Crowning a hill outside the county of Rutland, the Castle’s turrets and towers rise over the Vale of Belvoir like an illustration in a romantic fairy-tale. The name Belvoir – meaning ‘beautiful view’ in French, and pronounced today as ‘beaver’ – dates back to Norman times.
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.
Nordic Walk it! – keep healthy, stay in shape and enjoy exercise
Rumble Live Action Gaming, the award-winning live action gaming arena offering outdoor laser tag with state of the art equipment in beautiful woodlands, is now available at Rutland Water, in addition to its existing Grafham Water location.
The award winning Castle and stunning grounds have been readied for the new season.
Small traditional family-run nursery specialising in herbs but offering much more including wild flowers, cottage garden plants and scented-leaf Pelargoniums. Extensive collections of thyme, mint and lavender.
Originally created by Geoff Hamilton for the Gardeners’ World TV show, Barnsdale is home to 38 pocket-sized, themed garden ‘rooms’, built in his trademark, practical style, and full of inspiration for garden-lovers of all ages. Go for great ideas for your own outside spaces or simply have fun exploring- there magical hidden corners, ponds full of tadpoles and newts, and an allotment with chickens and giant organically grown veg.
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.
Whatever your age or ability, we’ve got just the bike for you from hybrid and mountain bikes, to the latest electric bikes, tandems, gel saddle covers, helmets and kids’ bikes, tag-a-longs, child seats and buggies – all current season models from Specialized, replaced every year.
Once part of Normanton Estate, local residents fought to save ‘St Matthew’s Church’ from demolition when the reservoir was created in the 1970’s. Now deconsecrated and with a new floor level, Normanton Church has it’s own embankment making it a prominent feature on the water.
Global Birding aims to inspire birdwatchers to come together as a global community and celebrate birds, by participating in birdwatching, birdwatching events, citizen science and conservation. The major event is Global Birdfair 14-16 July 2023 which attracts a multitude of exhibitors and visitors who are passionate about conserving nature worldwide.
Global Birding is the brainchild of Tim Appleton MBE, co-founder of the first and biggest Birdfair which he ran for 31 years. Prior to creating and managing Rutland Water Nature Reserve, he worked for Sir Peter Scott at the world famous Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.
Ganders Goat pride themselves on their green focused farming and production methods. Come Goat Walking on the farm, where they produce a range of Soap and Ice Cream from the goat milk.
Rutland’s most famous landmark was saved from flooding when Rutland Water was created in the 1970s. Now with the floor raised almost half way up the church, it is a fascinating building with a unique history.
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.
