Wimbleball Iron Distance Triathlon
Brompton Regis (Wimbleball Lake), United Kingdom · August · Sportiva Events (Independent)
Why people love it
- Exmoor full-distance triathlon at a historic triathlon lake
- Four-lap swim in a clean, scenic reservoir
- Bike climbs about 3,280 m (10,762 ft) on quiet lanes per event listings
- Four-lap trail run past the lake with plenty of aid
Watch out for
- Only the 2026 edition exists, so evidence is thin: two full-distance reviews
- Bike is listed as 174 km (108 mi) but promoted as 180 km (112 mi)
- Tight final lane into transition and mixed traffic with other races at the swim turn
- Cold, wet weather can hit late in the day 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 satisfactionLoved3.9
Only a handful of full-distance finishers in the first revival year; both are positive but flag a safety point and a tough course. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
Staff praised in 2026; first-year gaps included swim-turn crossings, bike feed stops and no bag drop. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyExperts only1.3
Climbing of about 3,280 m (10,762 ft) over 174 km (108 mi) and a long hilly run is not suited to debut ironmen. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialVery slow1.1
One of the hilliest long-course bikes in the set, plus a four-lap trail run. · Medium confidence
- Course easeExtreme1.2
Roughly 3,280 m (10,762 ft) of climbing on the bike plus a trail marathon. · 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 wetsuit-friendly; no temperature published. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.9
Reviewers describe clean water and a beautiful swim; no temperature published. · Low confidence
- Calm waterGlassy4.5
Sheltered reservoir; no chop mentioned. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.0
Four laps with a turn point that other races' swimmers also use. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.3
Clean, scenic lake in Exmoor, though multiple races share the course. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.0
Quiet lanes; some very narrow with no reported surface complaints. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.0
Public lanes with marshals; a van nearly hit an entrant near transition. · Low confidence
- Bike scenerySpectacular4.5
Exmoor scenery over four laps. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind2.7
Exposed Exmoor roads over four laps in changeable weather. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedVery slow1.2
Roughly 3,280 m (10,762 ft) of climbing on a 174 km (108 mi) course makes for slow splits. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMountainous1.2
The 3,280 m (10,762 ft) of ascent far exceeds the 2,500 m (8,200 ft) mountainous threshold. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicityTechnical2.4
Narrow lanes, descents and a tight final lane into transition. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.0
Festival base at the lake, but a small field and remote bike course. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.2
Run aid is plentiful but the bike feed station was criticised as too sparse. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.2
Trails around Wimbleball Lake. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsHard2.0
Hard trail marathon after a hilly bike, often in cold or wet conditions. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessHilly1.8
Four laps of rolling trail with a big hill out of the lake. · Low 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
Wet, cold conditions reported in 2026. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.7
Lake and Exmoor hills. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
Multi-lap swim and run bring athletes past the lake many times. · 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; limited lodging 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. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
Single venue, though a bag drop and clearer comms were requested. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine2.8
Festival catering; 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)
- First held
- 2026
- Distances
- 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Finish midnight (17:30 after the 06:30 start)
- Swim venue
- Wimbleball Lake (reservoir)
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 4
- Bike climbing
- 3,280 m (10,760 ft)
- Bike laps
- 4
- Key climbs
- Four repeats of the Exmoor lap
- Run laps
- 4
- 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: Anthony C.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Full-distance finisher: great event, but a van nearly hit him on the tight final lane into transition and he suggests marshals there. Calls the route very challenging and says some will love it and some will hate it; staff and atmosphere were great.
- RaceCheck: Roderick E.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Praised the organisation and outstanding support people. Only suggestion: run the swim clockwise because iron swimmers met starters of other races head-on at the lap turn.
- RaceCheck: Jayson G.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
70.3 entrant describing the laps the iron also uses: a mammoth hill out of the lake made the run harder than the IRONMAN Wales marathon, bike bottle hand-ups were unmanned and there was no bag drop.
- RaceCheck: Naomi N.Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
70.3 entrant: well coordinated event, beautiful swim, very hard hilly course, one bike stop was too few; run aid was plentiful.
- TRI247: Immortal Half Wimbleball Triathlon Report 2018Raced 2018 · article · Positive
Report on the last pre-revival edition at the lake: the two-lap Exmoor bike packed over 5,000 ft (1,520 m (4,990 ft)) of climbing into 56 miles (90 km (55.9 mi)), and the lakeside run was hot and hilly.
Show 1 more
- Sportiva Events: Wimbleball Iron Distance TriathlonRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Organiser breakdown: four-lap 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, four laps of the demanding bike course plus an out-and-back, and four 10.5 km (6.5 mi) trail run laps. Marketing copy; no athlete voice.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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