The winner of Britain's Best Beach awards revealed!

A recent poll has revealed that Port Enyon Bay on the Gower Peninsula in Wales has won the title of Britain's best beach.

The bay won after eight shortlisted beaches from eight different regions across the UK were whittled down for the 2011 Cadbury Flake 99 Great British Beach Awards.

Port Eynon Bay on the Gower Peninsula was crowned Britain's best beach after the shortlist was put to a public vote.

The bay, which has been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag Award for cleanliness, stole the show thanks to its idyllic scenery, rolling hills and bustling seaside shops.

It is one of Gower's largest bays and boasts views of historical relics including an old salt house and a lifeboat station. Port Enyon won 41% of the vote, with Whiterocks in Portrush (34%) and Broadstairs in Kent (14%) coming second and third respectively.

The Lord Mayor of Swansea, Ioan Richard, who accepted the award at the winning beach, said the result was a big boost for local tourism.

He praised the area's natural beauty and told the Daily Mail: 'Port Eynon is an exceptional beach in Gower surrounded by beautiful hillsides and has great parking.'

This is the second year a Welsh beach has scooped the Great British Beach Award - nearby Rhossili Bay won the title in 2010.

The full list of beaches nominated in this year's poll included:

• Broadstairs, Kent
• Weymouth, Dorset
• Holkham, Norfolk
• Southport, Lancashire
• Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire
• Plockton, The Highlands
• Whiterocks, Portrush
• Port Eynon, Gower Peninsula

Now you've found out Britain's best beach, check out the best beach hotspots across the globe:

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