Dawlish Warren’s Blue Flag Beach To Draw Holidaymakers In
An impressive 14 beaches in Devon achieved a Blue Flag status in 2019, and Dawlish Warren is proudly 1 of them. For the past 21 years, Dawlish Warren has worked tirelessly to provide a clean and safe beach that entices visitors back year after year. But what is it about the Blue Flag accolade that encourages holidaymakers to visit Dawlish Warren?
Water safety
Devon is the second most popular county in the UK with staycationers, according to Travel Supermarket. When asked about South Devon’s popularity, Visit South Devon advised that “South Devon is popular with both UK and overseas holidays makers because of the range of award-winning beaches, accommodation, attractions and events on offer. The county appeals to all types of visitors or holiday type. Whether they are looking for countryside, coastal, city, family, couples, groups, active, historical or relaxing South Devon caterers for all.” Unsurprisingly, one of the main reasons why holidaymakers choose Devon is because of its amazing beaches and exceptional water safety.
As a Blue Flag beach, Dawlish Warren has complied with all quality sampling and frequency requirements set out by the Foundation for Environmental Education. This means that the water quality has been classed as ‘excellent’ and that no water-water or sewage discharge affects the beach or water in Dawlish Warren. As a result, you can be sure that you and your family will enjoy a healthy time in the sea during your trip to the area.
Optimum safety
Devon Live reports that 78% of people would avoid visiting a beach if it didn’t have a Blue Flag. When contacted about the importance of the Blue Flag, Luke Oldham of The Tourist Trail advised that “there’s no doubt that the Blue Flag beaches across Devon are a huge part of what drives tourism to the county. So much research points to the beaches being one of the key reasons that visitors are drawn to the area. In fact, our recent research shows that coasts and beaches are the most important factor when choosing a county to visit for a UK break with 26% of people citing this as a key factor when deciding where to visit.” This, therefore, highlights how important a Blue Flag is to Dawlish Warren.
One of the key components assessed when a beach is considered for a Blue Flag is whether there are trained lifeguards patrolling the beach. As Dawlish Warren operates under the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), it is patrolled by RNLI lifeguards at peak times of the year. This proved crucial earlier this year when the RNLI swiftly dealt with an incident on the beach which required a woman being airlifted to hospital. On April 20, lifeguards assisted a female who fell and injured her hip on the rocks on Dawlish Warren beach. The woman and her partner later thanked the crew for their assistance and advised that their swift action and medical intervention meant that she experienced as little pain as possible following her fall.
In addition to sporting qualified lifeguards, the Blue Flag award means that visitors to Dawlish Warren can be reassured that there are safety measures in place to protect beachgoers. While paddling, crabbing, and swimming are must-do activities for youngsters visiting the beach, you might be more interested in taking to the water for some fun-filled activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding or sailing. One thing that can suddenly occur when you’re out on the water doing activities such as these is motion sickness. The jerky and fast movements of the sea can cause motion sickness. It’s a wise idea to line your stomach and sip on water if you’re prone to motion sickness. But, if this still doesn’t help, you can rest assured that the lifeguards back on dry land will be well-equipped to deal with your sickness, so you should head back and seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
Informative destination
Visitors to Dawlish Warren and surrounding South Devon come from far and wide. Absolute PR & Marketing reports that during January and February 2019, traffic to the Visit South Devon website increased by 6% compared to the same period in 2018, while online traffic from overseas holidaymakers increased by 20%. With visitors travelling hundreds or, in some cases, thousands of miles to get to Dawlish Warren, it’s crucial that it offers as much information as possible to aid their trip. The Blue Flag award means that Dawlish Warren provides a map of the beach which highlights all the facilities that are on offer at the beach. This includes advising where to obtain fresh drinking water, the location of toilet facilities, disability access points, and providing information on environmental education activities that aid the beach’s Blue Flag status.
A clean environment
One of the most crucial parts of the Blue Flag award is that the cleanliness of the beach and its sea are outstanding. 35% of the British public say that when they see plastic litter dotted along the beach it makes them feel ‘guilty’. However, you’re unlikely to feel this way at Dawlish Warren as cleanliness is at the forefront of its mind. Volunteers regularly take to Dawlish Beach to assist with clean-up operations when litter becomes problematic. For example, in 2018, 40 volunteers cleaned up the beach when a sudden surge of micro pieces of plastic washed up on the beach. You will also find an ample supply of bins that are regularly emptied around the beach so that you can dispose of your litter in a convenient and environmentally-friendly manner.
Dawlish Warren is delighted to have received a Blue Flag accolade for 21 consecutive years. This sought-after award is something that all beaches strive for as it keeps visitors coming back, promotes a healthy and better environment, and ensures that the only best safety and quality are offered to each and every visitor.
