Derwent Reservoir Triathlons and Duathlons

Overall score 3.2Good
Thin evidence2 sources + 13 runner ratings#168 of 230 sprint triathlons

Consett, United Kingdom · Independent (Wild Deer Events with Castle Triathlon Club) · 0.75 / 22 / 5 km

Race day Sun 4 Jul 2027

Same event, olympic distance: see its rating

Website (opens in a new tab)

Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 22 km (13.7 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 750 m (820 yd) swim, 22 km (13.7 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run per the organiser.

Is it right for you?

First timer
Friendly3.9
PR potential
Average2.9
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 (2.2) and swim (2.5).

Best for

Provisional: based on 2 sources, 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 3.2 out of 5

8 reviews and race reports from 2 sources

Tone of the reviews and race reports

  • Positive7
  • Mixed1
  • Negative0

8 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.

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 friendlyFriendly3.9

    All abilities, no cut-offs and relays allowed. Cool water at about 14 °C (57 °F) and a hilly bike need some preparation. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • PR potentialAverage2.9

    Hilly 22 km (13.7 mi) bike, cool water and a mixed-terrain run. 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 easeEasy3.5

    750 m (820 yd) in a reservoir with hard-to-see 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 22 km (13.7 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 conditionsEasy3.6

    Tarmac, path and trail mix that entrants call good fun. · 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, 0.8 km (0.5 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, 22 km (13.7 mi)

Quiet country lanes per organiser.

Wind
Not discussed.

Run, 5 km (3.1 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
0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 22 km (13.7 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 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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