FIVE beaches in Teignbridge have been recognised for their quality in the prestigious Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for summer 2026.

Dawlish Warren achieved the highest award with the internationally recognised Blue Flag Award while Dawlish Town beach, Coryton Cove, Teignmouth and Ness Cove were all awarded the coveted Seaside Award.

This is the 27th successive year Dawlish Warren has achieved the award.

The Blue Flag and Seaside Awards are designed to raise standards across England’s coastline and inland waters while shining a spotlight on the country’s top beaches.

They inform the public about which beaches offer a safe, clean and well-managed space for them to enjoy.

Beaches are assessed on safety, sustainable tourism and environmental education.

To achieve an award they must meet and maintain a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.

Theses include: safety and services such as first aid and lifeguards, where necessary; environmental information including displaying details about local ecosystems and environmental management including litter and waste.

Blue Flag beaches must meet the ‘excellent’ water quality standard as set out in the EU Bathing Water Directive while Seaside Awards for designated bathing waters must meet, as a minimum, the ‘sufficient’ standard.

A Teignbridge District Council spokesperson said: ‘Achieving the Blue Flag Award for Dawlish Warren and the Seaside Awards for Coryton Cove, Dawlish Town, Ness Cove and Teignmouth reflect our commitment to maintaining clean, safe beaches that meet environmental and water quality standards.

‘We hope that by flying these flags we will encourage residents and visitors to enjoy a day on the beach at our resorts.’

Blue Flag, the world’s most recognised award for beaches and marinas, is an environmental education programme managed by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, said: ‘England is fortunate to boast some of the world’s finest beaches, and it’s encouraging to see this reflected in the awards to Teignmouth, Ness Cove, Coryton Cove, Dawlish and Dawlish Warren signalling its high standards to all who visit or live nearby.

‘Everybody involved in these achievements should feel proud of their ongoing work to care for and enhance these important local blue spaces.’

Teignbridge is very grateful to Dawlish Town Council, for funding the Blue Flag Award for Dawlish Warren and the Seaside Awards for Dawlish Town beach and Coryton Cove, Teignmouth Town Council, for funding the Seaside award for Teignmouth beach, and Shaldon Parish Council, for funding the Seaside award for the Ness beach.