Revealed: the full list of blue flag beaches in the UK for 2018

More than 100 of the UK's beaches have been deemed safe to bathe in according to Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).

In total 124 of the British Isles' sandy stretches were awarded Blue Flag status by the not-for-profit organisation.

Sixty-eight beaches in England were deemed safe for swimmers, compared to 44 in Wales, 10 in Northern Ireland and just five in Scotland.

Blackpool South and Whitby were among the English beaches awarded the prestigious title, while Aberdour-Silver Sands and the stunning Achmelvich Bay were two of the five Scottish beaches named safe for swimmers.

Castlerock Beach in Coleraine was one of 10 beaches in Northern Ireland deemed worthy of the title.

What makes a Blue Flag beach?

In order to earn Blue Flag status a beach is required to allign with four criterion outlined by FEE.

Beaches must be unaffected by industrial, waste-water or sewage and maintain a good water quality.

Secondly, waterfronts are required to be staffed by lifeguards and must be easily accessible to all.

Blackpool beach was awarded Blue Flag Status (Photo: Shutterstock)

A map outlining the beach's facilities must be made available to the public, while details of the area's water quality must also be provided.

Finally, toilets must be readily available to beachgoers and kept clean, while environmental management must be in place to ensure the beach is suitably maintained in future.

The full list of UK beaches awarded Blue Flag status

England

Alum Chine BournemouthBeachlands - Hayling IslandBlackpool SouthBotany BayBranksome Chine PooleBreakwater BeachBrightlingseaCanford Cliffs PooleCarbis Bay BeachChallaboroughClaremont Pier (Lowestoft)CromerDawlish WarrenDovercourt BayDurley Chine BournemouthFishermans Walk BournemouthFrinton-on-SeaGyllyngvaseHornseaHoveJoss BayKing Edwards Bay (Tynemouth)LeysdownLong Sands North TynemouthMablethorpe TownMeadfootMinnis BayMinster LeasMundesleyOddicombe BeachPalace Pier BrightonPolzeathPorthmeor St IvesPorthminster St IvesPorthtowanRamsgate Main SandsRoker (Whitburn South)Sandbanks PooleSandhavenSandy BayScarborough North BaySea PallingSeaburn Beach (Whitburn North)Sheerness BeachSheringhamShoeburynessShore Road - Sandbanks PooleSkegnessSouthbourne BournemouthSouthwold PierSt Mildreds BaySt. LeonardsStone BaySutton-on-SeaSwanageTankerton BeachThorpe BayTrevone BayWest BayWest WitteringWestward Ho!WeymouthWhitbyWhitley BayWidemouth BayWithernsea

Northern Ireland

CastlerockCranfield BayCrawfordsburnDownhill StrandMagilligan Strand - BenoneMill (West) Strand PortrushMurloughThe Strand PortstewartTyrella Beach (Clough)Whiterocks

Scotland

Aberdour-Silver SandsAchmelvich BayBurntislandElie Woodhaven (Ruby Bay)Fraserburgh Waters of Philorth

Wales

Aberdaron BeachAberporthAbersochAmrothBarmouthBenllechBorthBracelet BayBroadhavenCastle Beach TenbyCaswell BayChurch BayColwyn BayCoppet HallCricciethDaleDinas DinlleLangland BayLlanddonaLlanddwyn BeachLlandudno - West ShoreLlanfairfechanLlangrannogLydstepMorfa Bychan - Black Rock SandsNew Quay - Harbour BeachNewgale SandsNorth AberystwythNorth TenbyPembrey Beach - LlanelliPoppit Sands - WestPort EynonPorth DafarchPrestatyn CentralPwllheliRest Bay PorthcawlSaundersfootSouth TenbyTrearddur BayTrecco Bay PorthcawlTresaithTywynWhitesandsWhitmore Bay (Barry)