15 Cornwall Beaches Achieve Blue Flag or Seaside Awards – The Top Beaches To Visit This Summer

This summer, visitors to Cornwall can look forward to pristine beaches as fifteen of its stunning coastal gems have been recognised with prestigious Blue Flag or Seaside Awards.

These accolades underscore the exceptional quality and environmental management of the region’s beaches.

Prestigious Blue Flag Status

Among the awarded, seven beaches managed by Cornwall Council have the distinction of receiving both the Blue Flag and Seaside Award for 2024, a testament to their superior water quality and the availability of environmental education. The beaches making this esteemed list include:

• Crooklets, Bude
• Gyllyngvase, Falmouth
• Polzeath
• Porthmeor, St Ives
• Porthtowan
• Porthmissen/Trevone, Padstow
• Widemouth Bay

Additionally, the privately owned Carbis Bay in St Ives also secured both accolades, further highlighting the exceptional standards maintained across both public and private beaches in Cornwall.

Celebrated Seaside Awards

A further seven beaches have been graced with the Seaside Award, recognising their high environmental and management standards. These beaches, all under the stewardship of Cornwall Council, include:

• Crackington Haven, Bude
• Great Western, Newquay
• Porth
• Porthminster, St Ives
• Portreath
• Sennen Cove
• Summerleaze, Bude

Communal Efforts in Beach Management

Councillor Martyn Alvey, portfolio holder for Climate Change and Environment at Cornwall Council, expressed his delight over the recognitions. “Cornwall has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and I’m delighted that we have received these much-deserved accolades,” he said. He extended his gratitude towards the tenants, partners Biffa and Cormac, as well as the numerous volunteers and beach clean groups for their relentless dedication to maintaining the cleanliness and safety of the beaches.

Martyn Alvey also acknowledged the vital role of the RNLI in ensuring beach safety, with Cornwall Council commissioning RNLI lifeguard patrols across many of the county’s beaches. Beachgoers are encouraged to visit patrolled beaches and adhere to the RNLI’s safety advice.

International Recognition and Local Commitment

The Blue Flag is an international marker of quality, managed by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education. Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy, praised the collective efforts that led to these achievements. “These awards are a credit to the collective efforts of beach managers, volunteers, residents and businesses who have worked tirelessly to maintain, protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular beaches,” she remarked.

She also reassured visitors about the quality of the beaches, noting, “Visitors to a beach flying a Blue Flag can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as international bathing water quality standards.”

This summer, Cornwall’s beaches stand out not only for their breathtaking landscapes but also for their commitment to environmental stewardship and visitor safety, making them perfect destinations for both relaxation and recreation.