The Towans in Hayle, Cornwall is top of the 16th edition of the guide, claimed to be the definitive and most comprehensive list of the UK's 50 best beaches, published online today and featured in print on July 21 . In his description of the Towans, Chris Haslam, the award-winning chief travel writer at The Times and Sunday Times, writes; “The Towans’ water quality is rated as excellent, it’s dog-friendly and the cleanliness, car parking, lifeguarding, catering and toilets are top notch. "The water sports facilities are superb and the beauty is beyond question.
But there’s something here that’s not on the checklist: a sense of space in untamed nature that lowers your heart rate, reduces the cortisol and loosens the limbs.” Hayle Towans has been chosen as one of the best beaches in the UK according to the Times and Sunday Times Best Beach guide (Image: Getty Images) Chris Haslam has personally visited and inspected all 50 beaches included in the guide in the past eight weeks. The guide showcases the unrivalled beauty of the UK seaside, evaluated through a rigorous 11-point inspection checklist.
Criteria include water quality, cleanliness, accessibility, car-parking facilities, lifeguard presence, hygiene levels at restrooms and showers, and dog-friendliness. The 2024 guide only features beaches which are rated as “excellent” for water quality by the national environment agencies. And as always, this guide covers only mainland beaches.
Porthcurno was included as .
