UK bathing waters rated Sufficient

44 of the UK's 701 designated bathing waters hold a Sufficient classification: 25 in England, 6 in Wales and 13 in Scotland.

The minimum pass. These waters met the standard across up to the last four bathing seasons, on a more forgiving test than Good.

Updated August 2026

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England 25

Rated Sufficient Bognor Regis East Arun Rated Sufficient Blackpool Central Blackpool Rated Sufficient Blackpool South Blackpool Rated Sufficient Porthluney Cornwall Rated Sufficient Bridlington South Beach East Riding of Yorkshire Rated Sufficient Fraisthorpe East Riding of Yorkshire Rated Sufficient Folkestone Folkestone and Hythe Rated Sufficient St Mary's Bay (Kent) Folkestone and Hythe Rated Sufficient St Annes Fylde Rated Sufficient St Annes North Fylde Rated Sufficient Heacham King's Lynn and West Norfolk Rated Sufficient Morecambe North Lancaster Rated Sufficient Combe Martin North Devon Rated Sufficient Robin Hoods Bay North Yorkshire Rated Sufficient Scarborough North Bay North Yorkshire Rated Sufficient Bexhill Rother Rated Sufficient Ainsdale Sefton Rated Sufficient Southport Sefton Rated Sufficient Minehead Beach Somerset Rated Sufficient Wallingford Beach, River Thames South Oxfordshire Rated Sufficient West Bay, Westgate Thanet Rated Sufficient Coniston Water, Boating Centre Westmorland and Furness Rated Sufficient Walney Biggar Bank Westmorland and Furness Rated Sufficient Walney West Shore Westmorland and Furness Rated Sufficient West Kirby Wirral

Wales 6

Rated Sufficient Traeth Gwyn New Quay Ceredigion Rated Sufficient Marine Lake, Rhyl Denbighshire Rated Sufficient Rhyl Central Denbighshire Rated Sufficient Cemaes Isle of Anglesey Rated Sufficient Wiseman's Bridge Pembrokeshire Rated Sufficient The Warren, Hay On Wye Powys

Scotland 13

Rated Sufficient Ayr (South Beach) Scotland Rated Sufficient Burntisland Scotland Rated Sufficient Dhoon Bay Scotland Rated Sufficient Dunbar (East) Scotland Rated Sufficient Eyemouth Scotland Rated Sufficient Girvan Scotland Rated Sufficient Heads of Ayr Scotland Rated Sufficient Maidens Scotland Rated Sufficient Portobello (Central) Scotland Rated Sufficient Portobello (West) Scotland Rated Sufficient Rockcliffe Scotland Rated Sufficient Southerness Scotland Rated Sufficient Yellow Craig Scotland

The other classifications

Rated Excellent 450 bathing waters
Rated Good 150 bathing waters
Rated Poor 37 bathing waters

Common questions

How many UK bathing waters are rated Sufficient?: 44 of the UK's 701 designated bathing waters are rated Sufficient: 25 in England, 6 in Wales and 13 in Scotland.
What does a Sufficient rating mean?: The minimum pass. These waters met the standard across up to the last four bathing seasons, on a more forgiving test than Good.
Does this rating tell me whether it is safe to swim today?: No. The classification is a percentile over up to four bathing seasons, so it describes the water's record rather than today's conditions. Open any bathing water for a live verdict built from sewage discharges, rainfall and the latest sample.