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The six cleanest beaches in the UK where you can safely swim in the sea this summer

The six cleanest beaches in the UK where you can safely swim in the sea this summer

The Irish Sun6 days ago

SUMMER is coming in hot and soon, and lots of us will descend on the UK's beaches, but which ones are the cleanest and best to swim in?
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These are the six beaches in the UK with the cleanest waters
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Bamburgh in Northumberland has some of the cleanest coastal waters
Credit: Alamy
There's good news for anyone who lives in or is planning to visit the village of Bamburgh in Northumberland.
The waters off the coast have been classified as 'excellent' - which is highest and cleanest rating designated by the Environment Agency.
Not only that but visitors can take in the beautiful views of Bamburgh Castle too which sits on top of a nearby hillside.
Over in Wales,
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It was built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis which he turned into a Mediterranean looking sub-tropical gardens with a piazza and historic cottages.
However, there are lots of beaches there too like
The waters here have also been classified as excellent by the government agency Natural Resources Wales, meaning they're perfect for swimming and paddling.
Another area where the waters have been classified as being of high quality and cleanliness is in
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St. Andrews has several beaches, like East Sands, which meets the high standards, it's a sandy stretch of beach with a path on the inland side.
East Sands is close to the harbour and sailing club meaning it's a hotspot for watersports like surfing and sailing.
UK beach named one of the top 100 in the world
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East Sands Beach in St Andrews is much cleaner than its neighbour West Sands
Credit: Alamy
Currently the bigger, and most well-known beach in
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This means the water quality is generally not as clean as its neighbour, according to
Two beaches in
Which? advises not to swim in
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Whitesands Bay near St Davids has water quality rated 'excellent'
Credit: Alamy
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Very near the UK's smallest city, aka St Davids in Pembrokeshire, is Whitesands Bay.
It's a hit with surfers and swimmers alike for good reason - the 'excellent' water quality.
Along the Suffolk coastline is the town of Southwold whose beach is among one of the cleanest.
It's lined with colourful beach huts and has a long pier full of arcade games and fun fair rides.
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Here are more
And here is
Here Are TheSix Best Beaches For Swimming in the UK
Bamburgh, Northumberland
Portmeiron, Gwynedd (Wales)
St Andrews, Fife (Scotland)
Tynemouth, North Tyneside
St David's, Pembrokeshire (Wales)
Southwold, Suffolk
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The six best beaches for swimming in the UK have been revealed by Which?
Credit: Alamy
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We live in ‘UK's most BORING seaside town' with barren, deck chair-less beaches & no arcade in site… but celebs love it
We live in ‘UK's most BORING seaside town' with barren, deck chair-less beaches & no arcade in site… but celebs love it

The Irish Sun

time5 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

We live in ‘UK's most BORING seaside town' with barren, deck chair-less beaches & no arcade in site… but celebs love it

A HISTORIC seaside town has been voted the "most boring" in the UK because its pier is too short and it lacks classic beach attractions. Despite featuring in a host of BBC shows, the village's barren Victorian-era jetty finished bottom of a national seaside league table. Advertisement 8 Kilcreggan, Scotland, has been branded Britain's most boring pier Credit: Alamy 8 The 63-yard jetty has featured in a host of BBC shows and podcasts Credit: Getty 8 It placed last in a recent survey of 60 seaside piers Credit: Getty Kilcreggan, situated on the stunning Rosneath Peninsula on the west coast of Scotland, was branded Britain's most boring pier. At the end of the town's pier, instead of arcades and ice cream, there lies a small collection of old photos. A recent Winning town Southend-on-Sea, which has previously been dubbed the "British Miami", scored 540 points. Advertisement Read more News But Kilcreggan, which is located on the "Costa del Dull", limped in last with just 78 points. The league table has caused fury among locals, including Bargain Hunt presenter Roo Irvine, who have come out swinging in defence of their home village. The Beeb star's antique shop sits across the road from the town's jetty, which is just 63 yards long. Roo defended the pier's crucial location, which acts as a vital transportation hub to access neighbouring villages, including Gourock. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive Blasting the pier's low score, she fumed: "Kilcreggan is good for the soul. "Ours is not your traditional seaside pier so no surprise it got a low score. The UK's best beach bar – with DJ sets, sunset views and signature cocktails 'But there are no towels on deckchairs here, and even the seagulls are friendlier. 'It's a Victorian pier in full working order, which is credit to how well it's been maintained. Advertisement 'This beautiful village still has a pub, café, post office, butcher's and doctor's. 'Kilcreggan pier has its own place and reason for being. 'What other pier means you can get across for a day out in the town in just 13 minutes, saving you a three-hour round trip in the car? "It's keeping our peninsulas connected.' Advertisement The historic port town has featured on the BBC numerous times in antique shows such as Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip. 8 Locals have praised the historic port's crucial transport links Credit: Getty 8 There is a small collection of photos at the end of the pier Credit: Getty It is also the focus of an episode of the Scottish Island adventure podcast, which includes an interview with Roo. Advertisement The pier is also used as a backdrop for the movie Borges And Me, starring Bond baddie and X-Men actor Holidaymaker Jenny Park hailed the port for being "untainted". She added: 'It's a functioning pier that does its job. 'I don't know what else it's supposed to do, but maybe a refreshment kiosk would improve it. Advertisement "I grew up going to tacky piers like "Kilcreggan's brings you to a nice little place – it's got its charm and is untainted.' The winning pier, in Essex town Southend-on-Sea, stretches more than a mile into sea. Hotels in the area have opened their doors to some of the UK's most popular TV personalities. Advertisement Earlier this year, Fool Me Once star Michelle Keegan was spotted there with her husband Mark Wright and their baby, Palma. The Netflix actress spent her first Mother's Day as a mum at the It has also hosted Gary Barlow , Tyson Fury , and TOWIE stars including Frankie Essex. And locals have left glowing reviews of the idyllic beach town where VIPs are spotted on the regular. Advertisement 8 Southend-on-Sea's pier stretches more than a mile into sea Credit: Getty 8 Hotels in the area have opened their doors to some of the UK's most popular TV personalities Credit: Getty 8 VIPs are regularly spotted in the idyllic seaside town Credit: Getty They are no strangers to stardom as it's scenic landscape makes it a highly sought-after area for film sets. Advertisement From The Walking Dead to Wonder Woman, the hometown of Helen Mirren has almost made it on the big screen as much as those who hang out there. Recently was spotted filming an advert near the pier.

