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OldwayPhoto: Ianmacm at English Wikipedia · Public domain
AOutdoors Grade
Outdoors in Paignton · parks, paths & countryside

Paignton is on the coast, on the South West Coast Path

The sea makes up 26% of the area within 5 km. The South Devon National Landscape reaches the edge of Paignton. Parks and playing fields in Paignton add up to 1.8 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. Paignton grades A for the outdoors: #5 of 47 in Devon. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.

Green space
1.8 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
84%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
157 km
3.1 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
20%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: South Devon National Landscape
The sea
26%
of the area within 5 km
A coastal town
Character

What kind of outdoors town is Paignton?

Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.

Paignton’s strongest suit is the sea, followed by its views. Where it falls short is park space per person.

Outdoors grade

Paignton grades A for the outdoors

Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Paignton, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.

A
Better than 85% of UK towns#5 of 47 in Devon · 18th of 60 UK towns its size
Public green space1.8 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
typical 2.1 ha010+
38out of
100
A park within a walk84%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
typical 83%0100+
54out of
100
National Park or National Landscape20%of the land within 5 km
none100+
78out of
100
Footpaths3.1 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
typical 3.0 km010+
62out of
100
The sea26%of the area within 5 km
none80+
91out of
100

Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.

Towns its size

Paignton is 18th of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors

The 60 UK towns and cities of 55,200 to 82,200 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.

