Paignton was once a small commercial fishing harbour, but is now basically devoted to leisure. The town is roughly central in Tor Bay, and is a popular resort. In the summer it is bustling with holidaymaker activity, and could be an interesting stopover if you have a small boat that can take the ground, as the harbour dries at low tide.

Quick links to adjacent harbours in Tor Bay, and area coverage: Brixham Harbour , Torquay Harbour (and Marina) , Channel West, (Scilly Isles to the Solent) ... read more

Locate Roundham Head, a low red cliff with white hotels, in the middle of the Torbay shoreline. You should spot Paignton Pier, and the harbour lies 1/4 mile south of this. Locate and identify the easterly cardinal lattice tower marking Black Rock ( Q(3)10s ),and make sure that you keep seawards of this at all times as it marks a rocky outcrop that dries 3.5 m above chart datum.

Further Pilotage and Harbour Entry.

 
Entry to this harbour is best made from a north easterly direction, and the approaches progressively dry out to a height of 1.8 m above chart datum at the visitors berths alongside the East Quay, giving depths of approximately 3 m at Springs, and nearly 2 m at neaps. As you approach the harbour from the north-east, you should come across a unique piece of buoyage consisting of a low red metal base, topped by a flagpole which in the summer months is supposed to be flying a "N" flag, but no top mark as such. The meaning of this mark is that vessels approach this harbour keeping to the port side of the fairway, ie drive on the left. This is the opposite of normal convention, but works with this harbour as the entrance is very narrow, and by keeping to the port side of the fairway you can see what is emerging before you make your entry. The approximate position of this buoy is marked on the chart by a red dot. At close quarters the narrow harbour entrance will be seen to be marked in huge letters " DEAD SLOW".
 
Visitors should contact the harbour office on VHF channel 14, callsign " Paignton Harbour", for berthing instructions, further advice and permission. Berthing is limited in the harbour, and it is best to check beforehand, you can telephone the harbour on 01803 557812. ... read more

Anchoring is possible anywhere in the Torbay area in westerly winds, anchor off to suit draft. Obviously there is no anchoring within Paignton harbour. Visitors to the harbour normally dry alongside the East Quay, or lay to fore and aft trot moorings within the harbour.(see photo). As mentioned above, it is wise to arrange the harbour authorities before attempting entry to this harbour.