Cornwall Blue Flag – Eight Cornish beaches have been awarded Blue Flags in 2017, including one of our favourites, Polzeath beach, just a few miles from Glen Valley Cottage.
The Blue Flag awards are internationally recognised and give beach users reassurance that the beaches are clean, safe and well managed. They don’t just mean the water is clean, criteria such as facilities, toilets, beach clean-up programmes, environmental education and safety (lifeguards) are also considered.
Being so reliant on tourism, Cornwall takes the quality of its beaches very seriously. The success in Cornwall Blue Flags has involved many organisations and people working together. Cornwall Council co-ordinated all the entries. Sharp’s Brewery in Rock sponsored the initiative by donating 5p from each pint of its limited-edition beers. Community groups, beach managers and local businesses get hands on to ensure the beaches are up to scratch.
Eight Cornwall Blue Flag beaches 2017
- Gyllyngvase beach in Falmouth
- Porthminster beach in St Ives
- Porthmeor beach in St Ives
- Carbis Bay beach near St Ives
- Polzeath beach near Wadebridge
- Porthtowan beach near St Agnes
- Trevone beach near Bude
- Widemouth beach near Bude
Other Cornish beaches are clean and safe
Just because other Cornish beaches don’t have Blue Flags doesn’t mean they aren’t clean and safe. There are many beaches and coves in Cornwall that may have less facilities than the Cornwall Blue Flag beaches but are just as clean and great places to sunbathe and play. Obviously if there are no lifeguards then you need to consider safety.
Keep Britain Tidy Seaside Awards 2017
The organisation, Keep Britain Tidy, recently announced the winners of its England focussed Seaside Awards, which, like the international Blue Flag awards, acknowledge beaches that are clean, safe, attractive and well managed. All of the eight Cornwall Blue Flag beaches were also given Seaside Awards. In addition, a further 7 Cornish beaches were given Seaside Awards.
- Porth beach near Newquay
- Crooklets beach in Bude
- Summerleaze beach in Bude
- Perranporth beach
- Great Western beach
- Newquay beach
- Sennen Cove beach
Read more about the Seaside Awards on the Keep Britain Tidy website.
Polzeath beach has something for everyone
Surf, sand, rock pools, ice cream, pasties, lifeguards, toilets, shops, surf hire, car parks, beachwear, bars and restaurants. Polzeath beach is a place it’s easy to spend the whole day or even the whole week. It’s big enough for hundreds to enjoy but small enough not to feel bleak and overwhelming. It’s great for kids and has lots of facilities at the top of the beach. It’s not surprising that many people get the Polzeath beach bug and visit year after year. It attracts celebrities and royals too, including Prince Harry. And, now we know it’s clean, safe and well managed too.
Read more about Polzeath beach.
