Pack Your Bucket and Spade – the West Country’s Blue Flag Beaches are Calling

Beaches in the West Country have stood up to new, tougher blue flag award standards with admirable aplomb so which will you visit first?

In total, 23 beaches in the South West have been granted blue flag status and the new Seaside Award replacing the QualityCoast Award has been handed out to 27 West Country beaches.

There are fewer Blue Flag beaches to choose from nationwide this year as each had to meet new "excellent" standards under the new EU Bathing Waters Directive. The 55-beach UK total is down from 79 in 2012.

Ever popular beach Sandbanks, in Poole, Dorset, will no doubt be full to bursting each time the sun shines this year. The golden sandy beach has held a Blue Flag Award for 26 years.

Gyllyngvase beach in Falmouth, Cornwall, boasts an award-winning café and, as with a good selection of West Country beaches, has an RNLI lifeguard on duty.

Blackpool Sands (pictured above) near Dartmouth is a beautiful beach. Check out the fantastic Venus Cafe if you visit.

Dawlish Warren, South Devon, is part of a National Nature Reserve, with its wildlife making it a unique attraction.

Westward Ho! has won a Blue Flag Award for its 10th year in a row.

Winning West Country Blue Flag beaches include: Sandbanks, Shore Road, Canford Cliffs, Branksome in Poole, Blackpool Sands, Alum Chine, Durley Chine, Fisherman’s Walk in Bournemouth, Southbourne, Carbis Bay, Polzeath, Porthtowan, Gyllyngvase, Porthmeor, Sandy Bay, Salcombe South Sands, Swanage Central, Dawlish Warren, Breakwater, Broadsands, Meadfoot, Oddicombe. 

Use our explore the area map to find a holiday cottage close to the West Country beach of your choice, or call us on 01647 433593 for human help!

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Holiday cottages near sandy beaches…

What do the shimmering sands of West Country beaches say to you? Sandcastling? A horse ride along the shore? Surf’s up? Whatever your reason for loving the beach, take a look at this selection of holiday cottages near sandy beaches – all with availability this July and August.

Newquay has five magnificent beaches and at least one is always sheltered. Famous for surfing, new and seasoned surfers gather here all year round, with classes and wet suits at the ready for anyone who needs them. Spindrift overlooks Whipsiderry beach, voted one of the ten finest beaches in Europe by Sunday Times Travel, and is positioned perfectly for a coastal path walk out to Porth Island.

The coastal village of Charmouth in Dorset offers dramatic Jurassic Coast views. The sandy and pebbly beach is popular with fossil hunters and is about 7 minutes' walk from the The Old Manor House, a beautifully and carefully refurbished 16th century Grade II listed building.

There’s a great sense of history down at St Mawes in Cornwall, where two beaches would have once been watched over by royalty at Henry VIII’s castle. Coppers is within easy walking distance of St Mawes beaches and village centre, with a beautiful south-westerly view over St Mawes River and Falmouth Bay. See the coastline from a different angle by catching the pedestrian ferry across to Falmouth.

Kellaton in the South Hams is ideal for those looking for a sandy stretch of beach to stroll along. The sleepy, tranquil hamlet with occasional vehicle and horse-rider passing through is a mile from the lovely, unspoilt sandy beach at Lannacombe and coast path to Start Point. Enjoy the peace and quiet at Orchard View.

For more West Country holiday cottages close to sandy beaches with availability this summer, click here.

‘What Shall We Do Today?’ 2012 guide…

The cover of our 2012 guide features Lynmouth

If you’ve ever researched a holiday in the West Country, or perhaps read some of the posts on this blog, you’ll know that there are many diverse events, attractions and activities on offer in this unique corner of Britain.

We know that the time you spend on holiday is precious and choosing what to do can often be bewildering, so each year we put together our popular ‘What Shall We Do Today?’ guide to help you make the most of your stay and guide you to places you might otherwise overlook.

The guide is sent to all of our holidaymakers with their booking confirmations, and it’s just been freshly updated for 2012.

Sharpham Estate

We’ve negotiated special discounts for you to enjoy at 76 of the West Country’s leading attractions. None of them paid us to be in the guide; they’re there on merit and because they’re willing to provide our customers with an offer of some sort. New attractions featured this year include Sharpham Wines and Cheeses, Cotehele, Paignton Zoo, World of Country Life, Seaton Tramway and Stone Lane Gardens.

A perennial favourite is our Top 10’s – walks, beaches, places to eat, gardens and houses, attractions for children and West Country wonders. The recommendations are, of course, personal, based on our local knowledge, but we’re always keen to hear from our holidaymakers about places or things to do that they think we should consider.

Also included is an events calendar for each county featuring many of the major events, such as the Royal Cornwall Show, and lots of those quirky ones, such as the Westward Ho! Pot Walloping Festival.

Plus, you’ll find a list of award-winning ‘Blue Flag’ and RNLI lifeguarded beaches, ideas for walks and trails to explore and our pick of the best pubs and restaurants for each county.

On our website, you can use our Advanced Search to find holiday cottages in a specific region near your favourite attractions, or use our ‘Explore the Area’ map to spot great days out near your favourite cottage.

If you need any help searching for a cottage or planning your holiday with us, do give our friendly bookings team a call on 01647 433593 or email on help@helpfulholidays.com.

Beach life…

We were thrilled last week when so many of our followers shared their beach recommendations. We'd like to extend the theme into this week by asking: What do you love to do on the beach? Are you an intrepid sandcastle-builder? A slave to your suntan? A voracious reader?

If it’s the latter, maybe you’ll be interested in this top ten list of Summer Beach Books from Red Magazine or BBC Radio 4’s Book at Beachtime? Or, take a different perspective on beach reading and discover 30 books that are actually about beaches.

You can top up your sandcastle skills by watching this video: How to build the perfect sandcastle or get inspiration from this amazing sand sculpture that was built on the beach at St Ives.

There’s also plenty of wildlife to see, if you look in the right places. This guide from the Devon Wildlife Trust gives information on local species and their habitats. If you’re a fan of rock pools, here’s a list of five top places to go rock pooling in Cornwall, and you might find this splash-proof guide useful for identifying what you see.

For maximum entertainment, this list of ten best beach games from the Independent will keep everyone occupied and will no doubt cause some envious glances from your beach neighbours. There are plenty of watersports to tempt all ages and abilities too - dip in your toes or dive in head first!

Perhaps you like to use your beach time to brush up on your Yoga technique? Find a tranquil spot, stretch those muscles and breathe in the fresh sea air. If you’re happier in a group, try this option.

So, it’s time to grab your sun lotion and shades and enjoy some beach life in the West Country but before you go, do take a moment to read this beach safety advice from the RNLI.

If you’re still planning a last minute break, take a look at our holiday cottages within a mile of a sandy beach which are still available this August. Don’t forget to give our telephone team a call on 01647 433593 if you need any help finding just the right place.

Happy holidays!

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