PORT TALBOT: Council celebrates as Aberavon Beach Seaside Award confirmed — with a message to visitors to enjoy it responsibly

Neath Port Talbot Council has formally welcomed the confirmation that Aberavon Beach has retained its Seaside Award from Keep Wales Tidy — the blue and yellow flag that signifies a clean, attractive and well-managed coastal stretch.

Aberavon is the only beach in Neath Port Talbot to receive a Wales Coast Award this year, and one of just 15 beaches across the whole of Wales to achieve the Seaside Award specifically.

Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Tourism, Councillor Cen Phillips, said the award was fantastic news for residents and visitors alike.

“This is fantastic news for anyone who lives near, or visits, Aberavon Beach,” he said. “The three-mile stretch has lots on offer, whether you’re a water-sports fanatic, a keen swimmer or just enjoy a relaxing stroll along the sand.”

He said the quality of the seafront continued to draw visitors and businesses to the area, and issued a direct message about responsible use.

“It’s no surprise that Aberavon seafront attracts so many visitors and businesses, who can now continue to be reassured by the quality of their surroundings,” Councillor Phillips said. “A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to achieve this award, including by Neath Port Talbot Council beach cleaners. I hope people enjoy the area responsibly so that it remains safe and fun for all.”

The message carries particular resonance following incidents during the Easter holidays. A lifebuoy on Aberavon Beach was deliberately set on fire during a period of disorder over the bank holiday weekend — prompting a warning from South Wales Police and Port Talbot Coastguard that the vandalism “could have had dire consequences” had anyone needed rescuing from the water at the time.

Owen Derbyshire, chief executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said the awards recognised beaches meeting the highest and most consistent standards.

“Wales has some of the best beaches and marinas in the world and one of the most varied coastlines, and we are delighted to see this recognised with another successful year of Wales Coast Awards,” he said. “We would like to thank staff, volunteers and everyone else at sites across Wales who work so hard to protect and preserve our natural landscape in the face of increasingly challenging circumstances.”

The Seaside Award sits within a period of significant wider investment in the Aberavon seafront. In recent years the area has seen updated public toilets, two new children’s play areas, a skateboard park, a new splash pad attraction and a multi-million pound sea defence project designed to protect the promenade for future generations.

Further improvements are in the pipeline through a major active travel scheme covering a 4.7km stretch linking the seafront with Afan Way. The multi-million pound project would deliver new and widened footways, dedicated cycle lanes on Princess Margaret Way, new Toucan and Parallel crossings, and public realm improvements around Memo Beach Café, the skate park and Tywyn Primary School.

The council said the active travel scheme is particularly important in Sandfields, where data shows fewer than half of households own a car — making safe walking and cycling routes essential for everyday journeys including school runs and trips to the beach.

Construction of the active travel scheme is targeted for 2026–27, subject to funding approval through the Regional Transport Fund. Taken together with the Seaside Award recognition, the investment signals continued ambition for Aberavon as one of south Wales’s premier coastal destinations.

The Seaside Award’s blue and yellow flag will fly above Aberavon’s three-mile stretch for another season, giving visitors and businesses confidence in the quality and management of one of Port Talbot’s most popular destinations.

The 2026 Wales Coast Awards also saw 20 Welsh beaches achieve Blue Flag status — the world’s most recognised beach award — including Caswell Bay, Langland Bay and Port Eynon in Gower, and Saundersfoot and Tenby Castle in Pembrokeshire.

However, the day also brought difficult news for Tenby, where North Beach lost its Blue Flag for the third time after water quality dropped from “excellent” to “good” — prompting a formal letter of complaint to Welsh Water from the area’s MP.

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PORT TALBOT: Aberavon beach wins prestigious Seaside Award
The only beach in Neath Port Talbot to be recognised in the 2026 Wales Coast Awards.

Major revamp planned for Sandfields and Aberavon as council unveils huge active travel upgrade
New cycle lanes, crossings and public realm improvements planned for the seafront area.

SWANSEA: Four of Swansea’s beaches once again fly the Blue Flag
Caswell, Langland, Port Eynon and Swansea Marina all retain their Blue Flag status in 2026.

