Blue Flags for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire beaches

2 hours ago

Emma PetrieEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Hornsea is one of six beaches in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire to have been awarded Blue Flag status

BBC A sunset over a calm sea with orange and gold reflections on the water. A pebble beach is visible in the foreground, and wooden groynes extend into the shoreline. — Hornsea is one of six beaches in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire to have been awarded Blue Flag status

Six beaches along the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire coastline have been awarded Blue Flag status.

Hornsea, Withernsea, Whitby, Mablethorpe, Sutton-on-Sea and Skegness have been recognised for their water quality, safety and cleanliness.

The international awards are run by the environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy.

Allison Ogden-Newton, the charity's chief executive, said: "Everybody involved in these achievements should feel proud of their ongoing work to care for and enhance these important local blue spaces."

Skegness beach is an annual favourite with tourists who flock to the Lincolnshire coast

SOPA Images/Getty A crowded sandy beach packed with groups of people, colourful windbreaks and umbrellas. The sea and waves are visible in the background on a sunny day. — Skegness beach is an annual favourite with tourists who flock to the Lincolnshire coast

Nine beaches in Yorkshire were also recognised with a Seaside Award, including Bridlington North and South beaches and Wilsthorpe in East Yorkshire.

Cayton Bay, Filey, Runswick Bay, Robin Hoods Bay, Sandsend and Whitby, which come under North Yorkshire Council, were also awarded the Seaside Award.

The awards have been running for 39 years and are designed to raise standards across England's coastline. The winners were announced on Friday.

Beaches were assessed on water quality, environmental management and information, safety and services.

Keep Britain Tidy said Blue Flag beaches have to meet the "excellent" water quality standard as set out in the EU bathing water directive. Seaside Award winners must meet the "sufficient" standard.

Sandsend, near Whitby, was one of nine beaches in Yorkshire to be given a Seaside Award for 2026

A wide sandy beach with small waves along the shoreline. People can be seen walking in the distance along with green hills and scattered buildings. — Sandsend, near Whitby, was one of nine beaches in Yorkshire to be given a Seaside Award for 2026

East Riding of Yorkshire Council said Hornsea, Withernsea and Wilsthorpe were recognised for their "excellent" water quality results, with Bridlington North recording "good" and Bridlington South "sufficient".

Councillor Paul West, the authority's cabinet member for environment and transport, said beaches in East Yorkshire were among the best in the country.

He said: "For Hornsea and Withernsea to be able to fly Blue Flags for the 2026 season is a superb achievement.

"And for Bridlington's two beaches to earn Seaside Awards, alongside Wilsthorpe, proves that water quality progress is being made."

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