Outlaw Half Holkham
Holkham, United Kingdom · July · Outlaw Triathlon (Independent)
Why people love it
- Start and finish in front of Holkham Hall with an orange-carpet finish
- Seeded time-trial swim removes contact
- One-lap bike past Sandringham and Wells-next-the-Sea
- Festival weekend with on-site camping and lap crowds on the run
Watch out for
- Murky, weedy lake
- Three run laps, each starting with a climb to the Obelisk, about 7 km (4.3 mi) per lap
- Registration and bike racking are Saturday only; limited hotels on the remote coast
- Cut-offs: 1:20 swim plus T1, 4:00 bike plus T2, 9:00 total
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.2
Club reports call it one of the UK's most beautiful triathlons and an elite called it challenging but fast; only the murky water is criticised. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
Seeded time-trial start, strong volunteers and crowds; a 2017 mix-up at the swim exit sent the lead group the wrong way. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.4
No-contact time-trial swim and a one-lap bike with 645 m (2,116 ft) of ascent, but a three-lap run with a climb each lap. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.8
Described as challenging but fast; the 2017 winner ran 4:09:17 and the 2025 open winner 3:58:49. · Medium confidence
- Course easeTough3.0
Rolling bike and undulating run; an elite called it a tough, honest course. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.2
Early-July English lake water is usually cool enough for wetsuits, but no temperature or wetsuit data was published. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.2
Temperature is not reported, and the lake is described as murky with weed. · Low confidence
- Calm waterGlassy4.7
Sheltered private estate lake with a single loop round an island. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.2
Individual time-trial starts remove contact; one loop, though the 2017 lead group missed the exit. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.1
The Hall backdrop and neat start are attractive, but the water is murky and weedy. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.0
Norfolk lanes; no surface comments were found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.5
Public roads; closures are not stated on the organiser page. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.6
Described as a delightful ride round Norfolk lanes past Sandringham and Wells-next-the-Sea. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind2.9
Exposed north Norfolk coast, but no wind reports were found. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.9
Rolling with no steep gradients and 645 m (2,116 ft) of ascent over 91 km (56.5 mi); 2017 elite splits were 2:09 to 2:13. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.2
645 m (2,116 ft) over 91 km (56.5 mi) in 2017 sits in the hilly band for a half. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.9
One-lap rural route; a Fakenham roundabout was avoided from 2017. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.0
Three run laps pass crowds in front of the Hall, with club supporters cheering each lap. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
A 2019 preview says volunteers supply drinks around the course. · Low confidence
- Run scenerySpectacular4.5
Estate parkland, the Obelisk and Holkham Hall. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.9
Athletes called the run tough and honest; gravel and farm tracks, limited shade and cramps reported. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling2.7
Undulating, with a climb to the Obelisk at the start of each of three laps. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
Early July in coastal Norfolk; no temperatures published, typical highs roughly 18 to 24 °C (64 to 75 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
UK summer weather is changeable; a 2025 recap mentions soaked supporters. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.7
Holkham Hall estate, billed as the UK's most beautiful triathlon. · High confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.4
Three laps past the Hall, in a festival weekend with camping and other races. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
North Norfolk coast, essentially sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early2.6
Rural coast in summer; on-site camping helps but no hotel data was found. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.8
No price data; coastal Norfolk summer demand. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.6
On-site camping at the venue, with T1 in front of the Hall. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.6
Remote north Norfolk coast; Norwich is the nearest airport. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.0
Single estate site, but registration and bike racking are Saturday only. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.5
Wells-next-the-Sea is nearby. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Holkham, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- July
- Latest or next date
- 4 July 2027
- Organiser
- Outlaw Triathlon (Independent)
- Field size
- About 1,500 athletes
- First held
- 2016
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Swim 1:20 (swim and T1), Bike 4:00 on the bike and T2 (5:20 after your start), Finish 9:00 after wave start (run limit 3:40)
- Swim venue
- Private lake on the Holkham Estate (lake)
- Swim start
- time trial (pontoon starts at short intervals, seeded by submitted swim time)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 645 m (2,120 ft)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Short climb out of T1
- Run laps
- 3
- Run shade
- limited
- Nearest airport
- Norwich (NWI)
- Where to stay
- Wells-next-the-Sea, Holkham estate camping
- Booking
- Rural coast; on-site camping available all weekend plus holiday lets and hotels in Wells-next-the-Sea.
What racers and reviewers say
- Tri247: Outlaw Half Holkham delivers (2017)Raced 2017 · article · Positive
Report on a sunny day with about 1,300 starters. Calls it an incredible venue; notes the run is not easy and the lead group took a wrong turn at the swim exit.
“an absolutely incredible venue”
- Tri247: Outlaw Half Holkham changes 2017Raced 2017 · article · Positive
Announces a revised 91 km (56.5 mi) bike route with 645 m (2,116 ft) of ascent and a diversion around a Fakenham roundabout after athlete feedback.
- Tri247: Outlaw Half Holkham preview 2019Raced 2019 · article · Positive
Preview of the 2019 race: about 1,600 competitors, rolling bike, undulating run with limited shade, and volunteers providing drinks around the course.
- Petersfield Post: club members race Holkham 2021Raced 2021 · article · Mixed
Local club report: murky lake with weed and duck droppings, a 56 mi (90 km (55.9 mi)) ride past Sandringham, and three 7 km (4.3 mi) run loops each beginning with a climb to the Obelisk and ending in front of crowds.
- Belvoir Tri Club: Outlaw Half Holkham 2021Raced 2021 · blog · Positive
Club write-up of the 4 July 2021 race: Hall as backdrop to swim and transitions, a challenging run that cramped some athletes and club supporters cheering every lap. Calls it one of the UK's most beautiful triathlons.
“a really tough, honest course”
Show 1 more
- Outlaw: Podium moments Outlaw Half Holkham 2025Raced 2025 · article · Positive
Organiser recap: open winner 3:58:49, women's winner 4:35:55, tight podium finishes, a demanding day with no freebies and crowds and volunteers on the run.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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