TENBY: MP demands Welsh Water answers as North Beach loses Blue Flag for third time
Tenby North slips below Blue Flag standard for the third time — prompting MP to write to Welsh Water.

ABERAVON: Lifebuoy set on fire during Easter holiday disorder
Police and coastguard warn the vandalism could have had dire consequences.

TENBY: MP demands Welsh Water answers after boy hospitalised swimming in sea — as iconic North Beach loses Blue Flag for third time

Tenby North Beach has lost its Blue Flag status for the third time after its water quality dropped from “excellent” to “good” — triggering a furious response from the area’s MP and fresh calls for Welsh Water to be held to account.

Henry Tufnell, Conservative MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, has written to Welsh Water chief executive Roch Cheroux demanding an urgent plan to prevent further pollution incidents, after a young boy was hospitalised with sickness and diarrhoea following a swim in the sea at Tenby last week.

The same week, Natural Resources Wales issued a no-swim alert at Lydstep Haven — just a few miles from Tenby — due to concerns over water quality on 6 May, with warning signs still in place as late as 11 May.

Welsh Water subsequently clarified that the Lydstep incident was not linked to their infrastructure. NRW confirmed on 6 May that the no-swim alert at Lydstep was caused by a damaged privately owned sewerage system discharging onto the beach — not a Welsh Water overflow. Welsh Water said they had not spilled in the Tenby area for the preceding two months.

In his letter to Welsh Water, dated 12 May, Tufnell described the situation as “extremely concerning” and said Welsh Water’s poor environmental performance now posed “a serious risk to the health and wellbeing” of his constituents and visitors to the area.

“A situation like this has serious implications for our local economy, which relies heavily on tourism, particularly during the summer months when visitors rightly — and wisely — come to enjoy Pembrokeshire’s beaches,” he wrote. He asked Welsh Water to set out what immediate steps it would take to address the incidents at Lydstep and Tenby, and how it would ensure Pembrokeshire’s bathing waters were safe for everyone.

The loss of Tenby North’s Blue Flag was confirmed in today’s 2026 Wales Coast Awards, announced alongside the retention of Blue Flag status for a string of Swansea and Gower beaches. Pembrokeshire County Council did not apply for the Blue Flag for North Beach this year because the water quality had fallen below the required standard. Blue Flag beaches must meet the highest water quality thresholds — “good” is not sufficient to qualify.

The beach is one of Tenby’s most famous — used for Ironman Wales and the town’s Boxing Day Swim, and central to Tenby’s identity as one of Wales’s most celebrated coastal destinations. It previously held Blue Flag status for more than 25 consecutive years before first losing it in 2022.

This is the third time North Beach has lost the award. It failed to retain Blue Flag status in 2022 and 2023 when water quality dropped from “excellent” to “good”, recovered, and has now slipped again — raising serious questions about whether the underlying causes were ever fully resolved.

Water quality at Tenby North is tested by NRW each summer, with samples assessed for two types of bacteria. Welsh Water said the samples that triggered the downgrade were taken in July and August last year — and crucially, said there were no storm overflow spills in the area in the weeks leading up to those dates.

A Welsh Water spokesperson said: “These bacteria can originate from a range of environmental sources. Improving water quality is a shared challenge and progress will only come through coordinated action across sectors. Factors such as rural land use, urban runoff, industry, soil erosion, illegal misconnections and private septic systems all play a part.”

The company added it is investing more than £2.3 million a day to improve its services, including £2.5 billion between 2025 and 2030 on environmental improvements across Wales. NRW said it is actively investigating the reason for the drop in water quality, but no cause has yet been determined.

Owen Derbyshire, chief executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said the news was disappointing and described Tenby North as “an important local beauty spot and key tourist attraction.” He said the organisation was committed to working with authorities to help restore the beach’s water quality and regain its Blue Flag standing.

The area’s recent pollution history adds to the concern. In July 2024, Welsh Water reported a burst rising main near Tenby that sent sewage into the River Ritec, prompting NRW to declare an “abnormal situation” at Tenby South Beach, Castle Beach, North Beach and Penally Beach. Public warning signs were erected before being lifted after repairs and testing.

