Preston Sands, Paignton
Sheltered, shallow Torbay sand — an easy option in a bay that faces the wrong way for swell.
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● Spot · shaded: the wind directions that work here. It is not a riding area or a permitted kite zone. Two fingers to move the map.
Location & launch
Know before you go.
- Launch
- Sand and promenade in a sheltered east-facing bay.
- Wind
- NE · ENE · E · ESE · SE · SSE · S winds work here.
The shaded area shows the wind directions recorded as working here. It is not a permitted kite zone or a safe launch boundary. Check local signs.
Local rules, hazards & spot guide
Need to know
The things that catch people out here.
- Sheltered and shallow, which is rare on this coast — a decent option for building confidence.
- Heavy summer bathing restrictions on the main resort beaches.
- Torbay is a busy anchorage with a lot of moored boats.
Conditions
- Best
- Works
- Offshore
- Works in
- NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S
- Best in
- E, ESE, SE
- Offshore (careful)
- SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW
- Wind quality
- moderate
- Water
- Flat to choppy
- Depth
- standing
- Best tide
- Mid tide
- Spring range
- 4.4 m
Sea breeze · May–Aug
- Beginner
- Good
- Intermediate
- Good
- Advanced
- Workable
Hazards
Most serious first. The level is in words as well as colour.
- high
crowds Busy resort beach with summer bathing zones.
- medium
shipping Torbay is a busy recreational anchorage.
Access & rules
- Launch
- Sand and promenade in a sheltered east-facing bay.
- Permit
- Not required
- Insurance
- Third-party liability expected
- Tuition
- Permitted
- Facilities
- toilets, cafe, shop, changing
Parking
- Preston Sands / Paignton seafront
paid
Seasonal restrictions
- May–Sep
Bathing zones on resort beaches in season.
Safety
Who is around if it goes wrong. None of it makes the water safe.
- Lifeguards
- Seasonal cover.
- RNLI
- Torbay RNLI
- Nearest A&E
- Torbay Hospital, Torquay (~10 min)
- Water quality
- Designated bathing water — good
The spot
Preston Sands at Paignton sits in Torbay, a deeply sheltered east-facing bay. There is very little swell, the water is shallow and the beach is easy to get to, which makes it a reasonable confidence-builder.
It is a resort beach, so summer bathing zones restrict where kites can go, and Torbay is a busy recreational anchorage full of moored boats.
Sources
Where this record came from, and how confident we are in it.
- Windfinder — Paignton
Checked 2026-09-07 · coordinates, wind
- UK Windsurfing beach guide — Preston Sands, Paignton
Checked 2026-09-23 · wind
- Tor Bay Harbour Authority — Preston Sands, Paignton
Checked 2026-09-23 · wind
Verify locally. Coordinates 50.4434, -3.5567. Conditions, access arrangements and beach rules change; check them on the day before you rely on anything on this page.