Ceredigion’s beaches have some of the cleanest bathing water in all of Europe, according to new rankings.

Fifteen beaches in Ceredigion have been classified as having good or excellent water quality in the new rankings, released last week, with no areas of Ceredigion being classified as poor.

Designated bathing water areas in Ceredigion are Llanrhystud, Aberystwyth North and South beaches, Clarach South, Borth, Traeth Gwyn New Quay, New Quay North, New Quay Harbour, Cilborth, Llangrannog, Penbryn, Tresaith, Aberporth, Mwnt and Poppit West. All of the areas have either been classified as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.

A total of 83 out of 105 designated bathing waters in Wales achieved the EU’s highest classification of ‘excellent’, up from last year’s figure of 78.

Factors affecting bathing water quality are heavy rainfall, pollution from sewage and diffuse pollution in water draining from farms and farmland. The quality of the bathing water was deducted from water sampling undertaken by Natural Resources Wales during bathing season, this year from 15 May to 30 September.

Minister for environment, energy and rural affairs, Lesley Griffiths said: “We all know Wales has some of the most stunning coastline in Europe and the statistics prove we officially have some of the cleanest bathing water too."

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