Tufnell said he would be speaking at the Broad Haven Paddle Out Protest on Saturday — part of a national day of action by Surfers Against Sewage across more than 50 locations — and said he would continue doing everything within his power to hold Welsh Water to account.

Tenby Castle Beach and South Beach have both retained their Blue Flag status in the 2026 awards — Castle Beach having held the award for an impressive 25 consecutive years — making the loss of North Beach’s flag all the more stark.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

SWANSEA: Four of Swansea’s beaches once again fly the Blue Flag — as the city’s marina picks up the award too
Caswell, Langland, Port Eynon and Swansea Marina all retain their Blue Flag status in 2026.

GOWER: Protesters to rally at Caswell Bay this Saturday as data reveals Welsh Water’s worst decade for pollution
Surfers Against Sewage mobilise across Wales this weekend as Welsh Water’s pollution record comes under scrutiny.

Welsh Water told to pay £45m for ‘unacceptable’ sewage failures
Ofwat found serious and unacceptable breaches in Welsh Water’s sewage operations.

PORT TALBOT: Aberavon beach wins prestigious Seaside Award
The only beach in Neath Port Talbot to be recognised in the 2026 Wales Coast Awards.

PORT TALBOT: Aberavon beach wins prestigious Seaside Award — and it’s the only beach in Neath Port Talbot to make the cut

Aberavon beach has retained its place among the best beaches in Wales, winning a Seaside Award in the 2026 Wales Coast Awards — the only beach in Neath Port Talbot to do so.

The award, announced today by environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy, recognises beaches that meet high standards for cleanliness, water quality, facilities, safety and environmental management. A total of 48 beaches across Wales were recognised across all categories in this year’s awards.

Aberavon is one of just 15 beaches across Wales to achieve the Seaside Award specifically — a UK-only accolade available in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, with the distinctive yellow and blue flag signifying a clean, attractive and well-managed coastal stretch.

The recognition comes as Aberavon continues to benefit from significant recent investment. The seafront has been transformed in recent years with updated public toilets, two new children’s play areas, a skateboard park, a new splash pad attraction and a multi-million pound sea defence project designed to protect the promenade for generations to come.

Owen Derbyshire, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said the scale of the transformation at Aberavon made the award all the more meaningful.

“We are delighted to see Aberavon once again taking its place as a Seaside Award-winning beach in the 2026 Wales Coast Awards,” he said. “The area has undergone an incredible transformation in recent years, with more exciting developments to come, and it is great for visitors and local residents to know that as well as having excellent facilities Aberavon seafront is a safe, clean, and well-managed destination.”

Today’s awards also saw 20 Welsh beaches achieve Blue Flag status — the world’s most recognised beach award, signalling high water quality, amenities, environmental education, safety, access and site management. Caswell Bay, Langland Bay and Port Eynon in Gower, and Saundersfoot and Tenby Castle in Pembrokeshire, were among those awarded Blue Flag status this morning.

A further 13 beaches achieved the Green Coast Award, given to hidden gems along the Welsh coastline for their clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty — including Mwnt and Penbryn in Ceredigion, and Freshwater East and Manorbier in Pembrokeshire.

Aberavon joins other Seaside Award winners including Aberystwyth North and South beaches, Whitmore Bay at Barry Island and Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Derbyshire paid tribute to the staff and volunteers who work to maintain standards at beaches across Wales.

“The Wales Coast Awards recognise high and consistent standards and we would like to thank staff, volunteers and everyone else at sites across Wales who work so hard to protect and preserve our natural landscape in the face of increasingly challenging circumstances,” he said.

The Seaside Award’s yellow and blue flag is a familiar sight to the millions of visitors who use Aberavon’s three miles of sandy beach each year — one of the most popular stretches of coastline in south Wales.

Aberavon’s retention of the award will be welcomed by Neath Port Talbot Council, which has invested heavily in the seafront area in recent years, including the promenade, aqua play pad, cinema and playground facilities.

The 2026 Wales Coast Awards are managed by Keep Wales Tidy, which oversees the Blue Flag, Seaside Award and Green Coast Award programmes across Wales on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education.

