15 of the best and ‘cleanest’ beaches to visit in Cornwall this summer

Sewage spills on Cornwall’s beaches have been all over the headlines in recent years. There are dozens of storm drains in the county and the latest figures from the Environment Agency revealed that South West Water discharged sewage for 530,737 hours last year.

The water company’s website says that during a storm event, heavy or prolonged rain can quickly increase flow in the combined sewer and cause it to overflow. Without stormwater overflows, diluted stormwater would have nowhere to go, flooding homes, businesses and streets.

However, sewage spills on Cornwall’s beaches have angered many people. But sewage isn’t the only problem facing our coasts – general pollution and anti-social behavior leading to littering on beaches is a threat to our beloved coastline.

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So finding a clean and safe beach to visit as we head further into summer is important to many locals and visitors. Fortunately, there are 15 beaches in Cornwall that have recently received Blue Flag or Seaside Award status.

The Seaside Awards recognize the best beaches in England and celebrate the quality and diversity of the coast. The coveted Blue Flag is only presented to beaches with water that has achieved the highest classification as set by the EU Bathing Water Directive and that have an environmental education programme.

Seven beaches owned by Cornwall Council have been awarded both Blue Flag and Seaside Award status for 2024. These include:

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

Carbis Bay in St Ives, which is privately owned, has also received Blue Flag and Seaside Award status. Meanwhile, seven other beaches owned by Cornwall Council have been awarded Seaside Award status for 2024. These include:

• Crackington Haven, Bude
• Great Western, Newquay
• port
• Porthminster, St Ives
• Portrait
• Sennen Cove
• Summerleaze, Bude

The Blue Flag is an international award managed by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Environmental Education Foundation. Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, said: “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 the most beloved and most popular beaches and we would like to take this moment to recognize and applaud them.

“Visitors to a Blue Flag beach can be assured that the beach will be clean, safe and will meet the highest environmental standards as well as international bathing water quality standards.”

Councilor Martyn Alvey, portfolio holder for Climate Change and Environment at Cornwall Council, added: “Cornwall has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and I am delighted to have received these well-deserved awards.

“We are grateful to our tenants, our partners Biffa and Cormac, as well as volunteers and beach cleaning groups for all their hard work and dedication in ensuring our coast is kept clean. I would also like to thank the RNLI who do this. fantastic job keeping our beaches safe.”

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