Cromer Beach

North Norfolk’s beaches have performed well in a new comparison of water cleanliness for summer swimming. UK travel site Holiday Park Guru analysed Environment Agency summer water quality data from hundreds of beaches.

There are seven water testing areas in North Norfolk, and all are ranked as either ‘excellent’ (three stars) or ‘good’ (two stars). The three-star resorts are Sheringham, Cromer, West Runton, and East Runton, while the two-star resorts are Wells-next-the-Sea, Mundesley, and Sea Palling.

Overall, though, Norfolk doesn’t do so well. It ranks 14th out of 19 English coastal counties, with 50% of its official bathing spots rated as ‘excellent’ for water cleanliness in summer. In Dorset, 89% of beaches are rated as ‘excellent’. Suffolk ranks third on the league table.

The ratings are part of a new campaign called the ‘Brown Flag Awards’, which are given to those beaches that receive a zero-star rating. The Environment Agency rated these beaches as ‘poor’ due to bacteria such as e-coli from sewage and other waste.

Thankfully, North Norfolk won no Brown Flag awards this year, but it’s not good news for Heacham Beach. It is one of 13 English beaches that are being offered a brown flag to warn swimmers. The flag comes complete with a poo emoji!

Whilst Holiday Park Guru’s ‘Brown Flag Awards’ uses official Environment Agency data, it has no official link with the Environment Agency or any other awards. It is intended as a tongue-in-cheek award to support the campaign for cleaner beaches.

Which are Norfolk’s cleanest beaches for swimming?

3 Star Beaches (Excellent):

• Cromer
• East Runton
• Gorleston Beach
• Great Yarmouth North
• Great Yarmouth Pier
• Great Yarmouth South
• Sheringham
• West Runton

2 Star Beaches (Good)

• Caister Point
• Hemsby
• Mundesley
• Sea Palling
• Wells

This is a guest post by Robbie Lane from Holiday Park Guru. He also runs sister sites called Isle of Wight Guru and The Sleep Guy.