Explore Blue Flag Beaches in the South West of England

Think rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, great surf and sparkling blue seas, the wild moors of Dartmoor to the Somerset Levels and the dramatic Cheddar Gorge, the South West has plenty to offer. With a lively arts scene, great local food and walking and cycling opportunities galore.

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Avon Beach

Avon Beach, Christchurch BH23, UK

Avon Beach is a sandy beach situated in the coastal town of Mudeford, the beach sits just east of Mudeford Quay and marks the start ...

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Beer

Beer beach is a natural suntrap and the waters in the bay are very sheltered with the imposing limestone cliffs giving protection from the wind. ...

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Blackpool Sands

Blackpool Sands (W-bound), Blackpool, Dartmouth, Devon TQ6, UK

Blackpool Sands, set in a sheltered bay surrounded by evergreens and pines, is one of South Devon's most beautiful natural treasures. An award-winning privately managed ...

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Bournemouth Manor Steps

Boscombe, Bournemouth BH5 1FH, UK

Manor Steps is a delightful location on Bournemouth's seafront. An ideal family choice for a day or a stay at the beach, Manor Steps is ...

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Bournemouth, Alum Chine

W Undercliff Promenade, Bournemouth, Bournemouth BH4 8AN, UK

Situated at the opening to one of Bournemouth's famous Chines, this beach features a good range of facilities including beach chalets which are available to ...

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Bournemouth, Durley Chine

W Undercliff Promenade, Bournemouth, Bournemouth BH2, UK

Ideally located at the opening to one of Bournemouth's famous Chines, this golden sandy beach is ideal for families looking for an entertaining day out. ...

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Bournemouth, Fisherman's Walk

Boscombe Overcliff Dr, Bournemouth, Bournemouth BH5 2EL, UK

This feature-laden beach is a firm favourite with families. It provides good bathing areas and is easily accessed via means of a cliff lift, cliff ...

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Bournemouth, Southbourne Beach

Southbourne Coast Rd, Bournemouth, Bournemouth BH6 4BE, UK

Southbourne is one of Bournemouth's quieter beaches, popular with bathers due to the fact it has no sudden shelves or rip currents. This sandy beach ...

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Carbis Bay

Saint Ives, Cornwall TR26 2NP, UK

Carbis Bay Beach is in the wider St Ives Bay on the north coast of Cornwall. It is privately owned and managed by Carbis Bay ...

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Crooklets

Crooklets, Bude, UK

Crooklets is located on the northern side of Bude and can be reached by a short walk over the Summerleaze Downs or down the hill ...

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Croyde Bay

Ruda Holiday Park, Croyde, Braunton EX33 1NP, UK

Croyde Beach lies between the headlands of Baggy Point to the North and Saunton Down to the South. Apart from rocky areas to the North ...

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Dawlish Warren

Dawlish Warren, Devon, UK

Our family beach resort has a lovely "Blue Flag" beach backed by sand dunes and small lakes, a haven for a great variety of wildlife ...

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Exmouth

Queen's Dr, Exmouth EX8 2AY, UK

Exmouth Beach is a long sandy beach stretching from Orcombe point in the east to Exmouth docks in the West. It is nationally renowned as ...

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Friars Cliff Beach

Friars Cliff, Christchurch, UK

Friars Cliff is a shingle and sand beach located between Christchurch and Lymington, which is lined with quaint, multicoloured beach huts and boasts uninterrupted views ...

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Gyllyngvase

Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth, Cornwall, UK

Gyllynvase is the main beach associated with the historical port town of Falmouth. Gyllyngvase, which is also affectionately known as Gylly, is a south facing ...

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Highcliffe Beach

Highcliffe Beach, Highcliffe BH23 5JA, UK

Highcliffe beach is a stretch of shingle and sand beaches at the most easterly point of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole on the Dorset - Hampshire ...

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Polzeath

Polzeath, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27, UK

Polzeath is a wide bay in the mouth of the Camel Estuary. The beach, that boasts fine golden sand, is fringed with rockpools boasting a ...

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Poole, Branksome Chine

Branksome Chine (S-bound), Poole, Poole, Poole BH13, UK

A fine golden sand beach that slopes gradually, with gentle shelving making it an excellent choice for families, with young children.The promenade features a café ...

