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Paignton is a beach town on the south coast of England known more for its seaside attractions than its surf. The beach has distinct red sand and is generally sheltered, making it a nice spot for tourists to hang out. While it's not a go-to surf destination, there are days when you can catch some waves, especially if the conditions are right. It mainly lies flat, with the best banks forming near the pier, which makes it a decent place to check when you hear about some potential surf.
The surf at Paignton can handle swell sizes from 2ft to 6ft (about 0.6m to 1.8m). It works best with a SW groundswell or E windswell. The waves are mostly rolling and can sometimes turn into fat, wedgy walls when the swell is good. You'll find both right and left waves breaking over the sandy bottom. It's a pretty relaxed spot for beginners and intermediates alike, making it suitable for various board types, including shortboards, fish, funboards, longboards, and bodyboards. The ideal conditions usually come with a low to mid tide, and the preferred wind direction is from the west.
Access to the beach is straightforward, with plenty of beachfront parking available along the Esplanade, which is convenient if you plan to stay for a while. The crowd factor is mostly quiet, so you won’t have to deal with heavy line-ups. If you're thinking about heading out, winter is when Paignton sees bigger swells, mainly from December to February, so that might be the best time to plan a surf trip here.