0255075100Kidderminster (Worcestershire): D · 1.2 ha green space per 1,000 · 72% near a park · 2.6 km path per km²Burton upon Trent (Staffordshire): C− · 1.9 ha green space per 1,000 · 74% near a park · 2.4 km path per km²Crewe (Cheshire): C · 1.6 ha green space per 1,000 · 88% near a park · 2.3 km path per km²Stourbridge (West Midlands): C · 1.9 ha green space per 1,000 · 72% near a park · 3 km path per km²Scunthorpe (Lincolnshire): C · 2.2 ha green space per 1,000 · 91% near a park · 1.7 km path per km²Loughborough (Leicestershire): C · 1.4 ha green space per 1,000 · 73% near a park · 4.4 km path per km²Bognor Regis (West Sussex): C · 1.1 ha green space per 1,000 · 78% near a park · 2.3 km path per km²Walsall (West Midlands): C+ · 2.5 ha green space per 1,000 · 75% near a park · 3 km path per km²Shrewsbury (Shropshire): C+ · 1.6 ha green space per 1,000 · 87% near a park · 3.4 km path per km²Woking (Surrey): C+ · 1.7 ha green space per 1,000 · 67% near a park · 6.5 km path per km²Halesowen (West Midlands): C+ · 2.1 ha green space per 1,000 · 77% near a park · 3.6 km path per km²Smethwick (West Midlands): C+ · 2 ha green space per 1,000 · 88% near a park · 3.1 km path per km²Stafford (Staffordshire): B− · 1.9 ha green space per 1,000 · 70% near a park · 3.1 km path per km²Kettering (Northamptonshire): B− · 2.1 ha green space per 1,000 · 90% near a park · 3.3 km path per km²Bury (Greater Manchester): B− · 2.4 ha green space per 1,000 · 82% near a park · 3.8 km path per km²Brentwood (Essex): B− · 3.9 ha green space per 1,000 · 69% near a park · 3.7 km path per km²Tamworth (Staffordshire): B− · 2.7 ha green space per 1,000 · 89% near a park · 3 km path per km²Rugby (Warwickshire): B− · 2.8 ha green space per 1,000 · 92% near a park · 2.8 km path per km²Margate (Kent): B · 1.8 ha green space per 1,000 · 88% near a park · 2.1 km path per km²Wigan (Greater Manchester): B · 2.7 ha green space per 1,000 · 81% near a park · 4 km path per km²Rotherham (South Yorkshire): B · 3.1 ha green space per 1,000 · 73% near a park · 4.9 km path per km²Corby (Northamptonshire): B · 3.4 ha green space per 1,000 · 96% near a park · 2.6 km path per km²Barrow-in-Furness (Cumbria): B · 2 ha green space per 1,000 · 91% near a park · 1.9 km path per km²Sale (Greater Manchester): B · 2 ha green space per 1,000 · 86% near a park · 5.8 km path per km²Taunton (Somerset): B · 1.2 ha green space per 1,000 · 80% near a park · 4.9 km path per km²Widnes (Cheshire): B · 3 ha green space per 1,000 · 86% near a park · 2.1 km path per km²Ellesmere Port (Cheshire): B · 2.8 ha green space per 1,000 · 90% near a park · 1.9 km path per km²Huyton with Roby (Merseyside): B+ · 3.7 ha green space per 1,000 · 89% near a park · 3.2 km path per km²Bebington (Merseyside): B+ · 3 ha green space per 1,000 · 86% near a park · 2.2 km path per km²Maidenhead (Berkshire): B+ · 1.8 ha green space per 1,000 · 83% near a park · 4.1 km path per km²Dewsbury (West Yorkshire): B+ · 3.3 ha green space per 1,000 · 92% near a park · 3.7 km path per km²Mansfield (Nottinghamshire): B+ · 2.7 ha green space per 1,000 · 93% near a park · 4.6 km path per km²Redditch (Worcestershire): A− · 4.1 ha green space per 1,000 · 84% near a park · 5.2 km path per km²Harrogate (North Yorkshire): A− · 2.9 ha green space per 1,000 · 86% near a park · 3.6 km path per km²Dudley (West Midlands): A− · 3.4 ha green space per 1,000 · 91% near a park · 5.2 km path per km²St Albans (Hertfordshire): A− · 3.7 ha green space per 1,000 · 95% near a park · 4.2 km path per km²Carlisle (Cumbria): A− · 3.2 ha green space per 1,000 · 91% near a park · 3.1 km path per km²Lowestoft (Suffolk): A− · 1.8 ha green space per 1,000 · 79% near a park · 3 km path per km²Newcastle-under-Lyme (Staffordshire): A− · 5.2 ha green space per 1,000 · 94% near a park · 4 km path per km²Hereford (Herefordshire): A− · 2.6 ha green space per 1,000 · 92% near a park · 3.6 km path per km²Chesterfield (Derbyshire): A− · 2.7 ha green space per 1,000 · 86% near a park · 4.4 km path per km²Tynemouth (Tyne and Wear): A− · 2.2 ha green space per 1,000 · 85% near a park · 4.6 km path per km²Paignton (Devon): A · 1.8 ha green space per 1,000 · 84% near a park · 3.1 km path per km²Farnborough (Hampshire): A · 4 ha green space per 1,000 · 77% near a park · 4.9 km path per km²South Shields (Tyne and Wear): A · 2.4 ha green space per 1,000 · 80% near a park · 5.1 km path per km²Gosport (Hampshire): A · 3 ha green space per 1,000 · 85% near a park · 3.4 km path per km²Bracknell (Berkshire): A · 3.7 ha green space per 1,000 · 97% near a park · 5.3 km path per km²Barnsley (South Yorkshire): A · 4.3 ha green space per 1,000 · 95% near a park · 5.4 km path per km²Weymouth (Dorset): A · 2.6 ha green space per 1,000 · 55% near a park · 3.5 km path per km²Barry (South Glamorgan): A · 2.9 ha green space per 1,000 · 94% near a park · 3.3 km path per km²Chatham (Kent): A · 1.6 ha green space per 1,000 · 78% near a park · 6.4 km path per km²Gravesend (Kent): A · 1.4 ha green space per 1,000 · 84% near a park · 6.4 km path per km²Cannock (Staffordshire): A · 5.5 ha green space per 1,000 · 88% near a park · 3.5 km path per km²Scarborough (North Yorkshire): A · 2.4 ha green space per 1,000 · 86% near a park · 3.1 km path per km²Guildford (Surrey): A · 2.8 ha green space per 1,000 · 86% near a park · 6.1 km path per km²Ashford (Kent): A · 2.7 ha green space per 1,000 · 94% near a park · 5.2 km path per km²Runcorn (Cheshire): A · 4.9 ha green space per 1,000 · 87% near a park · 4.6 km path per km²Dartford (Kent): A · 3.9 ha green space per 1,000 · 72% near a park · 5.1 km path per km²Burnley (Lancashire): A+ · 3.4 ha green space per 1,000 · 95% near a park · 5.7 km path per km²Rochester (Kent): A+ · 2.4 ha green space per 1,000 · 92% near a park · 4.6 km path per km²Paignton
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Paignton3.1
Towns its size3.6
Devon towns1.8
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Paignton1.8
Towns its size2.6
Devon towns1.9
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Paignton84%
Towns its size86%
Devon towns84%
All UK towns83%

Paignton falls furthest behind on park space per resident, where 49 of the 59 others do better.

