Derwent Reservoir Triathlons and Duathlons

Overall score 3.3Good
Thin evidence1 source + 13 runner ratings#102 of 164 Olympic-distance triathlons

Consett, United Kingdom · Independent (Wild Deer Events with Castle Triathlon Club) · 1.5 / 39 / 10 km

Race day Sun 4 Jul 2027

Same event, sprint distance: see its rating

Website (opens in a new tab)

Course: 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 39 km (24.2 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run. Standard: 1,500 m (0.93 mi) swim, 39 km (24.2 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run per the organiser.

Is it right for you?

First timer
Doable3.2
PR potential
Average2.8
Wetsuit swim
Almost always4.5
Swim support
Good3.6
Crowds
Decent3.0

Watch out: Water measured about 14 °C (57 °F) in July 2024: bring a wetsuit All 5

Held back by stay and travel (2.4) and swim (2.7).

Best for

Provisional: based on 1 source, plus 13 runner ratings on review sites. Why

Raced it? Your rating helps.

Score breakdown

Every score is out of 5, and 5 is always the better end.

Each bar is a range of 0.25 points; the light bar holds this race. The average race scores 3.4.

What does this score mean?

Derwent Reservoir Triathlons and Duathlons: derwent reservoir, north east englandPhoto is not from race day
Derwent Reservoir, North East England. Photo: The JPS, CC BY 3.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons.

Why people love it

  • Clean reservoir water with no weed or mud, per a 2024 race report
  • Sprint and standard both on offer, with no cut-offs and relays allowed
  • Quiet country lanes and reservoir views on the bike
  • Friendly marshals and good value praised in every written review
  • Transition sits close to the swim exit

Watch out for

  • Water measured about 14 °C (57 °F) in July 2024: bring a wetsuit
  • Large rocks hide in the shallow entry and exit, so watch your feet
  • Hilly bike on open lanes; elevation is not published, so check the route first
  • A 10 to 15 minute walk from the paid car park, with a steep hill up
  • Swim course details came late; ask the organiser before race day

Latest or next race

Sun 4 Jul 2027

Official race site(wilddeerevents.co.uk, opens in a new tab)
Water
14–17 °C (57–63 °F)
Air
12–20 °C (54–68 °F)
Cutoffs
finish none

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What racers say

Overall score 3.3 out of 5

6 reviews and race reports from 1 source

Tone of the reviews and race reports

  • Positive5
  • Mixed1
  • Negative0

6 reviews

Raced Derwent Reservoir Triathlons and Duathlons? Rate it

Pick a score, then tell the next athlete about the course, conditions and logistics.

Scores

Open a category for its ratings and the evidence behind them.

Very 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: Tough

  • Racer satisfactionLoved3.9

    Only 13 written reviews, all from July 2026 and collected by the organiser, plus one club race report. Warm but thin; scored near the middle. · Low confidence

  • OrganizationWell run3.9

    Marshals and communication are praised. Entrants wanted swim course details in advance and more road marshals. · Low confidence

  • First timer friendlyDoable3.2

    A 1.5 km (0.93 mi) swim at about 14 °C (57 °F) and a hilly 39 km (24.2 mi) bike call for experience. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • PR potentialAverage2.8

    Hilly 39 km (24.2 mi) bike and cool water. No elevation data published. · Low confidence

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

  • Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.5

    Water measured about 14 °C (57 °F) in 2024, well under the 24.6 °C (76.3 °F) limit. The organiser recommends wetsuits. · Low confidence

  • Water temperatureUncomfortable2.0

    Upland reservoir measured about 14 °C (57 °F) in mid-July 2024. One report only. · Low confidence

  • Calm waterSome chop3.2

    Clean water with no swell, though the 2024 report found it choppy and cooler than 2023. · Low confidence

  • Swim easeModerate3.3

    1.5 km (0.93 mi) with hard-to-see turn buoys and a rocky entry. · Low confidence

  • Swim experienceGreat3.5

    Clean water with no weed or mud. Rocks at the shallow entry and exit and hard-to-see turn buoys spoil it. · Low confidence

