The Times and Sunday Times Best UK Beaches Guide for 2024 has been published and features six of Devon’s beaches.
The guide, in its 16th year, is the “definitive and most comprehensive list of the UK’s 50 best beaches” and uses an 11 point checklist to rate each of the UK’s beaches to find the 50 best. The system includes checking the water quality, cleanliness, accessibility, car parking facilities, whether there are life guards, whether it is dog friendly and the hygiene of any nearby facilities. The guide is split into regions, with Devon dominating the top ten in the south west, taking up six of the ten spots.
Devon’s beaches that featured in this year’s guide are:
Woolacombe, North Devon
Mothecombe, South Devon
Soar Mill Cove, South Devon
Mattiscombe Sands, South Devon
Budleigh Salterton, East Devon
Branscombe, East Devon
The beaches were chosen by The Times’ Chief Travel Writer, Chris Haslam, who personally visited each of the 50 beaches on the list. He said: “[…] I have journeyed 5,583 miles and explored 543 beaches. The 50 beaches that made our list are graced with outstanding natural beauty, superb infrastructure and a clear sense of pride from those who live, work and play there.”
The 2024 guide only features beaches that are rated as “excellent” for water quality by national environment agencies and covers mainland beaches only. The guide is available online now and will be available in print from 21st July.