Corfu hotel hits back Brit gran who moaned about lack of ‘English food'…& says she even made complaint about the WEATHER
Corfu hotel hits back Brit gran who moaned about lack of ‘English food'…& says she even made complaint about the WEATHER

The Irish Sun

time5 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Corfu hotel hits back Brit gran who moaned about lack of ‘English food'…& says she even made complaint about the WEATHER

A CORFU hotel boss has accused a Brit gran for "fabricating complaints" after she moaned her stay was a "nightmare" thanks to "no bacon, sausages or chips". The OAP was accused by the hotel of fishing for compensaion - and the manager even claiming she had blamed the staff for bad weather. 8 Susan Edwards, from near Newcastle, kicked up a stink about the lack of English food in a Greek hotel Credit: NCJ MEDIA 8 She took pictures of the grub on offer and went public with her complaints Credit: Susan Edwards/NCJ MEDIA 8 Susan was particularly concerned by the lack of bacon, sausages and chips Credit: Susan Edwards/NCJ MEDIA Susan Edwards, 69, from Westerhope, Newcastle upon Tyne, said her seven-night stay at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel on the Greek island was She told The grumbling gran was also dismayed at only being offered chips "one day out of the whole lot" during her £750pp week-long stay. Now the hotel's manager, Makis Triantafyllos, has hit back - alleging Susan's complaints were a ruse to money back. read more in world news He told The Sun: "From the very beginning of her stay, [Susan] demonstrated clear intent to fabricate complaints in pursuit of financial compensation, going as far as to complain about the weather." He alleged she demanded to know from the staff: "Why is it raining?" The manager claimed Susan's attitude had been "sarcastic and dismissive" to staff who did their best to accommodate her. The hotelier also fiercely defended the menu, saying the food service is "generous and diverse, offering fresh salads, fruits, hot and cold dishes daily". Most read in The Sun He fumed that Susan's account of the food was "entirely false and disrespectful to our culinary staff". And as for the "no English food" dig - Makis said the Sun Hotel offers "world-renowned and beloved Mediterranean cuisine" with other options tailored to guests' preferences - including those from the UK. Moment Brit passenger hauled off Ryanair flight heading to Corfu after mid-air brawl as plane forced to divert to Italy The spat continued over the issue of room keys. Susan said she'd asked for a second key for her daughter because she herself gets tired in the afternoons and likes to pop back for a lie down. She said the hotel told her: "No, too expensive." However, Makis said Susan was given a second room key but that it was "revoked after it was used solely to keep the electricity running - leaving the air conditioning on 24 hours a day, even with open windows and the room unoccupied." 8 The Lido Corfu Sun Hotel said it has a 'generous and diverse' menu Credit: Lido Corfu Sun 8 The hotel said it had 'many loyal, returning guests' Credit: Lido Corfu Sun 8 A pool is at the centre of the all-inclusive retreat, which hosts three events each week Credit: Lido Corfu Sun This behaviour, he explained, "violates our sustainability and energy policies". Susan also took aim at the hotel's facilities, claiming there was no entertainment at the site, which is "stuck in the middle of nowhere". She said trek down to the private beach was too steep to navigate. The hotel said the beach is "approximately 300 meters away, accessible via a path that is clearly described", and that it "hosts three weekly evening events by the pool ". But it was the food and drink that most riled the bee in Susan's bonnet. She said: "On a morning you could have toast, a hard-boiled egg, or something in sauce. "For breakfast there was mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. There was no hot bacon or sausage. "We got chips one day. One day out of the whole lot. 8 The hotel boasts stunning coastal views Credit: Lido Corfu Sun 8 Corfu is extremely popular amongst Brit holidaymakers for its gorgeous coastline and bonny weather Credit: GETTY images "There was fish, sardines and rice - I was sick to death of looking at rice. "There was pasta and salads, none of this was marked [labelled]. "One night there was a Greek night and they had kebabs, I couldn't eat that." The 69-year-old has to be careful with what she eats, as she has a condition called ulcerative colitis - a long-term inflammatory bowel disease. Makis said Susan's pre-occupation with poking holes in the services "clearly indicated that she was focused on securing compensation, rather than enjoying her holiday". Hotel staff made "consistent and respectful efforts to accommodate her", he said. Makis added: "Targeting a hotel with excellent ratings (8+/10 on and 4.3/5 on Google) and many loyal, returning guests, based solely on questionable accusations, is both unfair and damaging." After receiving Susan's complaint, a TUI UK & I spokesperson said: "Our priority is to ensure customers have the best possible holiday experience, so we are sorry to hear that Mrs Edwards felt dissatisfied with her holiday. "We have been in touch directly with Mrs Edwards to come to a resolution." The travel company offered her £100 in holiday vouchers - but Susan claims some people were offered more after complaining, and so declined the olive branch.

