After meeting high-quality environmental standards, some of Cornwall’s much-loved beaches have been named winners of this year’s Blue Flag and Seaside Awards.

Carbis Bay, Gyllynvase and Porthtowan are some of the Cornish beaches which have been recognised for achieving the award criteria in this year’s international award which is celebrating its 36th year.

Falmouth Packet: Polzeath Beach one of the several beaches in Cornwall recognised for its environmental and safe measures Polzeath Beach one of the several beaches in Cornwall recognised for its environmental and safe measures (Image: Stock)

For beaches to achieve a high standard, each location is assessed for its safety and services, including first aid and lifeguards where necessary, environmental information including displays about local ecosystems, and water quality.

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Blue Flag beaches must meet the ‘excellent’ water quality standard as set out in the EU bathing water directive and Seaside Award winners must meet the ‘sufficient’ standard. Beaches must also provide environmental management including litter and waste.

The full list of beaches achieving the standard is as follows:  

Summerleaze (Bude) - first time Blue Flag winner

Carbis Bay (St Ives)

Crooklets (Bude)

Gyllngvase (Falmouth)

Porthmeor (St Ives)

Polzeath (Wadebridge)

Porthtowan (between Truro and Newquay)

Trevone Bay (Wadebridge)

Beaches in the region awarded with the Seaside Award (including Blue Flag beaches):

Carbis Bay - Carbis Bay Hotel 

Crackington Haven - Cornwall Council 

Gyllyngvase  - Cornwall Council 

Great Western - Cornwall Council 

Polzeath  - Cornwall Council 

Porth - Cornwall Council 

Porthtowan  - Cornwall Council 

Porthmeor - Cornwall Council 

Porthminster  - Cornwall Council 

Portreath - Cornwall Council 

Sennan Cove - Cornwall Council 

Trevone Bay - Cornwall Council 

Widemouth Bay - Cornwall Council 

Crooklets  - Cornwall Council 

Summerleaze - Cornwall Council 

The Blue Flag and Seaside Awards is a programme by the leading environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy, which works to eliminate littering, reduce waste, and improve public space.

The charity’s chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton, has praised the winners for efforts to meet the award criteria. She said: “Visitors to a beach flying a Blue Flag or Seaside Award can be assured the beach will be clean, safe, and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as international bathing water quality standards. 

“The Blue Flag is the world’s most recognised award for beaches and marinas and, in order to qualify, each applicant must meet and maintain a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria. 

“We’d therefore like to recognise and applaud all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular beaches.

"The collective efforts of beach managers, volunteers, residents, and businesses all contribute to the success of these sites in achieving the incredibly high standards demanded.”