The best and the worst seaside towns in the whole of the UK have been determined and two in Wales have been mentioned - although at opposite ends of the spectrum.
While we are quite aware that Wales has some of the best sandy shores in Britain, if not the world, with the likes of Barafundle Bay, Rhossili Bay... pretty much most Welsh 'bays', it seems The Telegraph has deemed Rhyl in north Wales to have the most unpleasant of beachy and seaside experiences, rating it 5 out of 100 and using it as an example of how "not to do things".
Now the publication does state that this 20-strong list isn't "conclusive or even a top 20". Instead, it took a selection of "classic resorts and studied how they have adapted – or not – over the past three decades". Its rating and ranking has been determined by "housing and high streets, renovations and conservation, as well as the cultural clout that so often accompanies gentrification".
In more positive news, however, Tenby - much loved for its white sandy stretches, crystal clear waters and beautifully quaint colourful houses overlooking the shore - made it to eighth on the list, with an eye-twitching ranking of only 57/100.
But let's first dive in to what was said about the north east Wales seaside town of Rhyl, and why it was ranked so low.
The Telegraph's destination expert, Chris Moss, explained: "The resorts of North Wales in general reflect massive social changes in the wider region. Until the 1970s, the more than five million people who lived in Lancashire (the most populous county outside London at the time) saw the long strip of sandy coast as an accessible and affordable alternative to boisterous Blackpool.
"And then the package holiday arrived: Majorca and Corfu stole the working classes, Marbella and Tenerife the aspiring middles. Rhyl quickly found itself adrift." For news of What's On around Wales sign up to our newsletter here
He added: "North Wales’ oldest pier was demolished in 1973, the domed Pavilion theatre was razed the following year. Efforts to make Rhyl a desirable destination – the Sun Centre in 1980, White Rose Shopping Centre in 1984, a museum and library complex in 1986 – have failed. The Ocean Beach funfair closed in 2007. A Sky Tower ride was decommissioned.
"There were plans to make it a light show; it’s now a pay-and-display car park. No past, no arts or entertainment, no fun: gentrification is not suited to all seaside towns but Rhyl – once unfortunately dubbed the “Costa del Dole” and, on one occasion, “Blackpool after a neutron bomb” – is how not to do things."
Beating the likes of Southend-On-Sea (36/100), Blackpool (22/100), Weston-Super-Mare (18/100) and Portstewart (53/100), Tenby is given a little more credit than its northern counterpart - although not as much as we think it deserve.
"Southwest Wales is sometimes characterised as a “Little England”, reflecting the fact that the Normans once held the coast and the Landsker line – demarcating which language was spoken where – sliced through central Pembrokeshire," Chris described. "Once you pass the Gower, Tenby is the first – and arguably only – substantial seaside resort on this lovely coast, and it has long benefitted from beautiful beaches protected by cliffs from the winds.
"A recent hoo-hah over the Harbwr Brewery’s renting of a former stables as a seating area, without planning permission, epitomises Tenby’s problem. How can a major, commercially vital resort town keep its medieval layout and cosy vibe? The answer is inside the question, as the layout of narrow lanes and alleys – the walled town is basically car-free in summer – means that there’s room for all the independent shops, pubs and small chains, but not for grim developments.
"Being on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path protects the natural setting, and nearby Saundersfoot is a bit more bespoke and exclusive for those who need it. Tenby’s gradual evolution into a popular, mid-market beach town feels about as natural and normal as you get."
The top three beaches on the list, ranking almost 100 are Whistable on the norht coast of Kent, Southwold on the coast of East Suffolk and St Ives, which ranked in 98/100 for its "amazing success story" and by having "all the charm of Wembley Way just before kick-off".
To read the whole list, see The Telegraph article in full here.
Do you agree? Let us know in the comments.
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