Kids can visit much-loved Diggerland attraction for free this month – here's how
Kids can visit much-loved Diggerland attraction for free this month – here's how

The Irish Sun

time7 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Kids can visit much-loved Diggerland attraction for free this month – here's how

KIDS can get into the UK's only attraction with construction rides for free this June, with one simple trick. By purchasing a 30-day trial to DOWTK - a 'Day Out With The Kids' pass - for £1, kids can go to Advertisement 3 Kids can get into Diggerland for free with a 'Day Out With The Kids' pass Credit: Alamy 3 There are four Diggerland sites across the UK Credit: Alamy Diggerland is the only place in the UK where children can ride on real construction machinery like giant diggers and dumpers. In total, there are four locations across the UK - Kent, Devon, Yorkshire and Durham. After signing up to a DOWTK pass, members will get an instant, unlimited access to discounts. One pass covers an entire family and this isn't just limited to people with kids. Advertisement Read more on UK attractions The offer is valid for weekends throughout June and the offer permits one free child per visit, when accompanied with a full paying adult (£38). All visitors need to do is show they have a DOWTK pass when they arrive at their chosen Diggerland. Children can experience operating their own digger, hunt for buried treasure or head to tenpin-bowling with a twist. Each site also has a 'Dig Inn' cafe, serving up a range of dishes including all-day breakfast, burgers and hot dogs . Advertisement Most read in News Travel There is also a range of hot and cold drinks, as well as a small selection of Diggerland usually costs £25.95 per person when pre-booked online, with children under 100cm allowed to enter for free. Visit Diggerland UK to enjoy an exciting staycation in the beautiful Devonshire countryside Prices then rise to £38 per person when bought at arrival, with children under 100cm still allowed in for free. The pass also allows families discounts to other big attractions, including free entrance for children to Westminster Abbey, The Royal Mint Experience and Bolton Castle. Advertisement The pass also offers selected discounts off entry to certain attractions including 20 per cent off accommodation on short term breaks at Chessington World of Adventures and up to 45 per cent off gate prices at Other categories for offers include theatre shows, museums, dining, waterparks and cinemas. What is Diggerland like? THE Sun's head of travel, Caroline McGuire shares her thoughts on Diggerland. Walt Disney came up with a huge princess castle, rollercoasters and themed attractions. But just off the M2 in Rochester, some genius suggested sticking a bunch of construction vehicles in the mud at an industrial park - and it proved a blinding day out. At Diggerland, you can dig for mud, "gold bricks", stones or toy ducks in proper construction site machinery. Diggerland has to be seen to be believed - and even then it's quite hard to compute. We spent the day riding dumper trucks around a gravel pit, digging stones out of a hole with a full-sized digger and riding around a muddy concourse while seated in an enormous bucket. In fact, there are quite a few variations on each of those themes. You can dig for mud, "gold bricks", stones or toy ducks. You can drive a dumper, take a digger safari, ride backwards in a bucket carousel - somehow, they've made 20 different rides from machinery. If that doesn't suffice, there are also plenty of coin- operated (you've guessed it) car and digger rides dotted around the place. With the exception of a couple of car attractions, everything comes straight off a construction site, and if you know any young kids you'll know there lies the appeal. My son can spot a crane or a dumper truck from a mile off, so even watching others dig while waiting in the queue was mesmerising. Not that the queues were long - in fact, they were surprisingly short. The price is decent, too. Three adults and a child cost £91 in entry fees, so long as you pre-book tickets. Obviously all of the offers aren't just for families with children, several are suitable for adults like discounts off cinema tickets. Many offers are exclusive to the pass and there are also a number of competitions that can be entered like winning £10,000 worth of family holidays. Advertisement There is also a Plus, one mum saved thousands by bagging FREE days out with her two kids – 3 The pass also gets members discounts to other attractions Credit: Alamy

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