The Good Beach Guide

In the 2011 edition of the Good Beach Guide, produced by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), 461 UK beaches are recommended as having excellent bathing water quality - the third highest number in the Guide’s 24 year history. However, despite there being 42 more recommended beaches in 2011 than there were in 2010, 46 UK beaches have failed to meet even the basic standards set 35 years ago in European law.

MCS is urging beachgoers to vote with their mouse and go online to use the Good Beach Guide (www.goodbeachguide.co.uk) to choose beaches with the best water quality for swimming. They make their grades freely available on their website, www.goodbeachguide.co.uk in order to provide any beachgoer with the detail they require to make an informed decision about the safety of the bathing water.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) works in partnership with MCS. This summer the Good Beach Guide carries new information about hazards to look out for at the beach, like strong currents or large waves, which beachgoers may encounter. The guide will also carry the RNLI’s top tips for staying safe and details of lifeguarded beaches.