Britain’s ‘worst’ beaches to visit this summer with surprising golden-sand hotspot top of the list

THE UK’s “worst” beaches to visit this summer have been revealed with one surprising hotspot ranking top of the list.

As Brits make the most of the warming weather, the Environment Agency has put together a list of the 19 most filthy seaside spots.

Alamy

The 19 filthiest beaches have been revealed using water quality data[/caption]

Alamy

East Cliff beach in Lyme Regis makes a surprising appearance on the list[/caption]

These were measured using the agency’s water quality data and then marked on a map.

It was revealed that the number of “Brown Flag Beaches” has soared by 46 per cent this year.

Brown Flags are a “poor” rating by the EA and are usually caused by the amount of sewage in the water.

Cullercoats, a sandy beach in Tyne and Wear, received a poor rating from the EA despite having recently gained a glowing review by a travel magazine.

Tourists heading to Littlehaven, South Shields have also received a similar warning, telling them to avoid the water where possible.

The news comes ahead of what could be a scorching summer, when families will flock to their local beach for children to play in the sea.

The worst counties for these beaches are Somerset and Kent, so families may want to stay wary of where they plan a seaside trip.

Water companies are permitted to occasionally discharge excess wastewater into the sea during heavy rainfall.

However, according to industry regulator Ofwat, some firms have been “routinely releasing sewage” outside these times.

This exercise – known as dry spilling – has caused a spike in water toxicity and closure of dozens of beaches.

But those in Northumberland can rest easy, as over 90 per cent of its beaches were given the highest possible score.

Dorset, Devon and Cornwall also scored well when it came to cleanliness although each of the counties is also home to a Brown Flag beach. 

Lincolnshire and Hampshire also scored well for water cleanliness.

Holidayparkguru.co.uk analysed the data from the Environment Agency.

Spokesperson Robbie Lane told the Mail: “I would like to extend my sympathies to beaches in Worthing, Lyme Regis and the other newcomers who have given Brown Flag Awards for the first time.

“We had hoped that we’d be handing out fewer Brown Flags this year – but the numbers have surged.

“Do your research this summer and you’ll be saying ‘wish you were here’ rather than ‘wish I’d worn a hazmat suit’.”

Last year, a study of 400 beaches looked at the amounts of sewage, faecal matter and E.coli counts in the water.

Three stretches of Blackpool Beach, which welcomes 18 million visitors a year, made the top ten of the filth table.

Blackpool North was the worst offender, returning 4.85/10 for overall water cleanliness, making in Britain’s second dirtiest beach.

In June 2023, Blackpool North – which sits in front of Blackpool Tower – was closed due to sewage in the water, with members of the public told to stay clear.

It was among four Blackpool beaches which advised people not to swim due to sewage in 2023.

All of Blackpool’s beaches were found to have a 10/10 pollution risk by DEFRA.

Alamy

Porthluney, Cornwall is an unlikely feature on the list[/caption]

Alamy

The beach in Weston Super Mare, Somerset also received a poor rating[/caption]