Blackpool Sands earns Blue Flag and Seaside Awards

Blackpool Sands, located near Dartmouth, has been recognized in the 2026 Blue Flag and Seaside Award schemes. Along with Challaborough Bay, it is one of 13 beaches in Devon to receive these accolades, placing the county fourth nationally for the number of unique award-listed beaches, trailing Kent, Cornwall, and Essex.

The Blue Flag and Seaside Awards certify coastal sites based on standards for cleanliness, safety, environmental management, and facilities. In a separate ranking by ferry operator DFDS, Blackpool Sands was named the UK's best beach. The operator determined the ranking by analyzing Google reviews for positive descriptors such as ‘beautiful’, ‘stunning’, and ‘tranquil’, noting the beach's sheltered bay and Mediterranean-blue water.