The full list of 2026 Wales Coast Award winners is available at keepwalestidy.cymru.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

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Caswell, Langland, Port Eynon and Swansea Marina all retain their Blue Flag status in 2026.

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GOWER: Protesters to rally at Caswell Bay this Saturday — one of Swansea’s Blue Flag beaches — as new data reveals Welsh Water’s worst decade for pollution

Caswell Bay — one of Swansea’s Blue Flag beaches, as recognised just this week — will be among the locations hosting a sewage protest this Saturday as grassroots charity Surfers Against Sewage mobilises demonstrators at more than 50 sites across the UK.

The Gower protest takes place at Caswell Bay at 10am on Saturday 16 May. A further demonstration is planned at Broad Haven in Pembrokeshire at 1.30pm, and at Porthcawl’s Coney Beach at 3pm.

The protests coincide with the start of the bathing season and new polling revealing that more than half of the UK public — 53% — worry they will get sick if they swim in rivers, lakes or seas due to poor water quality. One in six say they or someone they know has already become ill from sewage pollution.

The Welsh picture is stark. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water discharged sewage more than 100,000 times in 2025, for over 813,000 hours. The company recorded its highest number of pollution incidents in a decade in 2024 and has now received a two-star environmental performance rating for three consecutive years.

NRW data published last year showed Welsh Water was responsible for 155 pollution incidents in 2024, including 132 linked to sewerage assets — a 42% rise over ten years. The Loughor estuary was among the worst-affected catchments. Welsh Water was subsequently ordered to pay a £45 million enforcement package after a watchdog found serious and unacceptable breaches in its operation of sewage works.

In Wales alone, Surfers Against Sewage received 202 sickness reports linked to polluted water in 2025. Welsh Water customers face annual bills of £639 — among the highest across England and Wales — while 41% of the company’s revenue goes towards servicing debt rather than improving infrastructure.

Kate Bassett-Jones, protest lead at Broad Haven, said the local beach saw 116 sewage alerts in 2025 alone — a pollution warning every three days.

“For a place renowned for its stunning coastline and thriving marine environment, this should not be happening,” she said. “Local people should be able to enjoy the sea safely all year round, and visitors should not have to worry about getting sick when they come to Pembrokeshire. Communities are fed up with sewage pollution being treated as normal. Enough is enough.”

Saturday’s protest is not the first time Gower residents have taken direct action over the issue. A “Pooped Off” demonstration was previously held near Welsh Water’s Bishopston treatment works, with campaigners citing repeated discharges near Caswell and Brandy Cove.

Community groups have also been running their own water quality monitoring — Gower Society volunteers collected more than 275 samples across 13 beaches last winter, using Surfers Against Sewage laboratories, after NRW acknowledged it only has the budget to test between May and October.

Giles Bristow, chief executive of Surfers Against Sewage, described Wales’s water system as catastrophically failing, with polluted waters, high bills and a lack of accountability.

“Welsh Water has spent years illegally dumping sewage, misleading regulators and using customer bills to pay executive bonuses, all whilst water users get sick and foot ever-increasing bills,” he said. “Meanwhile, a failing regulator plods along without proper funding or power to tackle the problem.”

Natural Resources Wales, which regulates the water industry in Wales, has been affected by repeated budget cuts and is increasingly viewed by campaigners as unfit for purpose. A Senedd committee has warned that it does not have the resources needed to properly protect Welsh waterways, while the regulator has announced plans to adopt a higher tolerance of risk when investigating pollution incidents.

Bristow said campaigners were paddling out across Wales to show the newly-elected Welsh Government they would not back down until it takes the action needed to end the sewage crisis.

Protesters are calling for legally binding targets to end untreated sewage discharges into Welsh waterways, more funding and enforcement powers for Natural Resources Wales, and a world-leading water quality testing programme. Currently, water quality testing takes place only during the May to September bathing season at designated bathing waters — while people in Wales swim, surf, kayak and fish year-round.

Among those joining protests elsewhere in the UK is Julie Maughan, whose daughter Heather Preen died from E. coli after visiting a Devon beach in 1999. Actors from Channel 4’s docudrama Dirty Business — which told Heather’s story and has drawn comparisons with Mr Bates vs the Post Office — are also supporting the protests.

