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Breakwater Beach (Shoalstone)

Torbay, South West
Excellent Water Quality
Data last verified: 08 Aug 2026

Nestled within Torbay, South West, Breakwater Beach (Shoalstone) provides a welcoming shingle stretch of coastline. Having been designated as an official bathing water site in 1988, the location undergoes routine water quality assessments, currently rated Excellent. Visitors have access to parking, public toilets, and a café nearby. In addition, dogs are permitted during winter months.

17.1°C
Air Temp
2.2 mph
Wind Speed
High Tide
in 5h 29m
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Live Water Quality

95
Excellent
Safe for swimming
Updated 10 mins ago
Today's Conditions Updated 10 mins ago

Lifeguards

Unknown
Help us verify

Air Temp

17.1°C
Comfortable

Weather

Partly cloudy
17.1°C

Tide

High Tide
in 5h 29m

Water Quality

Excellent
Safe for swimming

Pollution Alerts

None
No alerts today

Quick Overview

Shingle beach
Family friendly
Dog friendly
(winter)
Parking nearby
Toilets
Café
Verified Information

Beach Information View all details

Beach Type
Shingle
Water Quality
Excellent
Avg. Air Temp
17.1°C
Swimming
Highly recommended

Community Photos

Insider Tips & Community Feed for Breakwater Beach (Shoalstone)

J
Jim
July 30, 2026
Insider Tip
The Car park and cafe are really close, it gets busy quickly though

Nearby Businesses View all

The Breakwater Bistro
restaurant
4.8 • 120m away
The Chart Room First Class Coffee Lounge
food store
4.8 • 120m away
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Reference Information

Full Tide Times
Low 08:06 -1.1m
High 14:36 1.0m
Low 20:54 -1.0m
High 03:19 0.9m
Sediment Type
Shingle

The shoreline consists primarily of shingle. Sediment type dictates underfoot comfort, wave energy absorption, and the water's clarity when currents stir up the seabed.

Annual Rating
Excellent

Water quality is classified as excellent, meeting the highest cleanliness standards. Bacterial counts (E. coli & Intestinal Enterococci) are consistently low, posing negligible health risks.

Rainfall Impact
Low Risk

This bathing water is generally resilient and has a low risk of quality degradation after heavy summer storm events.

Monitoring Authority
Environment Agency

Tested weekly by the Environment Agency England for bacteria levels (E. coli & Intestinal Enterococci) between May and September.

Water Body Type
Coastal Beach

Monitored as a coastal beach. Coastal beaches are subject to tidal flows and marine dilution, whereas inland lakes/rivers suffer from low water circulation, meaning bacteria can linger longer.

Sewerage Provider
South West Water Limited

South West Water Limited is the regional utility responsible for waste water treatment, sewage infrastructure, and storm overflow management in this catchment area.

Designated Year
1988

Officially designated as a protected bathing water site in 1988. This designation mandates regular public health monitoring.

County / District
Torbay

Governed under local district sanitation and environmental safety regulations in the Torbay area.

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