Roadford Lake Triathlon
Roadford Lake, Broadwoodwidger, Lifton, United Kingdom · May · Independent (Sportiva Events; British Triathlon permitted)
Why people love it
- Racecheck rates it 4.5 of 5 from 162 reviews; staff and logistics both above 4.7.
- Lake swim is well marked and easy to sight; water quality is rated 4.63 of 5.
- Dartmoor-edge views and a traffic-free forest run.
- Lakeside camping on site; sprint is 750 m (2,460 ft), 20 km (12.4 mi), 5 km (0.47, 12.4, 3.1 mi).
Watch out for
- Bike is rolling to hilly on open rural roads; reviewers report potholes and no closed roads.
- Lake is cold in May, about 12 to 15 °C (54 to 59 °F); practise in your wetsuit.
- Run is gravel and forest trail, not fast road; a missed turn was reported.
- Paid parking and sparse bike feed stations drew Racecheck complaints.
- The standard bike was listed at about 46 km (28.6 mi) in 2025, not 40 km (24.9 mi).
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 shows 162 reviews averaging 4.5 of 5 (4.6 in 2026), mostly standard and middle distance. · High confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.4
Staff and logistics both score above 4.7, though paid parking, thin feed stations and a missed run turn were noted. · High confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.8
Short swim and bike; cold lake and hills still a step up. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.6
Hills and a trail run. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.6
Lake is 12 to 15 °C (54 to 59 °F) in May, so wetsuits are the norm. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureUncomfortable1.9
Cold lake in May; reviewers recommend practising in a wetsuit and swim hat. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.0
Reviewers describe a well-marked, easy-to-sight lake swim. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.2
Shorter and well marked. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.2
Racecheck water quality 4.63 of 5; the swim is easy to sight. · Medium confidence
- Swim supportGood3.8
Water safety is listed by the organiser; reviewers praise helpful staff. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed2.6
Reviewers report potholes and poor surfaces. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.3
Reviewers report open roads and some lack of closures. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.2
Dartmoor-edge views, per reviewers. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.0
Exposed Dartmoor-edge setting; wind is not discussed. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage2.5
Rolling roads. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.0
Estimated 290 m (950 ft) in 20 km (12.4 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5
Single or two-lap loop on rural roads. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent2.6
Remote lakeside venue; crowds are not described. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.3
Reviewers say bike feed stations were thin; Racecheck rates aid 4.28. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Traffic-free forest run beside the lake. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.0
Gravel trail over 5 km (3.1 mi). · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.0
Gain not published. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.3
May start is cool and sometimes cold, per reviewers. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.7
Exposed moorland; an October 2016 event was rain, wind and mud. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.0
Lake on the edge of Dartmoor. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.0
Remote lakeside venue; spectator comments are scarce. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.6
Roadford Lake is about 200 m (650 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.4
Rural; lakeside camping on site. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
No price evidence from athletes. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Lakeside camping, transition and finish are close together. · Low confidence
- Travel easeAwkward2.4
Rural Devon, far from main stations; paid parking. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.1
Staff and logistics score above 4.7, with lakeside camping; parking is paid. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodLimited2.4
Remote location; athletes say little. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Roadford Lake, Broadwoodwidger, Lifton, Devon, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 16 May 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (Sportiva Events; British Triathlon permitted)
- Field size
- About 200 athletes
- First held
- 2016
- Distances
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Roadford Lake (reservoir)
- Water temperature
- 12–15 °C (54–59 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Strongly expected; Triathlon England and British Triathlon follow the World Triathlon 24.6 C (76.3 F) rule
- Swim start
- not published (lake start)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 1
- Run shade
- forest sections
- Air temperature
- 9–17 °C (48–63 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 130 m (425 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Exeter (EXT), 60 km (37 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Lakeside camping, Okehampton, Launceston
- Booking
- Lakeside camping available on site; paid parking reported by Racecheck reviewers. Rural, hotels in Okehampton and Launceston.
What racers and reviewers say
- RacecheckRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Average 4.5 of 5 from 162 reviews (2026 average 4.6), mostly from the middle distance and standard, a few sprint. Reviewers agree on friendly, switched-on staff, well-marked and easy-to-sight swim, scenic Dartmoor views, and a hilly, tough bike. Complaints: paid parking, potholes and poor surfaces, thin bike feed stations (aid 4.28), a missed run turn without a marshal, and cold weather.
- The Post (Plymouth)Raced 2016 · article · Positive
First-person account of the May 2016 race with over 180 entrants on two distances. Light wind and mild temperature suited the bike, which he called better on the hills than the flat; the run was scenic but damp. He judged starting at the front of the swim a mistake.
- Tavistock TodayRaced 2016 · article · Mixed
October 2016 team triathlon in rain, wind and mud with 24 Tavistock club members; some were first-timers. Shows the venue is exposed and wet outside summer.
- Torbay Weeklyarticle · Positive
Club results from a Sportiva Roadford weekend with standard and sprint races and a 1,500 m (4,920 ft) swim event; standard won in 2:12:40 and sprint in 2:16:53 (undated).
- Sportiva Events race pageRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Organiser page: chip timing, medals, swim hats, water safety, feed stations, lakeside camping, relays for standard and sprint in 2026, and a course run on roads used for national masters road racing. Marketing copy, used for facts only.
Raced Roadford Lake 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.
Training for Roadford Lake Triathlon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.