Dawlish Triathlon
Dawlish Warren, United Kingdom · September · Independent (Sportiva Events, managed by Race Space)
Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 24 km (14.9 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 750 m (820 yd) / 24 km (14.9 mi) / 5 km (3.1 mi) per Racecheck and 2026 listings. A super sprint (300 m / 16 km / 5 km; 330 yd / 9.9 mi / 3.1 mi) runs the same day; not rated separately. Aquabike also offered.
Why people love it
- Staggered individual swim starts suit nervous first-timers; super sprint 300 m (330 yd) also runs
- Racecheck 4.56 of 5 from 130 reviews, Gold Award 2025
- Coast-path run finish, praised for views; run distance 5 km (3.1 mi)
- Small, friendly event; marshals and staff scored 4.72 of 5
- Sprint 750 m (2,460 ft) / 24 km (14.9 mi) / 5 km (820 yd / 14.9 mi / 3.1 mi)
Watch out for
- No Olympic distance; sprint and super sprint only
- Tide changed the swim direction in 2026, causing some crossings in the water
- Descent near a roundabout on the bike flagged by one reviewer
- Parking is paid; arrive before 07:30 or use the car park before the tunnel
- No independent race reports found; only Racecheck and organiser pages
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: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.3
Racecheck shows 130 reviews averaging 4.56 of 5, Gold Award 2025. Nearly all comment on friendly marshals and a clear course. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.4
Easy-to-follow signed course and friendly staff. Swimmers and finishers crossed paths after a tide-driven direction change in 2026. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyIdeal first race4.5
Staggered starts and easy-to-follow signed course (Racecheck Course Navigation 4.66). · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.6
Mostly flat or downhill 24 km (14.9 mi) bike; no times published. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.3
September sea about 15-18 °C (59-64 °F), well under the 22 °C (71.6 °F) British Triathlon ban; temp is my estimate. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.2
Estimated 15-18 °C (59-64 °F) sea, at the cool end of the scale; not published. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.6
Sheltered beach per organiser; tide changed the swim direction in 2026; open Lyme Bay swell possible. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.8
750 m (820 yd), staggered starts. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.9
Clean water (Racecheck 4.65), beach start; one reviewer noted finishers and starters crossing. · Medium confidence
- Swim supportGood4.4
Surf life saving club water safety, staggered starts; Racecheck Event Safety 4.64 and Water Quality 4.65. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.5
No surface comments found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.2
Marshalled courses per organiser; closure level not stated; a reviewer flagged descent signage. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.6
South Devon lanes near the Exe estuary; little reviewer commentary. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.2
Organiser calls it sheltered; coastal site, no wind reports. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.8
Flat or downhill, one climb; descent by a roundabout needs care. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.8
Relatively flat with one climb per lap; gain unpublished. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.4
Multi-lap circuit with a hill descent by a roundabout flagged by one reviewer. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.3
Racecheck tags it small and intimate; no strong crowd reports. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
Racecheck Aid Stations 4.50; feed station listed on a 5 km (3.1 mi) run. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.3
Reviewers praise the final kilometres on the coast path; organiser cites views. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.7
Short, with road crossings. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.0
Coast path and road, 5 km (3.1 mi). · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Mid-September South Devon about 14-20 °C (57-68 °F) estimated; cool to ideal. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Autumn UK coast; no cancellation reports found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.0
Sandy spit and estuary nature reserve setting; reviewers praise run views; photos only, little detail. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
Beach start and finish, multi-lap bike; one reviewer worried about spectators and runners sharing paths. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level, 5 m (16 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Holiday parks and guesthouses at the Warren and Dawlish in September; not documented. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
Shoulder-season seaside prices; not documented. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Park once in the Warren car park by transition and beach; parking is paid; train station nearby. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.4
Exeter airport about 25 km (15.5 mi), rail to Dawlish Warren, A379 road access. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.2
Racecheck Event Logistics 4.73 and communication 4.60; single venue; paid parking with a 07:30 rule. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.4
Dawlish and Warren seaside cafes and pubs; not reviewed. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Dawlish Warren, Devon, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 19 September 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (Sportiva Events, managed by Race Space)
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 24 km (14.9 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Dawlish Warren beach, sea (Lyme Bay, next to the Exe estuary mouth) (sea)
- Water temperature
- 15–18 °C (59–64 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- Staggered individual starts for the swim (Racecheck reviewers praise this for nervous swimmers); the organiser lists a surf life saving club for water safety
- Bike laps
- 3
- Key climbs
- One noticeable climb per lap (organiser listing)
- Run laps
- 1
- Run shade
- Little
- Air temperature
- 14–20 °C (57–68 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate, maritime
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Exeter International (EXT), 25 km (16 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Dawlish Warren, Dawlish, Exeter
- Booking
- Dawlish Warren has holiday parks and B&Bs; Dawlish town and Exeter (about 17 km / 10.6 mi) offer more. Most athletes drive in or take the train to Dawlish Warren station.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck (Dawlish Triathlon page)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
130 verified reviews average 4.56 of 5 (4.68 in 2026, Gold Award 2025). Reviewers agree it is well organised, with friendly marshals and an easy-to-follow signed course. Staggered swim starts suit first-timers, though one noted finishers and starters crossing after a tide-driven direction change. The bike is described as undulating, with one reviewer worried about a descent near a roundabout. The run has unexpected road crossings but scenic final kilometres. Weakest scores are facilities 4.37 and swag 4.33.
Raced Dawlish 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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