THIRTEEN Gwynedd beaches have been named as Coast Award winners with eight beaches winning prestigious Blue Flag awards.

The Coast Awards honour beaches with Blue Flags, Seaside Awards or Green Coast awards for a range of things including water quality and facilities.

It has been announced that Aberdaron, Barmouth, Abersoch, Criccieth Traeth y Promenade, Dinas Dinlle, Morfa Bychan Black Rock Sands, Pwllheli and Tywyn have all won the coveted Blue Flag award, as well as Seaside Awards.

Harlech, Llandanwg, Porth Neigwl, Fairbourne and Abererch Glan Don were all named as Green Coast Award winners.

To meet the award criteria for the Blue Flag and Green Coast awards, beaches must meet the highest water quality standard, as well as be rated highly on the provision of facilities and good management and safety provision.

The Seaside Award requires beaches to have good public facilities, water quality, safety provision and management.

Lesley Griffiths, the Welsh Government’s Cabinet secretary for environment and rural affairs, said: “We all know Wales has some of the most stunning coastline anywhere in the world. Our beaches and coastal areas have long been a magnet for visitors from far and wide as well as being hugely popular with local communities.

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