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Poole, Canford Cliffs Chine

Canford Cliffs Poole, Poole, Poole BH13, UK

A popular haven for the locals, this fine sandy beach offers more peaceful surroundings than some of Poole's livelier tourist hot spots. The water is ...

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Poole, Sandbanks Peninsular

Sandbanks, Poole, Poole, Poole BH13, UK

A family friendly beach that slowly and gradually slopes away, ensuring it is safe for even the smallest of children. The fine golden sand and ...

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Poole, Shore Road

Shore Rd, Poole BH13 7PJ, UK

Adjoining Sandbanks Peninsula, Shore Road is a popular sandy beach with an excellent range of facilities and scenic views to the Purbecks.It is popular with ...

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Porthmeor

Porthmeor Beach, Saint Ives, Cornwall TR26 1TG, UK

Porthmeor is a wide sandy beach, a stone-thow from iconic Tate St Ives building and a short walk from the picturesque coastal town of St ...

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Porthtowan

Porthtowan, Truro, Cornwall TR4, UK

Porthtowan is a large west facing beach fringed with dramatic cliffs, which still retain evidence of the areas rich industrial past. Access on to the ...

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Seaton (Devon)

Seaton Beach, Seaton EX12 2LN, UK

Seaton Bay, with its mile-long pebble beach, sits right on the edge of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO world heritage site. The beach is backed ...

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Sidmouth Town

The Esplanade, Sidmouth EX10, UK

The main beach on the town's sea-front is largely made up of hand-sized pebbles above the shoreline.At low tide a strip of sand is exposed ...

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Summerleaze

Bude is an area that blends the old with the new, traditional activities with modern trends. Considerable green corridors such as the River Neet valley, ...

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Swanage Central

Shore Rd, Swanage, Dorset BH19, UK

Swanage’s pride and joy is it’s gently shelving, golden sandy beach, and clear unpolluted water. Swanage Beach has received the Blue Flag and Seaside Award ...

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Torbay, Breakwater Beach

Breakwater Beach, Brixham, Brixham, Torbay TQ5, UK

Breakwater is a small shingle beach adjacent to picturesque Brixham harbour. It has easy disabled access with adequate parking at the back of the beach, ...

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Torbay, Broadsands Beach

Broadsands Rd, Paignton TQ4, UK

Broadsands is a beautiful beach in an idyllic rural setting. Consisting mainly of sand, it's gently slopping gradient and easy access make it a popular ...

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Torbay, Meadfoot Beach

Meadfoot Sea Rd, Torquay, Torbay TQ1 2LG, UK

A small stretch of shingle beach nestled below an array of spectacular cliffs provides a perfect setting for those who prefer a quieter environment in ...

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Torbay, Oddicombe Beach

Oddicombe Beach Hill, Torquay, Torbay TQ1, UK

Nestling at the bottom of red sandstone cliffs, Torbay Beach is a sheltered haven for those looking for a relaxing day out. This attractive stretch ...

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Torbay, Preston Sands

Preston is a red sand beach adjacent to Paignton Sands. A popular family beach with a long promenade lined with thefamous multi-coloured beach huts that ...

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Torre Abbey Sands

Torre Abbey Sands, Torquay TQ2 5DG, UK

Torre Abbey Sands is part of the English Riviera and it lives up to the name with its stunning sands, impressive views and sunshine. As ...

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Trevone Bay

Trevone Bay, United Kingdom

Trevone Bay, also known as Porthmissen Beach, is a small sandy bay located in north Cornwall a short distance from Padstow. The small sandy bay ...

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Westward Ho!

Westbourne Terrace, Westward Ho!, Bideford, Devon EX39 1LL, UK

More than two miles of golden sand backed by a unique pebble ridge linking to Northam Burrows Country Park, which is part of the UK's ...

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Weymouth Central

Kings Statue (N-bound), Weymouth, Weymouth, Dorset DT4, UK

Weymouth Central is an award-winning sandy beach overlooked by a magnificent Georgian seafront, located at theheart of the Jurassic Coastline. This sheltered bay has a ...

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Widemouth Bay

Widemouth Bay, Bude, Cornwall EX23, UK

Widemouth Bay is a wide, easily accessible beach located 3 miles south of Bude. The characteristics of the site make it an excellent family beach ...

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