Show as a table
TownOutdoorsGreen spaceNear a parkPath per km²Protected
1Rochester KentA+2.492%4.623%
2Burnley LancashireA+3.495%5.77%
3Dartford KentA3.972%5.11%
4Runcorn CheshireA4.987%4.60%
5Ashford KentA2.794%5.223%
6Guildford SurreyA2.886%6.131%
7Cannock StaffordshireA5.588%3.526%
8Scarborough North YorkshireA2.486%3.117%
9Gravesend KentA1.484%6.414%
10Chatham KentA1.678%6.426%
11Barry South GlamorganA2.994%3.30%
12Weymouth DorsetA2.655%3.535%
13Barnsley South YorkshireA4.395%5.40%
14Bracknell BerkshireA3.797%5.30%
15Gosport HampshireA385%3.40%
16South Shields Tyne and WearA2.480%5.10%
17Farnborough HampshireA477%4.93%
18Paignton DevonA1.884%3.120%
19Tynemouth Tyne and WearA−2.285%4.60%
20Chesterfield DerbyshireA−2.786%4.44%
21Hereford HerefordshireA−2.692%3.66%
22Newcastle-under-Lyme StaffordshireA−5.294%40%
23Lowestoft SuffolkA−1.879%317%
24Carlisle CumbriaA−3.291%3.14%
25St Albans HertfordshireA−3.795%4.20%
26Dudley West MidlandsA−3.491%5.20%
27Harrogate North YorkshireA−2.986%3.66%
28Redditch WorcestershireA−4.184%5.20%
29Mansfield NottinghamshireB+2.793%4.60%
30Dewsbury West YorkshireB+3.392%3.70%
31Maidenhead BerkshireB+1.883%4.13%
32Bebington MerseysideB+386%2.20%
33Huyton with Roby MerseysideB+3.789%3.20%
34Ellesmere Port CheshireB2.890%1.90%
35Widnes CheshireB386%2.10%
36Taunton SomersetB1.280%4.916%
37Sale Greater ManchesterB286%5.80%
38Barrow-in-Furness CumbriaB291%1.90%
39Corby NorthamptonshireB3.496%2.60%
40Rotherham South YorkshireB3.173%4.90%
41Wigan Greater ManchesterB2.781%40%
42Margate KentB1.888%2.10%
43Rugby WarwickshireB−2.892%2.80%
44Tamworth StaffordshireB−2.789%30%
45Brentwood EssexB−3.969%3.70%
46Bury Greater ManchesterB−2.482%3.80%
47Kettering NorthamptonshireB−2.190%3.30%
48Stafford StaffordshireB−1.970%3.111%
49Smethwick West MidlandsC+288%3.10%
50Halesowen West MidlandsC+2.177%3.60%
51Woking SurreyC+1.767%6.50%
52Shrewsbury ShropshireC+1.687%3.40%
53Walsall West MidlandsC+2.575%30%
54Bognor Regis West SussexC1.178%2.30%
55Loughborough LeicestershireC1.473%4.40%
56Scunthorpe LincolnshireC2.291%1.70%
57Stourbridge West MidlandsC1.972%30%
58Crewe CheshireC1.688%2.30%
59Burton upon Trent StaffordshireC−1.974%2.40%
60Kidderminster WorcestershireD1.272%2.60%
The map

Parks, footpaths & countryside

Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Paignton’s built-up area.

12345678
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk

Parks to walk in, in and around Paignton

The biggest is Preston Park, 36 ha (88 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.

