Blue Flag Beaches in England, Scotland and Wales

We all love a beach holiday but if you are looking for the best beaches to take your family too, then look out for the Blue Flag Beaches which you will find across England, Scotland and Wales. The Blue Flag award is an International standard that only gives its prestigious award to those beaches that meet and exceed the highest standards including water quality, facilities, safety, environmental education and management.
Whether you are looking for golden sandy beaches, rolling surfing waves or coastal paths to explore the Blue Flag point the way to some of the best. Please note that the Beach awards are updated annually - usually in May.
See 2012 English Blue Flag Beaches
English Blue Flag Beaches (2011 awards)
The 2012 awards will be made known in May 2012, so below we have provided the 2011 Blue Flag list of the best beaches in England. We have also highlighted where you can find good self catering cottages and apartments close to the Blue Flag beach so you can have a short break or holiday.
Dorset Blue Flag Beaches
- Bournemouth - Alum Chine, Durley Chine, Fisherman's Walk, Southbourne Beach
 
- Poole - Branksome Chine,
- Canford Cliffs Chine, Sandbanks
- Peninsula, Shore Road
 
- Swanage - Central
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Cornwall Blue Flag Beaches
- Gyllyngvase
 
- Porthtowan
 
- Polzeath
 
- Porthminster
 
- Porthmeor
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Devon Blue Flag Beaches
- Challaborough Bay
 
- Croyde Bay
 
- Woolacombe Sands
 
- South Sands
 
- Dawlish Warren
 
- Torbay - Oddicombe Beach, Meadfoot Beach, Broadsands Beach,  Breakwater Beach, 
          Paignton Beach, Preston Sands
 
- Westward Ho!
 
- Tunnels Beaches
 
- Blackpool Sands
 
- Bigbury-on-Sea
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Lincolnshire Blue Flag Beaches
- Central Beach Mablethorpe
- Central Beach Skegness
- Central Beach, Sutton on Sea
- Cleethorpes Central
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East Yorkshire Blue Flag Beaches
- Hornsea Beach
- Withernsea Beach
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North Yorkshire Blue Flag Beaches
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Tyne and Wear Blue Flag Beaches
- Whitley Bay Beach
- Tynemouth Longsands South
- Tynemouth King Edwards Bay
- Sandhaven beach, South Shields
- Roker bay
- Seaburn
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Hampshire Blue Flag Beaches
- Hayling Island Beachlands
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Isle of Wight Blue Flag Beaches
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West Sussex Blue Flag Beaches
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Kent Blue Flag Beaches
- Botany Bay, Broadstairs
- Joss Bay
- Westbrook Bay
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Norfolk Blue Flag Beaches
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Suffolk Blue Flag Beaches
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Essex Blue Flag Beaches
- Chalkwell Beach
- East Beach, Shoeburyness
- Jubilee Beach
- Three Shells Beach
- Shoebury Common Beach
- Brightlingsea Beach
- Dovercourt Bay
- Clacton on Sea, Martello Bay
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Scottish Beach Holiday Cottage search (2011 awards)
The 2012 awards will be made known in May 2012, so below we have provided the 2011 Blue Flag list of the best beaches in Scotland. We have also highlighted where you can find good self catering cottages and apartments close to the Blue Flag beach so you can have a short break or holiday.
Aberdeenshire Blue Flag Beaches
- Aberdeen Ballroom Beach
- Balmedie Beach
- Collieston
- Cruden Bay
- Fraserburgh Esplanade
- Fraserburgh Waters of Philorth
- Inverboydie Beach
- Peterhead Lido
- Sandend
- Stonehaven Beach
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Fife Blue Flag Beaches
- Aberdour Black Sands
- Aberdour Silversands
- Burntisland Beach
- Crail Roome Bay
- Elie Ruby Bay
- Kinghorn Harbour
- Kingsbarns Beach
- Kinghorn and Pettycur Bay
- Kirkcaldy Seafield
- Leven East
- St Andrews West Sands
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Angus Blue Flag Beaches
- Arbroath
- Carnoustie
- Lunan Bay
- Monifieth
- Montrose Seafront
- Broughty Ferry
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East Lothian Blue Flag Beaches
- Bellhaven Bay
- Gullane Bents
- Longiddry No. 1
- North Berwick Milsey Bay
- North Berwick West Beach
- Yellowcraig
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Highlands Blue Flag Beaches
- Achmelvich Bay
- Dornoch Beach
- Embo
- Golspie Beach
- Loch Morlich
- Melvich Beach
- Nairn Central
- Portmahomack
- Sango Sands
- Shandwick Bay
- Strathy Bay
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Scottish Borders Blue Flag Beaches
- Coldingham
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Argyll and Bute Blue Flag Beaches
- Ganavan Sands
- Machrihanish
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Shetland Blue Flag Beaches
- Sands of Breckon
- St Ninian's Isle
- Tresta
- West Sandwick
- West Voe
Ayrshire Blue Flag Beaches
- Newton Beach, Millport
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Welsh Beach Holiday Cottage search (2011 awards)
The 2012 awards will be made known in May 2012, so below we have provided the 2011 Blue Flag list of the best beaches in Wales. We have also highlighted where you can find good self catering cottages and apartments close to the Blue Flag beach so you can have a short break or holiday.
Isle of Anglesey Blue Flag Beaches
- Benllech
- Church Bay, Rhydwyn
- Llanddona
- Llanddwyn
- Porth Dafarch
- Treaddur
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Carmarthenshire Blue Flag Beaches
- Cefn Sidan
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Ceredigion Blue Flag Beaches
- Aberporth
- Llangrannog
- New Quay - Harbour Beach
- Tresaith
- Aberystwyth South
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Conwy Blue Flag Beaches
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Denbighshire Blue Flag Beaches
- Prestatyn
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Gwynedd Blue Flag Beaches
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Pembrokeshire Blue Flag Beaches
- Amroth
- Broadhaven North
- Coppet Hall
- Dale
- Lydstep
- Newgale
- Newport
- Poppit Sands
- Saundersfoot
- Tenby Castle
- Tenby North
- Tenby South
- Whitesands
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Other Welsh Blue Flag Beaches
- Aberavon
- Bridgend - Rest Bay Bridgend Trecco Bay
- Bracelet Bay, Swansea
- Caswell Bay, Swansea
- Langland Bay, Swansea
- Port Eynon Bay
Vale of Glamorgan Blue Flag Beaches
- Whitmore Bay
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