Wales has three of the best beaches in the UK, says Tripadvisor

When you think of Wales, white sands and vibrant blue waters don’t tend to spring to mind. But you’ve been missing a trick.

In a new poll of the UK’s best beaches conducted by TripAdvisor, three of Wales’s beaches have made the top ten.

Coming in third was Rhossili Bay in Swansea county, only beaten by Scotland’s Luskentyre on the Isle of Harris at number two and Bournemouth’s seven mile beach, which took the top spot.

The largest expanse of white sand on the Gower Peninsula, Rhossili Bay is not unused to winning awards - last year it was actually named the best beach in Europe by another poll.

The beach itself stretches for three miles and the whole area, which is surrounded by towering cliffs, is popular with surfers, paragliders and walkers.

It’s actually less than a four hour drive from central London.

The other Welsh winners were Three Cliffs Bay in Swansea which entered at number eight and Barafundle Beach in Stackpole at number ten.

Three Cliffs Bay is beautifully wild with sand dunes, salt marshes and due to it being set back from the carpark it means it's never overrun.

Barafundle Beach in Pembrokeshire is of a similar nature. Totally unspoilt, it’s a crescent shaped beach, surrounded by cliffs and it was actually kept as a local secret for as long as it could be.

Once named the best place in the UK to have a picnic by Country Life, we're sure the added publicity contributed somewhat to its newfound popularity among holidaymakers.

With no Northern Irish entries and only one Scottish winner, Wales seemingly has the best beaches in the UK next to England. Will you book a trip?

Here is the list in full:

1. Bournemouth Beach, Bournemouth, Dorset

2. Luskentyre, Isle of Harris, Scotland

3. Rhossili Bay, Rhossili, Wales

4. Brighton Beach, Brighton, East Sussex

5. Weymouth Beach, Weymouth, Dorset

6. St. Brelade’s Bay Beach, St Brelade, Jersey

7. Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth, Dorset

8. Three Cliffs Bay, Swansea, Wales

9. Fistral Beach, Newquay, Cornwall

10. Barafundle Beach, Stackpole, Wales