Two South Hams beaches are among 13 in Devon recognised in the 2026 Blue Flag and Seaside Award schemes, putting the county fourth nationally for the number of unique award-listed beaches.

Blackpool Sands and Challaborough Bay are both included in the county’s tally, alongside Croyde Bay, Dawlish Warren, Exmouth and Sidmouth Town.

The figures come from an analysis of the official 2026 coastal awards, which counted each beach once where it appeared under both the Blue Flag and Seaside Award schemes.

Devon’s 13 recognised beaches put it behind Kent, with 17, and Cornwall and Essex, which each have 15.

Blackpool Sands, near Dartmouth, holds both a Blue Flag and Seaside Award this year, as does Challaborough Bay.

The Blue Flag recognises beaches that meet strict standards for environmental management, cleanliness, safety and facilities.

Similarly, the Seaside Award is a national accreditation for clean, safe and well-managed coastal sites.

The recognition comes after Blackpool Sands was also named the UK's best beach in a separate ranking by ferry operator DFDS, according to DevonLive.

The ferry and cruise operator examined Google reviews, identifying positive terms such as 'beautiful', 'stunning', 'picturesque' and 'tranquil' to determine the 15 finest beaches and coastal coves across the UK, with Blackpool Sands claiming the top spot.

According to the article, Blackpool Sands recorded 152 positive keywords per 100 reviews. DFDS emphasised its "sheltered bay, Mediterranean-blue water and surrounding pine trees", while observing that the beach "edges out some of the UK's most famous coastal destinations to take the number one spot".

Speaking to DevonLive, Alex Dyer, managing director at Lapland Famille, said: “Families can get more from a beach day by checking the practical details before leaving home.”

He added that families should check tide times and whether lifeguards are on duty, while continuing to supervise children closely and follow local safety signs.

The Environment Agency also advises checking its Swimfo service before swimming, particularly after heavy rain or high tides when pollution risks can increase.