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Abstract
This article introduces the problematic of the beach as a leisure resource through the consideration of a case study of Wales. Emphasis upon the environmental quality of beaches in Wales has led to the widespread application of beach award schemes. A critique of beach award schemes revealed that they fail adequately to incorporate the perceptions of the beach user. A study is reported that attempted to build a scale of the offensiveness of commonly found beach debris. At three beaches in South Wales photographs of standard beach litter items were used in conjunction with semantic differential scales in order to assess the extent of impact on beach users perceptions. A condom equivalent index was devised to compare between beach debris items. The index indicated that sewage related debris was found to be the most visually offensive category found on beaches. The implications of the research findings are discussed in terms of both the conceptualising and practice of beach management and future studies of the beach as a leisure resource.
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