The Bewl Water Triathlon
Lamberhurst, United Kingdom · May · Independent (First Stride Events, ATW ticketing)
Why people love it
- Reservoir swim with wetsuits typical in late May; a club report logged 21.8 °C (71.2 °F) in August 2019
- Super sprint, sprint and standard distances on one morning
- Eventrac gives 4.8 out of 5 from 11 ratings, a small sample
- Reviewers praise friendly officials and relaxed rules
- Scenic rolling lanes around the reservoir
Watch out for
- Run to transition is 0.5 km (0.3 mi) uphill on grass and stones and counts in swim time
- Bike is rolling and hard for newer riders, with rough patches around Wadhurst
- In 2025 the run course changed late and the brief arrived under 24 hours before the race
- Waves forced the sprint swim to be reversed in 2025
- Few reviews: 11 ratings on Eventrac, none on Racecheck
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 satisfactionLoved4.0
Eventrac gives 4.8/5 from 11 ratings, all May 2025 and organiser-collected, with complaints about the brief, price and a wrong turn. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
Race brief arrived under 24 hours before the start, the run course changed late with no map, and one rider took a wrong turn. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.2
Relaxed rules praised by a 2025 reviewer, friendly officials, super sprint option; but open-water swim and undulating bike are hard for beginners. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.9
Rolling bike, 0.5 km (0.3 mi) uphill run to transition and a hilly run finish; slower than a typical sprint. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.0
Late May reservoir is typically cold enough for wetsuits; an August 2019 swim at 21.8 °C (71.2 °F) was optional. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.6
Late May reservoir about 14-20 °C (57-68 °F), estimate; 21.8 °C (71.2 °F) in August 2019 felt comfortable. · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.4
Flat in 2019, but waves and current forced a swim reversal in May 2025. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.4
Open water in a large reservoir; 2025 waves forced a direction change and sun glare hampered sighting in 2019. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.0
Lovely lake to swim in per a club report and Eventrac scenery 5/5; uphill run to transition spoils the exit. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.6
Wave starts with safety cover typical for British Triathlon permits; extent of kayaks and ability waves not described. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed2.8
2019 report: good in places with 'terrible bits' around Wadhurst and Ticehurst. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.4
Roads stay open with marshals and officials making quick calls; no closure notes found. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.9
Reviewers call the Kent and Sussex lanes challenging and scenic; Eventrac scenery 5/5. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.2
Sheltered lanes in a wooded valley; wind not reported on the bike. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.0
Undulating with some poor surface around Wadhurst and Ticehurst (2019); no speed comments. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.9
Rolling Kent and Sussex lanes; gain not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.0
Country lanes and villages; a 2025 rider took a wrong fork and lost about 12 km (7.5 mi). · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.0
Small field and a 06:30 start; praise centres on marshals, not spectators. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.3
Not discussed in reviews. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.8
Woodland and reservoir views; not detailed by reviewers. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.0
Mixed surfaces, woodland and a late course change in 2025; the uphill finish adds effort. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling2.6
Run goes above and below the dam wall with steps and a hill up to transition; the 2019 report says it is far from flat. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
Late May High Weald, typically 9-19 °C (48-66 °F); cool at a 06:30 start. Regional estimate. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Reservoir wind forced a swim change in 2025; no cancellations found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.9
Country park and reservoir; Eventrac scenery scores 5/5, though that is organiser-collected feedback. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
Looped run past the dam wall and transition; early start limits crowds. · Low 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 availabilityGood3.5
Rural; pubs and B&Bs in Lamberhurst, Wadhurst and Tunbridge Wells. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
No pricing data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.3
Single site at Bewl Water Outdoor Centre; transition is up the hill from the swim exit. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.7
Rural Kent/Sussex border; car needed; Gatwick about 55 km (34 mi) by road (estimate). · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.4
One site and one transition, but 2025 reviewers wanted race information earlier than the day before. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.3
Country park cafe and nearby village pubs; not discussed in reviews. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Lamberhurst, Kent / East Sussex, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 24 May 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (First Stride Events, ATW ticketing)
- Distances
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Bewl Water reservoir, Bewl Water Outdoor Centre, Lamberhurst (reservoir)
- Water temperature
- 14–20 °C (57–68 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal in May; optional in warmer years
- Swim start
- wave start (timed waves from about 06:30)
- Run laps
- 4
- Run shade
- woodland sections
- Air temperature
- 9–19 °C (48–66 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 80 m (260 ft)
- Nearest airport
- London Gatwick (LGW), 55 km (34 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Lamberhurst, Wadhurst, Tunbridge Wells
- Booking
- Rural; B&Bs and pubs around Lamberhurst, Wadhurst and Tunbridge Wells. Distance is an approximate road estimate. 06:30 start means many travel in on race morning.
What racers and reviewers say
- Eventrac reviews (9 written of 11 ratings)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Eventrac shows 4.8/5 from 11 ratings with nine written reviews, all May 2025. Reviewers like the reservoir setting, friendly marshals, relaxed rules and the extended course opening, and give 5/5 for scenery, atmosphere and organisation. Complaints: the race brief arrived less than 24 hours before the start, the entry felt expensive, the run course changed late with no map, one rider took a wrong turn, and the bike undulations are tough for newer riders. The sprint swim direction was reversed because of waves.
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Sources
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