Wimbleball Triathlon
Exmoor, United Kingdom · August · Independent (Sportiva Events, Wimbleball Sports Festival)
Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 18 km (11.2 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 750 m (0.47 mi), 18 km (11.2 mi), 5 km (3.1 mi) per the organiser's sprint page.
Why people love it
- Reservoir swim on Exmoor with a trail run around the lake.
- Staff and marshals rated 4.90 out of 5 on Racecheck.
- Sprint is 18 km (11.2 mi) bike and 5 km (3.1 mi) run, pitched at first-timers.
- Remote moorland setting that reviewers call beautiful.
Watch out for
- Hilly bike on narrow Exmoor lanes shared with traffic; roads are not closed.
- Wetsuits are banned above 22 °C (71.6 °F) for the sprint and standard.
- Several reviewers raised litter on the run course.
- No secure bag drop for solo travellers; book camping or lodging early.
- Few reports from before 2026 exist for the standard or sprint.
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 satisfactionLoved4.2
Racecheck shows 50 reviews averaging 4.52 of 5, all from 2026; the setting and staff are praised, the hills are tough. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.2
Staff score 4.90 of 5, but reviewers cite a confusing swim briefing, a confusing run junction and no secure bag drop. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.6
Sprint is 18 km (11.2 mi) bike and 5 km (3.1 mi) run, but hills still apply. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow2.3
Hilly lanes and trail. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.6
Wetsuits are banned above 22 °C (71.6 °F) for the sprint and standard, which is stricter than usual. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.7
Reservoir temperature is not reported by reviewers. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.5
Reservoir swim; chop is not discussed. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.8
Simple lake course. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.0
Remote reservoir setting in a beautiful, remote location. · Medium confidence
- Swim supportGood3.6
Staff are friendly; swim briefing was confusing. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.0
Narrow lanes; surface is not discussed in detail. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.3
Narrow roads shared with traffic, including a van near-miss. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.3
Reviewers call the Exmoor setting beautiful. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind2.8
Exposed moorland; wind is not discussed. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedSlow2.2
Narrow lanes shared with traffic. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessHilly2.2
Hilly Exmoor lanes over 18 km (11.2 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.9
Narrow lanes and traffic made the bike more complex. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent2.8
Remote moorland venue; crowds are not described. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.6
Racecheck rates aid stations at 4.28 of 5. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.2
Lake and moorland, though litter detracts. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.9
Trail surface. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessHilly2.4
Trail with hills over 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 temperaturePleasant3.9
Late-August Exmoor; temperature is not reported. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.7
Exposed moorland weather; no cancellations reported. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.4
Beautiful remote reservoir and moorland. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints2.8
Remote venue; spectator comments are scarce. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.3
Exmoor sits at several hundred metres, not a concern. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early2.8
Remote; book camping or lodging early. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.3
No price evidence from athletes. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
Remote venue with on-site festival. · Low confidence
- Travel easeAwkward2.2
Remote Exmoor, far from stations. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
No secure bag drop for solo travellers; a single site with a festival. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodLimited2.4
Remote; athletes say little. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Exmoor, Somerset, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 29 August 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (Sportiva Events, Wimbleball Sports Festival)
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 18 km (11.2 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Wimbleball Lake (reservoir)
- Wetsuit
- Legal in most years; compulsory at or below 15.9 C (60.6 F), banned above 22 C (71.6 F) for Sprint and Standard
- Swim start
- not stated; Standard and Sprint both start at 08:30 on the day
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- The old 70.3 route used three climbs up to 20 percent (220 Triathlon)
- Run laps
- 1
- Run shade
- mixed
- Air temperature
- 12–21 °C (54–70 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 280 m (920 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Exeter (EXT) or Bristol (BRS), 55 km (34 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Dulverton, Tiverton, Wiveliscombe
- Booking
- Remote moorland venue. Camping and holiday parks nearby; towns such as Dulverton, Wiveliscombe and Tiverton for hotels. Parking and registration details are emailed the Tuesday before.
What racers and reviewers say
- RacecheckRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Racecheck shows 50 verified reviews averaging 4.52 out of 5, all from 2026. Reviewers agree on friendly, helpful staff and a well-run event in a beautiful, remote setting. The bike and run are hilly and challenging. Complaints: narrow roads shared with traffic (one van near-miss), litter on the run, a confusing swim briefing, a confusing hilltop run junction and no secure bag drop. A first-time Standard finisher enjoyed it. Staff score 4.90; aid stations 4.28; swag 4.13.
“Very challenging but well marshalled, with a great course.”
- 220 TriathlonRaced 2017 · article · Mixed
Coach tips for the old IRONMAN 70.3 Exmoor at Wimbleball, which say the bike took in three climbs reaching 20 percent. Different, longer race, so it is evidence of the terrain around the lake, not of the Standard or Sprint.
- Tri247Raced 2018 · article · Mixed
Report on the 2018 Immortal Half at Wimbleball, the long-distance successor race. It describes a 90 km (56 mi) two-lap bike with many long, tough climbs totalling over 1,500 m (5,000 ft). Terrain evidence only.
Raced Wimbleball 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 Wimbleball Triathlon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.