Sandilands (Chapel St. Leonards Coast)
- Freeride, Bodyboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- 10–25 kts
- Wind Range
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Sandilands (Chapel St Leonards Coast) is a fairly exposed Lincolnshire beach break where surfing is described as fickle and unreliable, often working only occasionally. The beach is set up for both left and right-hand waves when a workable swell and suitable wind combine. For surf to be rideable, the strongest alignment described is a north (or north-northeast) swell with west winds providing cleaner/offshore conditions. When conditions miss—such as when the waves are too small or winds don’t line up—the surf can be flat or characterized by small, wind-blown chop, with wave quality noted as poor. Safety-wise, groynes are a key concern. Multiple sources highlight the abundance of groynes as a hazard for surfers and swimmers; local guidance is to avoid riding too close to them and to take care not to hit them, including checking groyne positions at low tide before going out. Rescue availability is limited and lifeguards are described as seasonal. Temperatures are consistently cold, with winter water readings in the single digits °C and summer only reaching the high teens by late summer. Winter wetsuit protection with a hood, gloves, and boots is specifically recommended, and conditions can also be affected by tides (with the launch space at low tide and significantly smaller at high tide).
- Exposed beach break with both left and right-hand waves
- Needs a specific combo of north swell and west wind for cleaner surf
- Wide sandy launch space, especially at low tide
- Groynes are a major on-beach hazard
- Expansive sandy launch space (particularly at low tide).
- Can work with the right northern swell and west offshore wind.
- Offers both left and right-hand waves.
- Unreliable, only occasionally rideable surf conditions.
- Many groynes create hazards; risk of hitting them while surfing/swimming.
- Cold water year-round.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W, WSW
- Offshore directions
- W, WSW
- Wind Range
- 10–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Winds described as frontal; also noted as West/Southwest with offshore-clean conditions when from the west.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gusting reported.
- Best Months
- January, February, March, October, November, December
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sand and shingle beach context; bottom reported as sand.
- Beach Size
- Tidal
- Waves
- Small — Surf often small; monthly breakdown notes most days are small.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Often flat or small wind-blown chop; east winds noted to create heavy chop.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy beach at low tide; significantly smaller at high tide.
Through the year
Quiet in winter; can be busy with families and tourists during July and August.
Rain is possible year-round; most frequent storms occur in late autumn and winter.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Possible on the wide beach, though less popular and often with messy conditions.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Suitable for coastal freeriding in onshore or cross-shore conditions; groynes require careful navigation.
- Sail Sizes
- 5–7.5 m²
Feasible but challenging due to shallow tidal nature and groynes; best at mid-to-high tide for more depth over sandbars.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil friendly reported as limited.
- Min Depth
- 1.2m
- Wing Sizes
- 5–6 m²
A fairly exposed, fickle beach break with unreliable waves that often works only occasionally. Best when a clean north swell wraps in; otherwise it can be flat or wind-blown chop with poor wave quality.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- N, NE
- Swell Height
- 1–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Works best at mid tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — General exposure; winds from the west are described as best.
- Wind Effect
- West winds are clean and offshore; East winds create heavy chop. West winds also match the best wind direction for cleaner waves.
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out on larger swells due to the shallow sandy bottom.
- Wave Quality
- Poor — Wave quality often poor; unreliable waves and largely small surf.
- Wave Power
- Soft — Wave power described as soft; surf often flat or small with wind-blown chop.
- Wave Shape
- Mushy — Often mushy/dumpy when conditions are not clean.
- Peel Speed
- Slow — Peel speed described as slow.
- Ride Length
- Short — Ride length typically short.
- Typical Ride Length
- 30–50 m
- Ride Length Details
- Typically 30–50 m when waves stand up; can be short and dumpy unless a clean swell wraps in from the north.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Sandilands (Chapel St. Leonards Coast) in the full forecast view.
Sandilands (Chapel St. Leonards Coast) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 5–30 ktsGusts 46 kts
- Direction
- SW221°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2430 kts
- Windy days
- 5/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–1.2 m4s period
- Temperature
- 6–15 °C
Over the next 7 days, Sandilands (Chapel St. Leonards Coast) is forecast for daytime winds of 5–30 kts, peaking around 30 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 46 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.1–1.2 m with a period of about 4s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- groynes
- Submerged groynes
- Rip currents
- Hard sea wall at high tide
- Cold water temperatures
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguards reported as seasonal.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability limited for the area.
- Emergency Info
- Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard in an emergency.
Rules of the spot
Check the groyne positions at low tide before heading out; be aware of bathers during summer months and respect any signposted zones.
- Seasonal dog restrictions on certain parts of the beach.
- Take care not to hit one of the groynes.
- Avoid riding too close to the groynes.
- Check groyne positions at low tide before heading out.
- Be aware of bathers during summer months.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Chapel St Leonards
- Nearest Town
- Chapel St Leonards
- Nearest Airport
- Humberside Airport (HUY) ~45–55 miles; East Midlands Airport (EMA) ~90 miles
- Parking
- Pay and display parking near the promenade and in local car parks.
- Public Transport
- Connected by bus services; local access is more limited than in larger resort areas and there is no direct rail to Chapel St Leonards.
- Access
- On the Lincolnshire coastline next to the resort town of Chapel St Leonards; accessible via local access roads and reached from the A1111 or A158. Described as a sand and shingle beach.
- Cost Level
- Budget
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Various caravan parks, guesthouses, and holiday rentals in Sandilands and Sutton-on-Sea.
- Food & Drink
- Local cafes and pubs are available in the village and along the promenade.
- Equipment Rental:
- No dedicated surf or kite rentals directly at Sandilands; options may be in nearby areas.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Purpose-built marine observatory at Chapel Point with views of the coastline and local birdlife.
Historic seafront structure undergoing modern redevelopment for community and arts space.
Walking and cycling trails through dunes and along the sea wall.
Popular cafe and restaurant located in Sandilands.
Rescues and rehabilitates orphaned seal pups found along the Lincolnshire coast.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Sandilands (Chapel St. Leonards Coast)?
The best overall months at Sandilands (Chapel St. Leonards Coast) are January, February, December. The best wind months are January, February, March, October, November, December.
Which wind directions work at Sandilands (Chapel St. Leonards Coast)?
Sandilands (Chapel St. Leonards Coast) works with W, WSW winds. Offshore directions are W, WSW.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Sandilands (Chapel St. Leonards Coast)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Sandilands (Chapel St. Leonards Coast): Kitesurfing: 9–14 m² · Windsurfing: 5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 5–6 m². The typical wind range is 10–25 kts.
What skill level is Sandilands (Chapel St. Leonards Coast) suitable for?
Sandilands (Chapel St. Leonards Coast) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Beginner.