Saturday’s protests follow commitments from all political parties during the recent Senedd election to tackle sewage pollution, which campaigners describe as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the Welsh water system.

The full list of Welsh protest locations on Saturday 16 May: Caswell Bay, Swansea (10am); Llanberis, Llyn Padarn (11am); Broad Haven, Pembrokeshire (1.30pm); Porthcawl, Coney Beach (3pm); Barry Island, Whitemore Bay (4pm); Aberystwyth, North Beach (6.30pm).

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Welsh Water told to pay £45m for ‘unacceptable’ sewage failures
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Gower volunteers’ success in winter-water testing to fight sewage in the sea
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IlPescara: Pescara è Bandiera Blu per il sesto anno consecutivo: l'Abruzzo conferma i suoi 16 vessilli [VIDEO]

Pescara è per il sesto anno consecutivo Bandiera Blu con l’Abruzzo che conferma i suoi 16 vessilli e il capoluogo adriatico che resta l’unico, in provincia di Pescara, a poterlo sventolare e questa volta, questa la novità, per due anni perché il riconoscimento diventa da oggi biennale. La...

Pescara is a Blue Flag destination for the sixth consecutive year: Abruzzo confirms its 16 flags [VIDEO]

Pescara is, for the sixth consecutive year, awarded the Blue Flag with Abruzzo confirming its 16 flags and the Adriatic capital remaining the only one, in the Pescara province, to be able to fly it, and this time, this is the novelty, for two years because the recognition becomes biennial from today.

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SWANSEA: Four of Swansea’s beaches once again fly the Blue Flag — as the city’s marina picks up the award too

Swansea has once again proved it is home to some of the finest coastal locations not just in Wales, but in the world — with four of its beaches and marina picking up prestigious awards from environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy.

Caswell Bay, Langland Bay and Port Eynon — all on the Gower peninsula — have retained their Blue Flag status for another year.

Swansea Marina has also held onto its Blue Flag — one of just 20 sites across Wales to achieve the accolade in 2026.

The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised coastal awards. It’s not just about clean water — beaches and marinas must meet tough criteria covering amenities, sustainable tourism, environmental education, safety, accessibility and site management.

Bracelet Bay, on Mumbles Head, has also retained its Green Coast Award — one of 15 across Wales. The Green Coast Award celebrates hidden gems of the Welsh coastline, commending Bracelet Bay for its stunning scenery, rich coastal heritage and excellent water quality.

A total of 48 beaches across Wales were recognised in the 2026 Wales Coast Awards — the most coveted annual recognition of coastal quality in the country.

The Blue Flag awards are presented by the Foundation for Environmental Education and are recognised globally as a symbol of quality — a guarantee to visitors that a beach or marina is clean, safe and well managed.

Owen Derbyshire, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said Swansea had once again shown it was home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

“We’re delighted to see this recognised in the 2026 Wales Coast Awards, which are a fantastic celebration of Wales’ beautiful and diverse coastline,” he said.

He added: “These awards recognise high and consistent standards and we would like to thank staff, volunteers and everyone else at sites across Wales who work so hard to protect and preserve our natural landscape in the face of increasingly challenging circumstances.”

He added that seeing the Blue Flag flying gave visitors confidence. “All of these places are beautiful but seeing that flag flying means visitors can be assured that they are clean, safe and well-managed with excellent facilities too.”

The awards have been managed by Keep Wales Tidy for more than 20 years and require beaches to meet and maintain the highest environmental standards, including tough water quality targets, year after year.

The awards are entirely voluntary — a testament to the huge effort of the staff and volunteers who maintain these sites to the highest standards.

Also picking up Seaside Awards in Wales this year was Aberavon in Neath Port Talbot — a UK-only award recognising clean, attractive and well-managed beaches with a good standard of facilities and water quality.

A full list of award recipients can be found at keepwalestidy.cymru.

More on Swansea’s beaches

Four Swansea beaches named among Wales’ best in the Wales Coast Awards
Last year’s awards — when the same beaches picked up their Blue Flag status.

Beaches in Swansea getting ready for summer with Blue Flag awards
How the Blue Flag beaches prepare to welcome visitors each year.

