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.
Watch out for
- 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.
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 satisfactionLoved4.3
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 friendlyFriendly4.0
750 m (0.47 mi) sea swim in a bay with safety cover; welcoming small event. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.1
One lap of the hilly bike. · Low confidence
Swim
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 easeEasy3.6
750 m (0.47 mi) 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
Bike
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
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.2
Flat stretch past Slapton, climbs elsewhere. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.1
About 325 m (1,070 ft) (estimate, half of the standard); 2015 report called it hilly. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.3
Out-and-back with fast descent and narrow lanes noted in reviews. · Low confidence
Run
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 conditionsEasy3.6
Short run. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.5
5 km (3.1 mi) gently rising out-and-back. · Low confidence
Conditions
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
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Beach at sea level; hills up to about 100 m (330 ft) (estimate). · High confidence
Stay and travel
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
Key facts
- 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 350 athletes
- Entry fee
- About $100
- First held
- 2014
- Distances
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 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 laps
- 1
- 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.
What racers and reviewers say
- RacecheckRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Racecheck page shows 4.6 of 5 from 105 ratings (2026 average 4.55) for the super sprint and sprint. Reviewers agree on friendly, helpful staff and marshals, a beautiful remote setting, clear water, and a small and intimate field. Common criticisms: inconsistent pre-race information (missing swim diagram), narrow bike lanes with a wish for closed roads, limited food at aid stations, medals without distance, and poor sea conditions in 2026.
- 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.
Raced Dartmouth Triathlon? 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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