All 27 named parks by size: 85 ha (210 acres) and 22 km of pathPreston Park36 ha · 7.7 km of pathPreston Park: 36 ha, 7.7 km of pathOldway7.0 ha · 2.3…Oldway: 7.0 ha, 2.3 km of pathGoodringto…5.8 ha · 1.9…Goodrington Park: 5.8 ha, 1.9 km of pathVictoria…4.9 ha · 2 k…Victoria Park: 4.9 ha, 2 km of pathChapel Hi…3.6 ha · 1.4…Chapel Hill Pleasure Grounds: 3.6 ha, 1.4 km of pathThe Green3.2 ha · 0.3…The Green: 3.2 ha, 0.3 km of path3 haAbbey Park: 3.1 ha, 0.6 km of path3 haTorre Abbey Meadows: 2.8 ha, 0.4 km of path3 haQueen's Park: 2.6 ha2 haRoundham Gardens: 2.4 ha, 0.4 km of path2 haTorre Valley North Playing Field: 2.4 haHollicom…1.9 ha · 0…Hollicombe Park: 1.9 ha, 0.7 km of path1 haPreston Green: 1.3 ha, 0.1 km of path1 haCliff Gardens: 1.1 ha, 1.2 km of path1 haSherwell Park: 1.0 ha, 0.4 km of path1 haSt Matthew's Field: 0.8 ha1 haKitson Park: 0.8 ha, 0.3 km of path1 haThe King's Gardens: 0.8 ha, 0.9 km of path1 haVictoria Park: 0.8 ha1 haCoombe Valley Park: 0.7 haWhitley Recreation Ground: 0.7 haPreston Gardens: 0.5 ha, 0.4 km of pathTwo Parks: 0.4 ha, 0.2 km of pathAshfield Gardens: 0.3 haGoodrington Village Green: 0.3 haThe Burma Star Garden: 0.2 ha, 0.2 km of pathPalace Avenue Gardens: 0.2 ha, 0.3 km of path
Parks & gardens 79 haPlaying fields 5.7 ha

The two biggest, Preston Park and Oldway, are 50% of the named green space and carry 10 km of path between them. 16 of the 27 are under 2 ha: small gardens, play spaces and pitches.

Paignton’s biggest

Preston Park

Park or garden
36 ha (88 acres)7.7 km of path
1 h 45 minto walk all 7.7 km of path
50 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.4 mi northfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Historic park · Grade II

Oldway

Park or garden
7.0 ha (17 acres)2.3 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.3 km of path
10 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Paignton
Oldway Mansion Grade II* +10 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance

Goodrington Park

Park or garden
5.8 ha (14 acres)1.9 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.9 km of path
8 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.1 mi southfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance

Victoria Park

Park or garden
4.9 ha (12 acres)2.0 km of path
25 minto walk all 2 km of path
7 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Paignton
Directionsto the nearest entrance

Chapel Hill Pleasure Grounds

Park or garden · 50 m outside town
3.6 ha (9 acres)1.4 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.4 km of path
5 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
2.4 mi north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance

Abbey Park

Park or garden · 210 m outside town
3.1 ha (8 acres)0.6 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
4 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
2 mi north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance

The Green

Park or garden
3.2 ha (8 acres)0.3 km of path
4 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.6 mi south-eastfrom the centre
Playground
Directionsto the nearest entrance

Torre Abbey Meadows

Park or garden · 10 m outside town
2.8 ha (7 acres)0.4 km of path
4 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.8 mi north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
All 27 named parks and green spaces
Preston ParkPark or garden · 36 ha · 7.7 km of path
Directions
OldwayPark or garden · 7.0 ha · 2.3 km of path
Directions
Goodrington ParkPark or garden · 5.8 ha · 1.9 km of path
Directions
Victoria ParkPark or garden · 4.9 ha · 2.0 km of path
Directions
Chapel Hill Pleasure GroundsPark or garden · 3.6 ha · 1.4 km of path · just outside town
Directions
Abbey ParkPark or garden · 3.1 ha · 0.6 km of path · just outside town
Directions
The GreenPark or garden · 3.2 ha · 0.3 km of path
Directions
Torre Abbey MeadowsPark or garden · 2.8 ha · 0.4 km of path · just outside town
Directions
Cliff GardensPark or garden · 1.1 ha · 1.2 km of path
Directions
Roundham GardensPark or garden · 2.4 ha · 0.4 km of path
Directions
Hollicombe ParkPark or garden · 1.9 ha · 0.7 km of path
Directions
The King's GardensPark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.9 km of path
Directions
Sherwell ParkPark or garden · 1.0 ha · 0.4 km of path
Directions
Queen's ParkPlaying field · 2.6 ha
Directions
Preston GreenPark or garden · 1.3 ha · 0.1 km of path
Directions
Torre Valley North Playing FieldPlaying field · 2.4 ha
Directions
Kitson ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.3 km of path
Directions
Preston GardensPark or garden · 0.5 ha · 0.4 km of path
Directions
Palace Avenue GardensPark or garden · 0.2 ha · 0.3 km of path
Directions
St Matthew's FieldPark or garden · 0.8 ha
Directions
Two ParksPark or garden · 0.4 ha · 0.2 km of path
Directions
Victoria ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha
Directions
Coombe Valley ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha
Directions
The Burma Star GardenPark or garden · 0.2 ha · 0.2 km of path
Directions
Whitley Recreation GroundPlaying field · 0.7 ha
Directions
Ashfield GardensPark or garden · 0.3 ha
Directions
Goodrington Village GreenPark or garden · 0.3 ha
Directions
Close to home

