The Isle of Wight has performed well in a new league table of clean beaches, with all of its beaches rated either 'excellent' (three stars) or 'good' (two stars) for water cleanliness in summer.
The Isle of Wight received a mid-table finish overall — coming 9th out of 19 locations on the league table, but is one of only four counties where every monitored beach is either 'good' or 'excellent' for sea water cleanliness in summer.
However, Dorset, Devon and Suffolk have higher percentages of beaches rated 'excellent' for clean water, according to UK travel site Holiday Park Guru.
They analysed Environment Agency summer water quality data from hundreds of beaches to name the best and worst locations.
The nation's 13 dirtiest beaches are being offered 'Brown Flag Awards' - including Blackpool (Blackpool North Beach), Weston Super Mare (Weston Main Beach) and Bognor Regis (Aldwick).
The 'winners' are being offered complimentary brown flags featuring poo emojis to display for swimmers.
These beaches are rated as 'poor' by the Environment Agency due to bacteria such as e-coli from sewage and other waste.
None of the Isle of Wight's beaches have been awarded 'Brown Flag Awards' for 2024.
Lancashire came bottom of England's league table with none of its ten designated bathing spots achieving the coveted three-star ‘excellent’ rating for cleanliness. Somerset, Norfolk, Yorkshire and Kent were all in the bottom half of the league table.
Keen sea-swimmer, Robbie Lane from Holiday Park Guru said:
“High praise is warranted for England's 273 beaches with the top rating for their water quality - including 11 beaches on the Isle of Wight.
"Commiserations to our 13 winners this year – you really are top of the plops.
"We just hope they’ll take up our offer of a free brown flag, although I’m afraid we can’t quite afford to provide a flagpole as well.”
It is worth noting that the Environment Agency only includes water quality readings from May 15 to September 30 when giving ratings to bathing areas.
Sea water quality tends to be worse in winter after heavy rain.
Percentage of beaches rated 'excellent' by the Environment Agency for sea water cleanliness. From best to worst:
- Dorset: 89%
- Devon: 86%
- Suffolk: 83%
- Cornwall: 81%
- Tyne and Wear: 78%
- Northumberland: 77%
- Lincolnshire: 77%
- Hampshire and New Forest: 75%
- Isle of Wight: 73%
- Merseyside: 57%
- Essex: 53%
- Sussex: 52%
- Cumbria: 50%
- Norfolk: 50%
- Kent: 45%
- Yorkshire: 40%
- County Durham: 16%
- Somerset: 10%
- Lancashire 0%
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