Dartmouth Triathlon

Dartmouth (Blackpool Sands), United Kingdom · June · Independent (Sportiva Events, Race Space; British Triathlon listed)

Why people love it

Sea swim in a sheltered bay with clear water; reviewers rate water quality highly.
Surf life saving club provides water safety, and the field is capped at about 350.
Bike runs along Slapton Sands, billed as Devon's flattest road, with sea and lagoon views.
Camp on the beach the night before and join optional evening sea swims.

Sea is about 13 to 16 °C (55 to 61 °F), so a wetsuit and acclimatisation are needed.
Standard-distance bike has about 650 m (2,130 ft) of climbing on narrow, open lanes.
Pre-race information was inconsistent, and the 2026 sea swim was rough.
Standard bike length is listed as both 40 km (24.9 mi) and 35 km (21.7 mi).
Exeter airport is about 55 km (34 mi) away, so most athletes drive.

4.5Very good

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: Very tough

Racer satisfactionLoved4.3
Racecheck 4.6 out of 5 from 105 ratings, mostly the sprint and super sprint, with praise for the setting and small field. · Medium confidence
OrganizationWell run4.1
Staff and marshals are praised, but pre-race information was inconsistent and some wanted closed roads. · Medium confidence
First timer friendlyDoable3.1
1.5 km (0.93 mi) cold sea swim, 40 km (25 mi) bike with about 650 m (2,134 ft) of climbing. · Low confidence

3.8Very good

Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.

Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.9
Organiser: wetsuits usually required as water is likely below 14 °C (57 °F); British Triathlon follows World Triathlon (legal below 24.6 °C (76 °F) / 76.3 °F). · Medium confidence
Water temperatureAcceptable2.5
English Channel in early June is about 13 to 16 °C (55 to 61 °F) (estimate); organiser says likely below 14 °C (57 °F). · Low confidence
Calm waterSome chop3.4
Sheltered shingle bay: flat in 2023 after wind swung offshore, but poor sea conditions in 2026 drew reviewer complaints. · Medium confidence
Swim easeModerate3.3
1.5 km (0.93 mi) sea swim. · Low confidence
Swim experienceGreat4.4
Water quality 4.77 of 5 across 105 Racecheck ratings; clear water and a scenic beach start; sea swim for 100 percent of reviewers. · Medium confidence
Swim supportGood4.1
Water safety cover by Teignmouth Beach Surf Life Saving Club; event safety 4.67 of 5; beach start in a sheltered bay. · Medium confidence

2.8Good

Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.

Road surfaceMixed3.3
Rural Devon lanes; no specific surface reports. · Low confidence
Road closuresMostly open2.2
Open roads: reviewers noted narrow bike lanes and one wanted closed roads; a second bike drop avoids crossing the A379. · Medium confidence
Bike scenerySpectacular4.5
Coast road past Slapton Ley, a lagoon behind a shingle bar, with sea views. · Medium confidence
WindSome wind3.1
Coastal and Slapton Sands stretch are exposed (estimate). · Low confidence

Bike speedAverage3.0
Hills and narrow lanes. · Low confidence
Bike flatnessRolling3.0
About 650 m (2,134 ft) per a Time Outdoors listing. · Low confidence
Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.3
Out-and-back with fast descent and narrow lanes noted in reviews. · Low confidence

3.0Good

Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

Crowd supportDecent2.9
Small field of about 320 to 350 and a remote setting; run is up Blackpool Valley. · Low confidence
Aid stationsGood3.5
Racecheck aid stations 4.44 of 5 but one reviewer noted limited food and drink. · Medium confidence
Run sceneryBeautiful3.8
Wooded valley and stream, then the beach finish. · Low confidence
Run conditionsModerate3.4
Two bike laps before a 10 km (6.2 mi) run. · Low confidence

Run flatnessRolling3.2
10 km (6.2 mi) out-and-back rising valley. · Low confidence

3.8Very good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

Air temperaturePleasant3.6
Early June in Devon is typically 12 to 19 °C (54 to 66 °F) (estimate). · Low confidence
Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Coastal British weather; sea conditions changed by wind direction (flat in 2023, poor in 2026). · Low confidence
Venue beautyStunning4.7
Blackpool Sands, a Blue Flag-style south Devon cove, with 96 percent of reviewers calling it remote and scenic. · Medium confidence
Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
Beach start and finish; run uses a valley road; circuit details inconsistent. · Low confidence

Low altitudeSea level4.9
Beach at sea level; hills up to about 100 m (330 ft) (estimate). · High confidence

3.2Good

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.

Hotel availabilityBook early3.0
Dartmouth is a busy visitor town in June; beach camping offered by the organiser. · Low confidence
Hotel valueNormal3.0
Tourist-area accommodation prices (estimate). · Low confidence
WalkabilityWalkable3.7
Start, transition and finish on the beach; second bike drop across the A379 for standard distance; parking not detailed. · Low confidence
Travel easeOne connection3.0
Exeter airport about 55 km (34 mi) away (estimate); train to Totnes then road; most athletes drive. · Low confidence
LogisticsSimple3.8
Event logistics 4.73 of 5 on Racecheck; standard distance uses a second bike drop. · Medium confidence
Town and foodGood4.0
Dartmouth town and a beach cafe nearby. · Low confidence

Location: Dartmouth (Blackpool Sands), Devon, United Kingdom
Typical month: June
Latest or next date: 13 June 2027
Organiser: Independent (Sportiva Events, Race Space; British Triathlon listed)
Field size: About 320 athletes
Entry fee: About $100
First held: 2014
Distances: 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
Swim venue: Blackpool Sands bay (sea)
Water temperature: 13–16 °C (55–61 °F)
Wetsuit: Required or strongly advised (organiser: water likely below 14 C / 57 F); skins by request
Swim start: beach start (wave or timed, not confirmed)
Bike climbing: 650 m (2,130 ft)
Bike laps: 2
Key climbs: Strete; Stokenham roundabout turn
Air temperature: 12–19 °C (54–66 °F)
Humidity: Moderate
Altitude: 5 m (16 ft)
Nearest airport: Exeter (EXT), 55 km (34 mi) away
Where to stay: Dartmouth, Stoke Fleming, Totnes
Booking: Dartmouth hotels busy in June (estimate); organiser sells beach camping. Parking and race-morning pickup not found.

Totnes TodayRaced 2023 · article · Positive
Local news report on the June 2023 weekend with about 350 competitors. Sea had been choppy for two weeks, but an offshore wind left flat water on race day. The new course and the second bike drop across the A379 got a positive response; many camped on the beach. No problems reported.

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