An additional five beaches have achieved Seaside Award status, and a further four have obtained the coveted rural Green Coast Award.

Beaches achieving Blue Flag and Green Coast award status must meet the highest overall ‘Excellent’ water quality standard, and are judged for their facilities for beach users, and for demonstrating good management and safety provision. The Seaside Award recognises beaches that have an overall ‘Good’ standard of water quality, public facilities, safety provision and management.

Councillor Clive Davies, Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet Member for the Economy and Regeneration, has again welcomed the fantastic news that so many of Ceredigion’s beaches continue to be recognised with these quality assurance awards. He said: “I am delighted to see that Blue, Green, and Seaside Awards and plaques will again be given pride of place at Ceredigion’s most popular bathing beaches in 2024. We are fully expecting to see many locals and visitors alike enjoying themselves along the Ceredigion coastline, particularly after such a long and wet winter.

“I would again like to express my thanks to the many local community individuals, voluntary groups, organisations and indeed the business sector in continuing to champion the Caru Ceredigion mantra by undertaking regular beach, promenade and foreshore cleans, in addition to environmental conservation and wildlife education efforts, and beach and water safety activities along the County’s coastline. Without this support, we would simply not be able to put forward so many of our beaches and successfully obtain these prestigious awards, which place Ceredigion beaches amongst the very best of coastal destinations both in Wales and the UK, and forming an integral part of the local tourism economy.”

The following designated bathing water locations/beaches in Ceredigion have achieved Coastal Awards in 2024:

Blue Flag:

Borth, Aberystwyth South, Llangrannog, Tresaith.

Seaside Award:

Clarach, Aberystwyth North, New Quay Harbour, New Quay Dolau/North, Aberporth.

Green Coast Award:

Llanrhystud, Cilborth-Llangrannog, Penbryn, Mwnt.

All designated bathing waters in Wales are monitored by Natural Resources Wales from May to September, annually. More information here: https://environment.data.gov.uk/wales/bathing-waters/profiles/

Lots of different factors can impact water quality. To learn more, search for Welsh Water Bathing Waters online, or visit: https://corporate.dwrcymru.com/en/community/environment/bathing-waters

The Coastal Award schemes in Wales are co-ordinated and adminstered by Keep Wales Tidy. For more information, visit: https://keepwalestidy.cymru/our-work/awards/

Bathers are strongly advised to always swim at a lifeguarded beach between the red and yellow flags denoting the designated swimming areas patrolled in Ceredigion by RNLI Lifeguards while on duty at: Borth, Clarach, Aberystwyth North and South, New Quay Harbour, Cilborth-Llangrannog, Tresaith and Aberporth beaches.

Details of the 2024 Ceredigion Tide Tables can be found here: www.discoverceredigion.wales/images/flip/tidetables2024/index.html

Remember to ‘Respect the Water’ (https://respectthewater.com/) and ‘Float to Live’ (https://rnli.org/safety/respect-the-water)!

In an emergency along the coastline, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.