List of Blue Flag Beaches of Wales
Below is a list of Blue Flag beaches and marinas in Wales, sorted by regulatory body. As of July 2013, 38 locations had been designated by the internationally recognised Foundation for Environmental Education based in Copenhagen, Denmark.[1] The foundation awards, or removes, beaches and marinas from their list each July.
The 2013 figure is down from 41[2] beaches in 2011 and 43 beaches in 2012. The reduced number was due to stricter water quality criteria being used, coupled with the fact that 2012 was a wet year in the country meaning that there were more naturally occurring bacteria present.[3] In comparison, the larger countries of England and Scotland had 55[4] and 3[5] beaches listed and no marinas. The Welsh organisation Keep Wales Tidy helps to keep the beaches in good condition as well as running two separate sets of awards - the Green Coast Award and the Seaside Award.[6]
The vast majority of the beaches and marinas are located on the Wales Coast Path.[7]
Local Authority Maintained
Anglesey - Benllech
Anglesey - Holyhead (m)
Anglesey - Llanddona
Anglesey - Llanddwyn, Newborough
Anglesey - Porth Dafarch
Anglesey - Porth Swtan / Church Bay
Anglesey - Trearddur Bay
Bridgend - Rest Bay,Porthcawl
Carmarthenshire - Cefn Sidan, Pembrey Country Park
Ceredigion - Aberporth
Ceredigion - Borth
Ceredigion - New Quay, Harbour
Ceredigion - Tresaith
Conwy - Llandudno North Shore
Gwynedd - Abersoch
Gwynedd - Dinas Dinlle
Gwynedd - Morfa Bychan (Black Rock Sands) ^
Gwynedd - Marian y De, Pwllheli
Pembrokeshire - Amroth
Pembrokeshire - Broad Haven North
Pembrokeshire - Coppet Hall ^
Pembrokeshire - Dale
Pembrokeshire - Lydstep
Pembrokeshire - Newgale
Pembrokeshire - Saundersfoot
Pembrokeshire - Whitesands, St Davids
Pembrokeshire - Tenby, Castle
Pembrokeshire - Tenby, North
Pembrokeshire - Tenby, South
Swansea - Bracelet Bay ^
Swansea - Caswell Bay
Swansea - Langland Bay
Swansea - Port Eynon
Swansea - Swansea Marina (m)
Vale of Glamorgan - Penarth Marina (m)
Privately Maintained
Caernarfon Harbour Trust - Victoria Dock, Caernarfon (m)
Parkdean Holidays - Trecco Bay
Yacht Haven Management - Hafan Pwllheli (m)
^ = Not currently wheelchair accessible
(m) = Marina
References
- ↑ The Welsh page on the Blue Flag website
- ↑ A mention of the 2011 awards on the Welsh Water website
- ↑ A BBC news article on the decline
- ↑ A BBC news article announcing England's Blue Flag beaches
- ↑ Article from The Scotsman about the awards
- ↑ Keep Wales Tidy's beach page
- ↑ Information about the Coast Path on its official page