Lifeguard Flag – supervised bathing area between the flags

The warmer weather will soon be here. I promise! So, get the bathing costumes, the suntan oil and the beach gear sorted out ready for some relaxing days on North Norfolk’s beaches.

Indications are that this tourist season in North Norfolk could see the highest number of visitors ever so you will need to get down onto the beaches early to get the best spots – in my case within a few yards of the Rocket House Café and the Lifeboat Café at Cromer.

The beaches at the popular seaside resorts of West Runton, Sheringham, Mundesley, Sea Palling, East Runton and Cromer have again been designated as being of Blue Flag standard. The Blue Flag designations are given when a beach meets EU standards of cleanliness, safety, facilities, environmental management and education and water purity. The awards mean that our 45-mile long coastline now has half of all the Blue Flag designated beaches in the east of England.

In addition, Hunstanton and Wells-next-the-Sea have been given the Seaside Award (formerly the Quality Coast Award) that assures holidaymakers that the beaches are safe, clean and well-managed.

The chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, which administers the Blue Flag scheme, Allison Ogden-Newton, stated: “The success of the beaches in reaching the very high standards demanded by both awards is testament to all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve our beaches – from beach managers and volunteers to local people and businesses.

“When you enjoy a trip to a beach flying an international Blue Flag or Seaside Award, you know you are on one of the safest, cleanest and very best in the country.”