Oxwich Bay on the Gower has been named as the most beautiful in the UK by travel writers after they had visited more than 1000 beaches around the world. Travel Magazine said Oxwich was ‘a great place for adults and children’ and that the scenery was ‘magnificent and unspoilt’.

Oxwich consists of 2.5 miles of pale sand with safe, shallow seas. The beach is backed by sand dunes, woodland and salt marshes. The area contains one of the richest varieties of coastal habitats in the UK and is protected by a National Nature Reserve, run by the Countryside Council for Wales.

Malcolm Ridge, chairman of the Gower Society, said he thought Oxwich deserved the title. “Oxwich really is a tremendous beach – very long and curving”

He said he hoped it would encourage more people to appreciate the area.

Whitesands Bay in Pembrokeshire was listed 18th in the top 20 beaches in the world by using a mathematical formula designed by tourist expert at the University of Surrey, Dr Dimitrios Buhalis.

Whitesands is a mile-long stretch of sandy beach, facing almost directly West towards the Atlantic. The beach has received international accolades before, but is still untouched by commercialism. It is popular with surfers.

250 resorts throughout the world were ranked on factors including scenery, facilities, friendliness of local people and beach quality. Rhossili, Tenby and Barafundle were also listed. The list has been published online by travel company Opodo.