Blackpool Sands named UK's prettiest beach with amazingly clear water

Blackpool Sands in Devon has been named the prettiest beach in the UK, beating famous coastal destinations such as Sandbanks Beach in Dorset and Porthcurno Beach in Cornwall. The winning beach is in Devon, not Cornwall.

The ranking comes from research by ferry and cruise operator DFDS, which analysed Google reviews alongside positive terms including "beautiful", "stunning", "picturesque" and "tranquil" to uncover the UK's 15 best beaches and coastal coves.

Why Blackpool Sands took the top spot

Blackpool Sands achieved 152 positive keywords per 100 reviews. DFDS highlighted its "sheltered bay, Mediterranean-blue water and surrounding pine trees", noting that the beach "edges out some of the UK’s most famous coastal destinations to take the number one spot".

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The beach is known for its sweeping shingle shore, crescent shape and wooded hillside, which provide natural shelter. It holds Blue Flag beach status, and its waters are considered among the clearest in the UK.

What visitors say

Visitors can hire paddleboards and kayaks in the exceptionally clear blue waters. A seaside sauna and a cafe are available on the beachfront, and the setting has often been compared to the Mediterranean.

One holidaymaker wrote on TripAdvisor: "Beautiful beach, beautiful surroundings and a wonderful time was had! We almost forgot we were in the UK still. Recommend!!"

A second reviewer said: "Superb beach - If this was in the Mediterranean, people would rave about it." They added that it was a "very nice clean beach" and large enough to avoid overcrowding.

A third wrote: "This is a stunning beach. Beautiful cove with amazingly clear water. Great shop and cafe on site and parking reasonable. Some reviews moan about the shingle! Yes there is no sand but fine shingle which is perfect to walk on and play games on."

They continued: "This cove is just so beautiful and I could spend all day any day at this beach. Do not listen to any bad reviews about the shingle as that is probably only from people who aren’t normally beach goers and have soft feet! This is the most amazing cove to spend a beach day, and it is stunning. You will not regret visiting. It’s simply beautiful."