Visit one of Rutland’s best kept secrets!
TV presenter Julia Bradbury, known for her work on BBC’s Countryfile and who has travelled across the UK and many parts of the world, is a big fan of the county and believes that we offer something for everyone here.
If you enjoy the great outdoors, then you’ll find lots of thing to enjoy in this rural retreat. Outdoor sports are extremely well catered for with plenty of walking and cycling routes available, plus fishing, golfing and the huge choice of watersports that take place on Rutland Water.
Rutland is a great place to pursue an interest in your surroundings, whether you have a passion for wildlife and nature, an enthusiasm for gardening or a keen interest in photography and landscape painting. There are two nature reserves around Rutland water, with many hides providing a great opportunity to spot a rare bird to two – or you can visit one of the many stunning gardens open to the public. Treat yourself to a trip to the beautiful Barnsdale Gardens – explore the gardens, take a gardening course and buy stunning plants to take home with you for a lovely reminder of happy memories in Rutland.
If you prefer to stay indoors there are plenty of places for you to explore too: theatres, art galleries and shopping in our two Market Towns that offer a huge variety of boutiques, farm shops and family run stores .
Rutland is very proud to offer visitors and locals an abundance of locally produced food and drink. There are numerous award winning pubs, restaurants and hotels in the county, with each able to inform you of the provenance of their menus.
Rutland is also a great base for you if you’re keen to explore the East Midlands. Many of the finest English stately homes are easy to reach from Rutland; museums, concerts, outdoor cinemas, sports facilities, family friendly attractions and things to do make our county a superb choice for you and your family.
Featured Listings
Start Date: 01/01/2019
Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors is a retail and interior design consultancy business situated in the trendiest street in Oakham, Mill Street. WIth rooms full of inspiration, luxurious fabrics, paints, wallpapers and accessories, you can plan your next design project with expert help.
Jimmy’s Rutland Smokehouse was born over 10 years ago at The Kings Arms in Wing. It was the seasonal glut of Trout (and the need to preserve them) that got the ball rolling, and now you can pre-order a selection of tempting goodies and collect them onsite.
Two circular walking routes taking in the countryside around Empingham and Rutland Water, starting at The White Horse.
Play the most outstanding golf in Rutland! With Panoramic views of Rutland Water you have a choice of the challenging 18 hole Championship Normanton course or nine par 3 holes on the Hambleton course.
A family business, we have been selling art worldwide for over 40 years. We stock thousands of prints, paintings, drawings, ceramics and sculptures across a very wide range of top British, American and European artists.
The Rutland Showground
Stapleford Estate has recently reopened The Haven, our beautiful, tranquil lakeside venue. The Haven is available for hire for corporate or private functions, with options for bare venue hire, as well as full event support including catering.
This internationally famous nature reserve is managed by the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust in partnership with Anglian Water and provides one of the most important wildfowl sanctuaries in Great Britain, regularly holding in excess of 25,000 waterfowl.
Start Date: 04/01/2010
Set beside the church of the picturesque ironstone village of Lyddington, Lyddington Bede House originated as the medieval wing of a palace belonging to the Bishops of Lincoln.
Make sure you pop into the interactive and informative Rutland Water Visitor Centre at Sykes Lane near Empingham. You will find lots to be learned; with items telling the history of the reservoir, and explaining the wildlife on the nature reserve, not forgetting the array of local information you can pick up to plan your time in the area, alongside maps, cycle routes, souvenirs and gifts.
If you find yourself staying in Oakham and looking for a reasonably flat walk to see the picturesque Rutland Water, then this is for you. It stays on pavements and hard footpaths so should never get muddy.
The place to buy your luxury foods and indulgent treats, making it a top destination for foodies!
Pack your bucket and spade and head to Rutland Water beach – the 1st inland bathing water location in England to have a Blue Flag and Seaside Award!
Countryside for all routes have been designed with accessible requirements in mind
A guided walk through Uppingham’s Heritage. There are 20 identified sites numbered on the map.
