowan
- Portreath
- Preston Sands (Paignton)
- Roker (Whitburn South)
- Saltburn
- Sandown
- Sandy Bay
- Scarborough North Bay
- Sea Palling
- Seaburn Beach (Whitburn North)
- Sheerness Beach
- Sheringham
- Shoebury East
- Shoeburyness
- Shore Road - Sandbanks Poole
- Sidmouth
- Skegness
- Southbourne Bournemouth
- Southend - Westcliff Bay
- St Mildreds Bay
- Stone Bay
- Sutton-on-Sea
- Swanage
- Tankerton Beach
- Teignmouth
- The Bay Margate
- Thorpe Bay
- Three Shells (Southend)
- Torre Abbey
- Trevone Bay
- Walton-on-the-Naze
- West Bay
- West Runton
- West Wittering
- Westbrook Bay Margate
- Westward Ho!
- Weymouth
- Whitby
- Whitley Bay
- Widemouth Bay
Ireland Blue Flag Award beaches
- An Trá Mór
- Ardmore Bay
- Ballinskelligs
- Ballybunion Mens beach
- Ballycuggeran
- Ballyheigue
- Ballymastocker Bay
- Ballymoney
- Banna Strand
- Barleycove
- Bertra
- Brittas Bay
- Brittas Bay (North)
- Bundoran
- Cappagh
- Carrickfinn
- Carrowmore
- Cill Muirbhthe
- Clare Island
- Clogherhead
- Clonea
- Councillors Strand
- Courtown
- Culdaff Bay
- Curracloe
- Derrynane
- Dooega
- Downings
- Dugort
- Dunmore Strand
- Elly Bay
- Fanore
- Fenit
- Garretstown
- Garrylucas
- Golden Strand
- Greystones
- Inch
- Inchydoney
- Keel
- Keem
- Kells
- Kilkee
- Killahoey Strand
- Killiney
- Lahinch
- Loughrea Lake
- Magherabeg
- Marble Hill
- Morriscastle
- Mountshannon
- Mullaghroe
- Mulranny
- Murvagh
- Narin / Portnoo
- Owenahincha
- Port
- Portmarnock
- Ross
- Rossbeigh
- Rosses Point
- Rosslare Strand
- Rossnowlagh
- Salthill
- Seapoint
- Shellinghill
- Silverstrand
- Spanish Point
- Stroove
- The Warren
- Trá an Dóilín
- Tragumna
- Tramore
- Traught
- White Strand (Cahersiveen)
- White Strand (Miltown Malbay)
- Youghal Claycastle
Northern Ireland Blue Flag Award beaches
- Castlerock
- Cranfield Bay
- Downhill Strand
- Magilligan Strand - Benone
- Mill Strand Portrush
- Murlough
- The Strand Portstewart
- Tyrella Beach (Clough)
- Whiterocks
Wales Blue Flag Award beaches
- Aberdaron Beach
- Abersoch
- Aberystwyth (North)
- Aberystwyth (South)
- Amroth
- Barmouth
- Benllech
- Borth
- Broadhaven
- Castle Beach Tenby
- Caswell Bay
- Coppet Hall
- Dale
- Dinas Dinlle
- Langland Bay
- Llanddona
- Llanddwyn Beach
- Llandudno - West Shore
- Llandudno North Shore
- Llanfairfechan
- Llangrannog
- Lydstep
- Morfa Bychan - Black Rock Sands
- New Quay - Harbour Beach
- Newgale Sands
- North Tenby
- Pembrey Beach - Llanelli
- Penmaenmawr
- Poppit Sands
- Port Eynon
- Porth Dafarch
- Porth Swtan (Church Bay)
- Prestatyn Central
- Pwllheli
- Rest Bay Porthcawl
- Rhos-on-Sea Colwyn Bay
- Saundersfoot
- South Tenby
- Southerndown
- Trearddur Bay
- Trecco Bay Porthcawl
- Tresaith
- Whitesands
- Whitmore Bay (Barry)
The Blue Flag beach award is widely considered the gold standard for beaches. Awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education, the Blue Flag is internationally recognised.
Whilst most people are aware that Blue Flag certification guarantees the quality of bathing water this is only part of the criteria. At this point it is worth stressing that a Blue Flag beach is not necessarily any better than other beaches. In fact, quite the opposite is true of many of Britain’s smaller, picturesque coves. The Blue Flag award is ideally suited to resort beaches with plenty of facilities. It is for this reason that the other awards granted in the UK may be of equal or more use in choosing a suitable beach.
Wondering where Scotland's Blue Flag beaches are?
The Blue Flag criteria are divided into four categories with a total of 33 individual targets. These main categories are:
- Environmental Education and Information This includes information on the Blue Flag award itself along with details on the water quality. A beach map including locations of facilities must also be displayed.
- Water Quality Second on the list is what most people assume the Blue Flag is all about. The most important stipulation is that no industrial, waste-water or sewage-related discharges should affect the beach.
- Environmental Management These criteria include the administrative side of things as well as keeping the beach clean. It also states there must be toilets available to the public.
- Safety and Services At the top of the list here is the beach should be patrolled by lifeguards. Other criteria include availability of drinking water and accessibility features.
The certification process is carried out every year and beaches can lose or gain their Blue Flag status. In the UK the annual results are announced at the beginning of June.
For more information and a complete list of criteria visit the Blue Flag Award website.