Three Gower beaches retain Blue Flag status
A look back at an earlier round of awards for Caswell, Langland and Port Eynon.

Port Eynon: Blue Flag beach joins smoke-free campaign
How Port Eynon has gone above and beyond to protect its award-winning status.

Council steps up beach cleaning as litter concerns mount

Swansea Council has brought in a team of 13 seasonal beach cleaners to deal with growing litter issues along the city’s coastline as visitor numbers rise over the summer months.

The move comes as part of a wider effort to keep beaches, parks, and public toilets clean—something the Council says already costs around £6.5 million annually.

Cllr Cyril Anderson said the extra staff are there to support existing teams but stressed the responsibility shouldn’t fall entirely on the Council.

“All we’re asking is that visitors use common sense. If bins are full, don’t just dump your rubbish—take it home.”

Public toilets in busy beach locations are being cleaned regularly, but misuse remains a concern.

“It only takes one person to ruin it for everyone else,” he said.

Of particular worry are discarded disposable barbecues, which can retain heat for hours if buried in sand and have caused serious injuries in recent years. The Council has installed 15 clearly marked red bins on popular beaches to safely dispose of BBQs.

Beyond litter patrols, seasonal staff are also maintaining Changing Places accessible toilet facilities and clearing sand and weeds from footpaths and roads.

With several of Swansea’s beaches holding Blue Flag status, the Council says keeping them clean is vital to sustaining tourism and public safety.

➡️ Learn more about Swansea’s beaches: swansea.gov.uk/beaches ➡️ Explore local parks and green spaces: swansea.gov.uk/parks

#beachCleaners #beaches #BlueFlag #CllrCyrilAnderson #disposableBbq #litter #Parks #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil

‘Make Memories, Not Mess’: summer litter campaign launches across West Wales

As summer crowds head for West Wales’s beaches, parks and green spaces, Keep Wales Tidy has launched a new campaign urging everyone to “Make Memories, Not Mess” — by taking litter home and leaving no trace behind.

The charity says litter continues to blight communities, threaten wildlife, and damage the natural environment, with recent figures showing fast food packaging on 26.4% of streets and drinks litter on 43.6% across Wales.

“Our parks, beaches and green spaces are at the heart of what makes Wales so special,” said Owen Derbyshire, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy. “It’s simple: if you bring it with you, take it home. Let’s enjoy everything Wales has to offer this summer, without spoiling the experience for others or harming the environment.”

The campaign — funded by Welsh Government and part of the wider Caru Cymru movement — aims to spark a sense of pride and collective responsibility, especially in areas where bins are full or unavailable2.

West Wales, with its Blue Flag beaches, national parks, and coastal trails, is expected to see a surge in visitors over the coming weeks. Keep Wales Tidy hopes the campaign will encourage small changes in behaviour that make a big difference to the places people love.

Celebrating Swansea Bay’s natural beauty

Four Swansea beaches named among Wales’s best in prestigious Wales Coast Awards
Published May 2025: Caswell Bay, Langland Bay, Port Eynon and Rhossili recognised for cleanliness, safety and environmental excellence.

Pembrey’s Cefn Sidan Beach retains Blue Flag status
Published May 2025: One of Wales’s most awarded beaches continues to meet international standards for water quality and visitor facilities.

Swansea Bay parks and green spaces recognised among world’s best with Green Flag Awards
Published July 2025: Six Swansea parks join the global list of top-rated green spaces, highlighting their role in wellbeing and biodiversity.

#BlueFlag #CaruCymru #GreenFlag #KeepWalesTidy #litter #MakeMemories #MakeMemoriesNotMess #WelshGovernment

Four Swansea beaches named among Wales’ best in prestigious Wales Coast Awards

Environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy today announced the recipients of the much-coveted annual awards, with three beaches receiving the globally-recognised Blue Flag Awards, and one receiving a Green Coast Award.  

A total of 49 beaches across Wales were recognised in the awards, which play a vital role in protecting our precious marine environment and are known around the world as a symbol of quality.  

