A recent study has named the top ten beaches in the UK, with two Welsh destinations topping the list. Topping the list was Barafundle Bay Beach in Pembrokeshire, while second place went to Traeth Mwnt in Ceredigion.

Both beaches have a 4.9 rating on Google and an Excellent 2025 bathing-water classification. Travel enthusiasts at Lapland Famille compared May 2026 Google Maps star ratings and review volumes with the latest completed official bathing-water classifications to determine the best beaches in the country. Alex Dyer, managing director, said: "Annual classifications are useful for comparing long-term water quality, but they are not a same-day safety guarantee.

"Families should still check live regulator updates, tides, weather and on-site flags before anyone goes into the water, particularly after heavy rain."

A recent visitor to Barafundle Bay took to TripAdvisor, writing: "This is the gem of Pembrokeshire. National Trust car park at the end of some very very narrow lanes and then a short walk across the stunning cliff tops to the stunning bay. It really is beautiful."

Another wrote: "We parked at the National Trust car park and walked for twenty minutes to this beach, which is inaccessible otherwise. Our first view of it was breathtaking as the contrasting colours of the red sand, sea and sky were beautiful.

"We took plenty of photos from the ruins on the path. Once on the beach, the sand is soft. It is also very clean. The beach is dog friendly. This was the best beach we came across in Pembrokeshire."

Barafundle Bay and Traeth Mwnt weren't the only Welsh beaches to appear on the list, with Dunraven Bay coming in fourth place. Meanwhile, five English beaches appeared on the list, while Scotland and Northern Ireland both made just one appearance.

In England, the only area that appeared twice was Devon, with Woolacombe Beach rounding off the top three, and Bigbury Beach coming in eighth place.