Hayling Island

Despite a steep shingle beach that can make high tide a challenge, Hayling Island's classic location at Beachlands is something of a windsurfing mecca and until recently hosted Britain's annual National Windsurfing Festival (which moved inland to a more central, family-friendly venue in 2017). A sandbank 800m offshore generates reasonable waves, and forms a shallow lagoon at low tide that's fantastic for beginners. Kiters must be members of CBK Kitesurf Club to ride here, but are free to launch further east near 'Coastguard Café'. At high tide windsurfers can find flat water near the bridge at 'Northney Marina’ or behind the Esso petrol station at 'Langstone Harbour’.