  • Swim supportGood3.6

    Volunteers helped a nervous swimmer round the sprint. Entrants want pre-race swim information and a chance to practise. · Low confidence

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

  • Road surfaceMixed3.3

    Quiet country lanes per the organiser. Entrants do not discuss the surface. · Low confidence

  • Road closuresMostly open2.4

    Quiet lanes stay open to traffic, and a 2026 entrant wants more road marshals. · Low confidence

  • Bike sceneryBeautiful4.2

    Reservoir and moorland lanes are praised in the 2024 report and 2026 reviews. · Medium confidence

  • WindSome wind2.7

    Exposed moorland above the reservoir. Wind is not discussed in reviews. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Bike speedAverage2.8

    Hilly country lanes, per entrants. · Low confidence

  • Bike flatnessRolling2.6

    Entrants call the 39 km (24.2 mi) bike hilly. Elevation gain is not published. · Low confidence

  • Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.4

    Country lanes with climbs. No complaints about the route. · Low confidence

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

  • Crowd supportDecent3.0

    Small, remote venue. Marshals cheer and dance, but few spectators. · Low confidence

  • Aid stationsStandard3.4

    Aid is not described beyond finish snacks. Small event. · Low confidence

  • Run sceneryBeautiful4.0

    Reservoir-side paths and country park trails, called scenic. · Low confidence

  • Run conditionsEasy3.5

    10 km (6.2 mi) on mixed terrain. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Run flatnessMostly flat3.9

    Mostly flat with a few undulations, per a 2024 report. · Low confidence

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

  • Air temperatureWarm or cool3.4

    Mid-July upland weather: 12 °C (54 °F) and drizzle in 2024. Typical highs 15 to 20 °C (59 to 68 °F). · Low confidence

  • Weather reliabilityVariable2.8

    Upland weather can turn; the 2024 report mentions drizzle and a choppier swim. · Low confidence

  • Venue beautyLovely4.1

    Large reservoir on the Durham and Northumberland border, praised for its scenery. · Medium confidence

  • Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.1

    A 10 to 15 minute walk from the car park to the event area. Reservoir views; entrants do not comment on spectating. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Low altitudeLow4.2

    Reservoir sits at roughly 300 m (985 ft). · Low confidence

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

  • Hotel availabilityBook early3.0

    Rural area; Consett and Hexham have most beds. · Low confidence

  • Hotel valueGood3.6

    No entrant comments. Rural North East pricing is usually modest. · Low confidence

  • WalkabilitySome driving2.8

    A 10 to 15 minute walk of about 1 km (0.6 mi) from the paid car park, with a steep hill up. · Medium confidence

  • Travel easeOne connection2.8

    Nearest airport is Newcastle, about 50 km (31 mi) by road. No rail at the site. · Medium confidence

  • LogisticsSimple3.8

    Packet collection and transition were smooth in 2024, and transition is close to the swim exit. · Low confidence

  • Town and foodFine2.6

    Edmundbyers and Consett offer limited choice. · Low confidence

Course

Swim, 1.5 km (0.9 mi)

Derwent Reservoir, south side near the dam, Edmundbyers

Water
14–17 °C (57–63 °F)
Wetsuit
optional per organiser, recommended
Start
not published; start is at one end of the dam wall (from 2024)

Bike, 39 km (24.2 mi)

Quiet country lanes per organiser.

Wind
Not discussed.

Run, 10 km (6.2 mi)

Surface
mixed
Finish cutoff
none

Getting there and staying

© OpenStreetMap contributors
Nearest airport
Newcastle (NCL), 50 km (31 mi) away
Where to stay
Consett, Hexham
Book
Rural area; Consett or Hexham are the nearest towns. Distance is an approximate road estimate.
Getting around
Parking at Derwent Waterside Park, 3 GBP per vehicle, a 10-15 minute walk to the event area. Transition is close to the swim exit. No cut-off times; relays allowed.

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Key facts

Location
Consett, County Durham, United Kingdom
Typical month
July
Distances
1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 39 km (24.2 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
Altitude
300 m (985 ft)
Humidity
moderate

Sources

Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.

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