In a Bad Year, Our Recommended Beaches Continue to Score High for Quality

Every year, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), a UK charity for the protection of the marine environment and its wildlife, rates the quality of hundreds of beaches all around the British coast.

This year's list, published today, does not make for happy reading for coastal tourism operators. Of the 777 beaches tested , only 370 were “Recommended” for their water quality - a decline of almost 17 per cent.

Some experts have speculated that the fall - the worst in 22 years - is down to last year's unusually heavy rains which caused storm sewers to overflow during the testing period and resulted in higher than normal bacterial counts.

But the good news is...

But, I am happy to report that nearly all the beaches recommended on these pages, continue to receive the highest rating - "Recommended" - for their water quality. Only one, Watergate Bay, received the "Guideline" rating - which indicates good water quality standards rather than highest standards. A few others were not rated at all, probably because of their informal or unofficial status.

If you are heading to the beaches this Bank Holiday weekend, check out the quality ratings at:

• The Beautiful Beaches of England and Wales
• Britain's Best Nude Beaches
• The MCS Good Beach Guide 2009

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