Wimbleball 70.3 (Wimbleball Sports Festival)
Brompton Regis (Wimbleball Lake), United Kingdom · August · Sportiva Events (Independent)
Not a standard 70.3. This course is 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 93 km (58 mi) bike, 21 km (13.0 mi) run, not the usual 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run. 1.9 km (1.2 mi) / 93 km (58 mi) / 21 km (13.1 mi).
Why people love it
- Wimbleball Lake: a clean, scenic reservoir swim with a venue history that stretches back to IRONMAN 70.3 Exmoor
- Exmoor bike over long, lumpy climbs on quiet lanes
- Trail run laps around the lake with plenty of run aid stations
- Sportiva crew and marshals are consistently praised
Watch out for
- Very hilly: the 2018 route had over 5,000 ft (1,520 m (4,990 ft)) of ascent in 56 miles (90 km (55.9 mi))
- Only one bike feed station; bottle hand-ups were not always staffed in 2026
- No bag drop at transition in 2026; late communication
- Wet, cold weather can hit the finish on Exmoor
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 satisfactionLoved4.1
Middle-distance finishers in 2026 are warm about the venue and marshals, with tough-course comments rather than complaints. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
Marshals and registration praised; late communication, few bike feed stops and a missing bag drop were noted. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.8
One entrant did a first middle with little training, but climbs and a hill out of the lake make it hard. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow1.9
Long Exmoor climbs and a hilly trail run point to some of the slowest half times in the set. · Medium confidence
- Course easeVery tough1.6
Reviewers call the course tough, with a mammoth hill out of the lake. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.5
Late-summer Exmoor lake is normally comfortable in a wetsuit; no temperature published. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.9
Reviewers call the water clean and the swim beautiful; temperature not published. · Low confidence
- Calm waterGlassy4.5
Sheltered reservoir; no chop mentioned. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.6
Two laps with large buoys, but the lap turn clashed with swimmers from other races. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.4
Beautiful, clean lake in Exmoor scenery. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.0
Quiet lanes, some very narrow; no surface complaints. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.3
Quiet public lanes, not closed; one vehicle nearly hit an Iron entrant near transition. · Low confidence
- Bike scenerySpectacular4.6
Exmoor roads described as challenging and scenic. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind2.9
Exposed Exmoor roads in changeable weather. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedSlow1.9
Demanding two-lap Exmoor course with long climbs. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMountainous1.4
The 2018 route held over 5,000 ft (1,520 m (4,990 ft)) of climbing in 56 miles (90 km (55.9 mi)); reviewers still call the course hard and hilly. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.5
Descents, narrow lanes and junctions need good bike skills according to the organiser. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.0
Festival atmosphere, but the field is small and the course remote. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.3
Run aid plentiful; bike drink station inadequate and bottle hand-ups were missed. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.2
Trails around Wimbleball Lake. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsHard2.3
Hilly trail run after a tough bike, with cold, wet finishing conditions in 2026. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessHilly1.9
A reviewer found the climb out of the lake harder than a full marathon at IRONMAN Wales. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.3
Late-August Exmoor can be hot or cold and wet. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.7
Reviewers report wet, cold weather; the 2018 edition was hot. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.7
Lake, Exmoor hills and a festival base. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.6
Laps near the lake give viewing but the bike is remote. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.1
Wimbleball Lake lies around 300 m (1,000 ft) above sea level. · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.2
Rural Exmoor; lodging is limited to small towns and camping. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
No athlete discussed accommodation cost. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.5
Race HQ on the lake with camping. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.5
Remote Exmoor: about 60 km (37 mi) from Exeter airport with limited public transport. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
Single venue, though a bag drop and clear comms were requested. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine2.8
Festival catering at the lake; small villages nearby. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Brompton Regis (Wimbleball Lake), Somerset, England, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 29 August 2027
- Organiser
- Sportiva Events (Independent)
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 93 km (58 mi) bike, 21 km (13.0 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Wimbleball Lake (reservoir)
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 2
- Bike laps
- 2
- Key climbs
- Repeated long Exmoor climbs
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- some
- Nearest airport
- Exeter (EXT), 60 km (37 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Dulverton, Wiveliscombe, Tiverton
- Booking
- Exmoor National Park; stay in Dulverton, Wiveliscombe, Minehead or Tiverton. Camping at the lake.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceCheck: Steve M.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Very well organised with helpful staff from registration to on-course marshals. Transition could be bigger, but it was a tough, enjoyable day.
- RaceCheck: Naomi N.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Well coordinated race with a beautiful swim and a phenomenal challenge. Wants more bike water stations on a really hard, hilly course and a bag drop; run aid was plentiful.
- RaceCheck: Jayson G.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
IRONMAN Wales veteran who found the run harder than the Wales marathon thanks to a mammoth hill out of the lake. Annoyed that bike bottle hand-ups were not attended, there was no bag drop (kit got soaked) and the finish chute was used on the first lap.
- RaceCheck: Trevor P.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Podium finisher who found the water clean and had no health issues afterwards; he would have preferred a full podium ceremony rather than being called up early.
- RaceCheck: Andy R.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Well run and very friendly, with timing-chip pick-up instead of pre-registration. Detailed communication came only on the Tuesday before the race and run course details were hard to find.
Show 4 more
- RaceCheck: Steven B.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
First middle distance with little training and loved it: great people, well organised and an amazing location.
- RaceCheck: Thomas M.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Helpful pre-race briefing and great marshals. Wants earlier signs where the 70.3 and standard bike routes split and more markers on the first run lap.
- RaceCheck: anonymous 2026 reviewerRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Run start junctions had arrows in several directions with no marshal. Wished for hot tea and cake at the cold, wet finish.
- TRI247: Immortal Half Wimbleball Triathlon Report 2018Raced 2018 · article · Positive
Report of the post-IRONMAN edition: 126 athletes started a 1.9 km (1.2 mi) one-lap swim at 7 a.m. in perfect conditions, a 56-mile two-lap bike with long tough climbs totalling over 5,000 ft (1,520 m (4,990 ft)), and a three-lap half marathon on lakeside trails that got hot.
Sources
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