8 in 10 Paignton residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park

Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).

Within 400 m (84%)Further (16%)
Paignton84%
Towns its size86%
Devon towns84%
All UK towns83%

About 11,000 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 76 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 888 residents.

National Parks & National Landscapes

National Parks and National Landscapes around Paignton

Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.

3 mi6 mi9 mi12 miNSouth Devonat the edgeSouth Devon National Landscape: At Paignton’s edge, south · 340 km² · since 1960Dartmoor6.5 mi north-westDartmoor National Park: 6.5 mi north-west of Paignton’s edge · 956 km² · since 1951East Devon11 mi north-eastEast Devon National Landscape: 11 mi north-east of Paignton’s edge · 269 km² · since 1963Paignton
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
National Landscape

South Devon

At the edge south340 km²since 196020% of the land within 5 km
Official site
National Park

Dartmoor

6.5 mi north-west956 km²since 1951
Official site
National Landscape

East Devon

11 mi north-east269 km²since 1963
Official site

20% of the land within 5 km of Paignton is National Park or National Landscape, more than 77% of UK towns. Dartmoor National Park covers 956 km² and has been a National Park since 1951.

Footpaths & waymarked walks

Paignton is on the South West Coast Path

157 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Paignton and the kilometre around it, 3.1 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.

NationalRegionalLocal
John Musgrave Heritage Trail19.3 km
South West Coast Path (Section 42: Brixham to Babbacombe)14.2 km
Orange Way12.2 km
Greenway Walk8.6 km
Torbay Totnes Trail (3T)8.1 km
Torquay Harbour Trail2.3 km

The South West Coast Path, a national route, passes Paignton. Close to home, the Greenway Walk has 9 km of local walk within 2 km of the town. 2 regional routes pass through, including the John Musgrave Heritage Trail and Orange Way.

Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.

History along the way

A historic park in the middle of Paignton

Historic England’s register of parks and gardens, and the listed buildings and scheduled monuments that stand inside Paignton’s named parks.

Registered park · Grade II

Oldway

7.0 ha. Part of Oldway Mansion, a registered historic park (Grade II). 11 listed structures and monuments stand inside it or at its edge.

II*Oldway MansionIICourtyard Arch and Screen Walls at West End of Oldway Mansion CourtyardIIFormer Riding School and Banqueting House at Oldway MansionIIGrotto South East of Oldway MansionIILamp Standard Immediately West of Courtyard Archway at Oldway MansionIITerrace Wall with 14 Urns to Terrace East and South East of Oldway MansionIITerrace Wall, Steps and Statue South East of Oldway MansionIITerrace Walls, And Rustic Seat at South End of South Garden at Oldway MansionIIWalls to Court East and North Eat of Oldway Mansion, Including Pair of SphinxesIIWalls to Entrance to Oldway MansionIIWalls, Steps and Sphinxes to Garden South of Oldway Mansion
Listed buildings insidePreston GardensNo. 30, OLD TORQUAY ROAD and 32 and 34, Old Torquay Road
Heritage walks
John Musgrave Heritage Trail 19.3 km

A listed building or monument counts when it sits inside the park’s OS Open Greenspace outline (to about 15 m), so a few at the boundary are included. Historic England, National Heritage List for England.

When to get out

The best walking months in Paignton: May to September

The town’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Daylight (h)8.510.011.713.715.416.416.014.512.510.68.98.0
High (°C)9911131619212119151210
Rain (mm)1329682696064577770122126135

July is the driest month (57 mm) and the warmest (highs of 21 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 135 mm of rain falls in December, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 15 nights a year. The climate in Paignton →

The coast

The coast and beaches near Paignton

26% of the area within 5 km of Paignton is sea. 58 beaches are mapped within 5 km, 29 with a name.

