Flying the Blue Flag... The South West has more Blue Flag beaches than any other region in England - and Devon has 13 of them. The 2006 Blue Flag award list makes for good reading for Devon's tourism industry. In 2005, Devon had 11 beaches with the prestigious award. This year, there are 13, with Torbay doing especially well. The award of a European Blue Flag is a symbol of high environmental standards as well as good sanitary and safety facilities.
 | | Broadsands Beach in Paignton |
One beach on the 2005 list misses out this year - Shoalstone in Brixham, Torbay. However, three new beaches are on the list this year - all of them in Torbay. They are: Breakwater, Brixham; Broadsands in Paignton; and Preston Beach in Paignton. You can see a photo and read some information on each of the beaches by clicking onto the A-Z of Blue Flag Beaches link on this page. The full list is: Bigbury on Sea (South Hams)
Blackpool Sands (South Hams)
Breakwater Beach (Torbay)
Broadsands (Torbay)
Challaborough (South Hams)
Croyde Bay (North Devon)
Dawlish Warren (Teignbridge)
Meadfoot Beach (Torbay)
Oddicombe Beach (Torbay)
Preston Beach (Torbay)
Tunnels Beach, Ilfracombe (North Devon)
Westward Ho! (North Devon)
Woolacombe Sands (North Devon)
There are no beaches in East Devon, as the district does not participate in the Blue Flag awards scheme. The county also has dozens of beaches in the Marine Conservation Society's Good Beach Guide. The MCS tests bathing water quality for pollution and bacteria, and the beaches recommended in the guide need to pass those stringent tests. In 2005, Devon had 33 Tidy Britain Seaside Award. This distinctive yellow and blue flag award is only given to beaches that are clean, safe well managed and have water quality that meets European legislation. The 33 beaches in Devon are: Bantham
Beesands
Bigbury-on-Sea
Blackpool Sands
Challaborough
Croyde Bay
Dawlish Warren
Coryton Cove, Dawlish
Hope Cove
Ilfracombe Tunnels Beach
Mouthwell Sands
Putsborough Sands, Nr Braunton
Salcombe, North Sands
Salcombe, South Sands
Shaldon, Ness Cove
Slapton Sands, Torcross
Strete Gate
Teignmouth Town
Thurlestone, South Milton
Torbay, Babbacombe (new in 2005)
Torbay, Breakwater, Shoalstone
Torbay, Broadsands
Torbay, Corbyn Head
Torbay, Goodrington, South Sands
Torbay, Maidencombe
Torbay, Meadfoot
Torbay, Oddicombe
Torbay, Paignton Sands
Torbay, Preston
Torbay, St Marys Bay, Brixham
Torbay, Watcombe (new in 2005)
Westward Ho!
Woolacombe resort Take a look at our photo gallery of Devon's beaches. And for more information about the Blue Flag beaches, visit the Encams website linked from this page. | 
