Cotswolds Lake 62 Triathlons (Sprint, Standard and Super Sprint)
Ashton Keynes (Cotswold Water Park), United Kingdom · May · LPS Events (Time Outdoors listings)
Course: 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 9 km (5.6 mi) run. Standard: 1.5 km / 40 km / 9 km (0.93 / 24.9 / 5.6 mi) per Racecheck; one listing shows 39 km / 10.5 km (24.2 / 6.5 mi). Slightly short run vs a true Olympic. Aquabike options also offered.
Why people love it
- Calm private lake with free parking about a 5 minute walk from transition.
- Novice and super sprint options; 80 to 89% of Racecheck reviewers call it ideal for beginners.
- Racecheck averages 4.55 to 4.66 of 5 across 328 reviews on three pages.
- Quiet, fast lane bike course praised by Spring reviewers.
- Sprint is 750 m (2,460 ft) swim, 28 km (17.4 mi) bike, 6 km (3.7 mi) run (820 yd, 17.4 mi, 3.7 mi).
Watch out for
- The lake is weedy in summer; reviewers mention it on all three pages.
- Bike roads are open; a standard rider was sent into oncoming cyclists at a junction.
- Reviewers flagged too few toilets, refreshment queues and a narrow relay finish.
- No showers on site; camping must be pre-booked.
- Listings disagree on bike and run lengths, so check the current athlete guide.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.4
Racecheck averages 4.59, 4.66 and 4.55 of 5 across three Lake 62 pages. No independent blogs found. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationFlawless4.5
Racecheck scores navigation and logistics around 4.8. Complaints are toilets, refreshment queues and one junction marshal error. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.8
86% of Racecheck standard reviewers tag it beginner friendly, though the 1.5 km (0.93 mi) deep-water start is a step up. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.9
Flat-ish 40 km (24.9 mi) on lanes, with one junction flagged by a reviewer. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.5
Lake temperatures are not published. Spring to summer water is typically under the 22 °C (71.6 °F) wetsuit ban. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.3
Water temperature is not published. Spring swims are likely cold, around 13 to 16 °C (55 to 61 °F). · Low confidence
- Calm waterGlassy4.7
Sheltered private lake; Racecheck describes calm, clear water. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
1.5 km (0.93 mi) in a calm lake. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.8
Racecheck water quality is 4.5 to 4.85 of 5, though reviewers mention weed in summer. · Medium confidence
- Swim supportGood4.4
Calm private lake, safety team praised by reviewers and a spaced start. A pontoon was out of action in 2026. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.9
Reviewers praise road surfaces on the new route. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.2
Open lanes with marshals; a Standard reviewer was sent into oncoming riders at a junction. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.4
Flat Cotswold Water Park lanes, with little commentary from reviewers. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.4
Open flat water park terrain; no wind reports. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.0
Quiet lanes. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat4.1
Flat with gentle inclines. Elevation gain is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.9
Two-lap lanes; one junction marshalling error reported. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.6
Racecheck tags it small and intimate and praises friendly spectators and staff. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
Racecheck aid scores run 4.3 to 4.7, with refreshment queues and limited choice on the super sprint. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.8
Lake path; limited commentary. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.5
Trail surface. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.8
9 km (5.6 mi) lake path and trail. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
May to September is typically 12 to 22 °C (54 to 72 °F), with cool May mornings. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
UK inland weather. No cancellations found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.8
Quiet private lake in the Cotswold Water Park, remote nature tag 82-88%. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Compact lake venue with swim, transition and finish together; bike on lanes. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
About 80 m (260 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.6
Cirencester and Swindon are nearby. No reviewer comments. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
No pricing evidence found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalk to everything4.5
Free parking within 5 minutes' walk; one venue for swim, transition and finish. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.8
Bristol Airport is about 90 km (56 mi) away and Kemble station about 12 km (7.5 mi). No rail at the lake. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.4
Racecheck Logistics 4.75-4.87; free parking, easy registration, on-site coffee. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine2.9
Ashton Keynes village; Cirencester about 15 km (9.3 mi) for more. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Ashton Keynes (Cotswold Water Park), Wiltshire, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- May
- Organiser
- LPS Events (Time Outdoors listings)
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 9 km (5.6 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lake 62, a privately owned lake in the Cotswold Water Park, Ashton Keynes SN6 6QX (lake)
- Water temperature
- 15–21 °C (59–70 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- Deep-water start, one wave or a spaced-out mass start (older listing and a 2026 reviewer)
- Bike laps
- 2
- Run shade
- Some
- Air temperature
- 12–22 °C (54–72 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Altitude
- 80 m (260 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Bristol (BRS), 90 km (56 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Cirencester, Cricklade, Swindon
- Booking
- Cirencester, Cricklade and Swindon have hotels; the lake offers camping on race weekends for 10 GBP (about 13 USD) a pitch pre-booked.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck (Cotswolds Lake 62 Individual Team Relay Super Sprint Triathlon)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
130 reviews average 4.59 of 5 (Bronze Award 2026 and 2022). Super sprint relay. Reviewers praise organisation (logistics 4.78, navigation 4.78) and friendly staff and spectators, and call the bike course good and quick. Weak points: not enough toilets, refreshment queues, a narrow team finish, and weed in the lake. 89% tag it ideal for beginners.
“Really friendly enjoyable for a tri virgin”
- Racecheck (Cotswolds Lake 62 Standard Triathlon)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
128 reviews average 4.55 of 5 (4.78 in 2026) for the standard triathlon and aquabike. Reviewers agree on friendly, well-organised racing that welcomes first-timers, and a swim course with a good safety team but some weed. The main concern is junction marshalling, with one rider sent into oncoming cyclists. Swag draws mixed views and parking is not discussed.
Raced Cotswolds Lake 62 Triathlons (Sprint, Standard and Super Sprint)? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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