Corbyn BeachIn town
Directions
Livermead BeachIn town
Directions
Fairy Cove0.0 mi from town
Directions
Institute Beach0.0 mi from town
Directions
Paignton Beach0.0 mi from town
Directions
Preston Sands0.0 mi from town
Directions
Goodrington Sands (North)0.0 mi from town
Directions
Hollicombe Beach0.0 mi from town
Directions
Elberry Cove0.1 mi from town
Directions
Broad Sands0.2 mi from town
Directions
Torre Abbey Sands0.2 mi from town
Directions
Beacon Cove0.8 mi from town
Directions

The South West Coast Path passes the town.

Sea: the area outside the ONS coastline (mean high water). Bathing water quality is published by the Environment Agency (England) and Natural Resources Wales; check it before swimming.

Things to do

14 viewpoints and 76 playgrounds

Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK town its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.

Every named place, with directions

Viewpoints 14

Land's End1.0 mi from town
Directions

Plus 13 viewpoints without a name on the map.

Hills and peaks 17

Clennon Hillin town
Directions
Windmill Hill0.0 mi from town
Directions
Round Hill0.0 mi from town
Directions
Sugar Loaf Hill0.0 mi from town
Directions
Tor Hill0.3 mi from town
Directions
Beacon Hill196 m (643 ft) · 0.7 mi from town
Directions
Vane Hill0.8 mi from town
Directions
Brim Hill80 m (262 ft) · 1.0 mi from town
Directions

Plus 9 hills and peaks without a name on the map.

Nature reserves 1

Plus 1 nature reserve without a name on the map.

Picnic sites 12

Picnic Areain town
Directions
The Great Grillerin town
Directions
The Hang Outin town
Directions

Plus 9 picnic sites without a name on the map.

Playgrounds 76

Paignton Geoparkin town
Directions
Rocket Park Playgroundin town
Directions
Wild Fox Adventure Playgroundin town
Directions
North Boundary Road Playground0.9 mi from town
Directions

Plus 72 playgrounds without a name on the map.

Campsites 4

Whitehill Country Park0.3 mi from town
Directions
Broadleigh Farm0.7 mi from town
Directions
Widdecombe Farm Touring Park0.7 mi from town
Directions
Higher Well Farm0.8 mi from town
Directions

Slipways 6

Plus 6 slipways without a name on the map.

Next door

The outdoors in nearby towns

The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.

ABCDOutdoors Grade
TownOutdoorsGreen space, ha per 1,000Near a parkProtected within 5 km
PaigntonA1.884%20%
Marldon 1.4 miA−4.170%3%
Torquay 3.1 miB+1.887%0%
Stoke Gabriel 3.5 miC+1.270%30%
Kingskerswell 4.1 miC+3.576%0%
Brixham 4.2 miA3.176%30%
Ipplepen 4.3 miD−0.842%0%

Brixham, 4.2 miles away, grades A, the best next door: 76% of its residents live within 400 m of a park. Marldon has at least twice Paignton’s green space per resident.

Questions about the outdoors in Paignton

What is the biggest park in Paignton?

Preston Park, 36 ha (88 acres), with 7.7 km of path. Oldway (7.0 ha) is second. 27 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.

Is Paignton near a National Park?

Yes. Dartmoor National Park begins 6.5 mi north-west of the town’s edge. It covers 956 km² and has been a National Park since 1951. The nearest protected landscape of any kind is the South Devon National Landscape, at the edge of the town.

What are the best walks near Paignton?

6 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the John Musgrave Heritage Trail, South West Coast Path (Section 42: Brixham to Babbacombe) and Orange Way. Preston Park alone has 7.7 km of path.

How many people in Paignton live near a park?

84% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.

When is the best time of year for walking in Paignton?

May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.

Which parks in Paignton are historic?

Oldway Mansion (Grade II) is on Historic England’s register of parks and gardens.

Is Paignton good for walking?

For paths, yes: 3.1 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 62% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 38% (1.8 ha per 1,000 residents).

How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?

From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Paignton’s overall grade.

Sources

Where Paignton’s outdoors figures come from

  • Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
  • National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
  • Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
  • Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
  • Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
  • The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
  • Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.