Caswell Bay, Langland Bay and Port Eynon, all in Gower, all retained their status as Blue Flag beaches. This is one of the world’s most recognised awards for beaches, marinas and tourism boats, recognising not only the highest standards of water quality, but also high-quality amenities, sustainable development of tourism, information provision, environmental education, safety and access, and site management  

The three locations were among 21 across Wales achieving the Blue Flag accolade. Awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), beaches must adhere to specific criteria ensuring the beach or marina is clean, safe, and well-managed, promoting sustainability and attracting visitors.    

In addition, Bracelet Bay, on Mumbles Head, retained its status as a Green Coast Award-winning beach, one of 15 locations in Wales to achieve the award which celebrate the ‘hidden gems’ of the Welsh coastline. The Green Coast Award celebrates Bracelet Bay as an exceptional place to enjoy stunning scenery, rich coastal heritage and diversity. It joins the likes of Mwnt and Penbryn in Ceredigion, and Freshwater East and Manorbier in Pembrokeshire in being commended for unspoilt beauty, excellent water quality and a high standard of environmental education.  

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said: “Our award-winning beaches are a real asset for the city and a huge draw for visitors and locals alike.

“Gaining and retaining blue flag status takes a lot of time and investment so locals and visitors can enjoy clean, safe and beautiful beaches all year-round. So we are delighted to once again fly the Blue Flags at some of our most iconic Gower beaches.”

Alongside the Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards, Seaside Awards were given to 15 beaches across Wales, including Aberavon in Neath Port Talbot, Aberystwyth South and North, Penarth and Barry Island’s Whitmore Bay in the Vale of Glamorgan. This is a UK-only beach award available in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, with its distinctive yellow and blue flag signifying a clean, attractive and well-managed coastal stretch, with a good standard of water quality, public facilities, safety provision and management.  

The Wales Coast Awards have been managed by Keep Wales Tidy for more than 20 years and signify that a beach or marina meets and maintains the highest environmental standards and achieves tough water quality targets, as well as ensuring high standards of information provision, environmental education, safety, and site management.  

The Awards are voluntary and recognise the huge effort of staff and volunteers across Wales who are committed to protecting and preserving our natural landscape in the face of increasingly challenging circumstances. 

Owen Derbyshire, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy congratulated Swansea on its award-winning coastal locations. 

He said: “Congratulations to Swansea on its Coast Award-winning beaches for 2025. Swansea is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Wales and we’re delighted to see this recognised in the 2025 Wales Coast Awards. Not only are these beautiful beaches to visit, but visitors can. Ow be assured that they are clean, safe and well-managed with excellent facilities too.” 

He added: “The Wales Coast Awards are a fantastic celebration of Wales’ beautiful and diverse coastline and are testament to the huge effort of staff and volunteers at sites across Wales. Thank you to everyone who works so hard to protect and preserve our natural landscape in the face of increasingly challenging circumstances.”  

#BlueFlag #BraceletBay #CaswellBay #Gower #GreenCoastAwards #KeepWalesTidy #LanglandBay #PortEynon #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil

Pembrey’s Cefn Sidan beach retains blue flag status

The Blue Flag Award, managed by Keep Wales Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education, is an internationally renowned mark of quality. Cefn Sidan remains one of the most celebrated beaches in Wales, offering eight miles of golden sand, stunning coastal views, and a pristine natural environment for locals and visitors alike.

Carmarthenshire Council, which owns the beach and the country park, says that retaining Blue Flag status is a testament to the hard work and dedication of local authorities, park staff, volunteers, and the community in maintaining high environmental standards. The beach continues to implement sustainable tourism practices, ensuring that its unique coastal habitat is protected for future generations.

Cefn Sidan was hailed as not only being beautiful but also safe and accessible, with excellent lifeguard services, clear safety signage, and well-maintained facilities. The beach is a haven for families, nature lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts, offering activities such as walking, cycling, beachcombing, and water sports.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism, Cllr Hazel Evans said: “We are thrilled that Cefn Sidan Beach has retained its Blue Flag status once again. This award reflects our ongoing efforts to preserve and enhance our natural coastline while ensuring visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience. We encourage everyone to continue respecting and protecting our beautiful beach.”

#BlueFlag #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CefnSidanBeach #Environment #KeepWalesTidy #Pembrey #PembreyCountryPark