Description
Be part of this year’s 25th anniversary of Rutland’s Walking and Cycling Festival
RUTLAND ROUND: Saturday 17th May – Friday 30th May 2025
If you enjoy walking and are looking for an extra challenge, then why not make 2025 the year you complete the Rutland Round?
The Rutland Round is a 65-mile circular route around the perimeter of the county, with its start and finish in Oakham and a couple of detours to visit Rutland Water. It was first launched in 2000 by John Williams, the then Rights of Way Officer for CPRE Rutland. Since then, the route has been completed countless times attracting determined walkers from far and wide. It has seen parties marking a significant birthday, fundraisers, solo walkers and runners and group events. And this year is the Rutland Round’s 25th Birthday!
As part of the annual Rutland Walking and Cycling Festival, our knowledgeable volunteer walk leaders will be leading walkers along the route and will be sharing their knowledge along the way. The 65-mile route will be split into 6 days starting on Saturday 17th May and finishing on Friday 30th May. You can book to walk as many sections as you like or why not take on the challenge of the full Rutland Round.
As the Rutland Round is a circular walk, each day starts at a new location. Transport is available each day to pick you up in the morning from the end point of the walk, where you leave your car and drop you to the start point of the walk. You then complete that section of the walk and finish back at your car. Please let us know in the booking form if you’d like to use our transport or arrange your own.
All walkers need to be able to cope with stiles and need to wear suitable footwear and clothing (walking boots or strong footwear are essential). Dogs are welcome on the walks but need to be kept under close control and you must be able to lift them over difficult stiles. Please note the minibus doesn’t allow dogs therefore alternative transport will need to be made. Please also bring your own refreshments and any other essential items.
Festival Week 1
We have added additional activities this year to run alongside our Rutland Round events so there is even more to chose from!
Saturday 17 – 09:00AM – Day 1: Oakham > Wardley (9.5 miles)
Sunday 18 – 09:00AM – Day 2: Wardley > Seaton (12.5 miles)
Monday 19 – 09:00AM – Day 3: Seaton > Geeston (10.5 miles)
Tuesday 20 – 09:00AM – Day 4: Geeston > Tickencote (10 miles)
Wednesday 21 – 09:00AM – Day 5: Tickencote > Thistleton (12 miles)
Thursday 22 – 09:00AM – Day 6: Thistleton > Oakham
Festival Week 1 (Alongside Rutland Round)
Saturday 17 – 09:00-14:00 – Velo Club Cafe Plus Ride (50 miles. Road ride, cafe stop, 15-17mph. Start: back of Oakham Castle
Saturday 17 – 10:00-13:00 – Velo Club Cafe Ride (25-30 miles. Road ride, cafe stop, 13-15mph. Start: Hub and Spoke, Oakham
Sunday 18 – 08:00-10:30 – Stamford Cycling Presents (Rutland Roamer: 30km, road ride, circular route) (Rutland Challenges: 50km, road ride, circular route. Both routes start at Red Lion Square, Stamford.
Sunday 18 – 08:45 – Junior Parkrun (2km. Timed event, all abilities welcome. Start: Normanton Church, Rutland Water. (Register name on website: www.parkrun.org.uk/register/
Sunday 18 – 10:30 – Sigma Sports Social Ride (80km. @Sigma Sports, Oakham. See booking link.)
Monday 19 – Walk Together Oakham (St John and St Anne’s Common Room, South Street, Oakham LE15 6HY
Wednesday 21 -14:00-16:30 – My Bike Open Shed Sessions @Oakham Enterprise Park
Thursday 22 – 16:30-20:30 – Youth Group (Start @Baptist Church, Meltoon Road, Oakham. Encouraging our young people to stay active and promote sustainable travel by teaming up with My Bike Scheme.
Thursday 22 – 18:30-20:30 – Velo Club Evening Ride (30-35 miles. Road ride, start @The Grainstore, Oakham)
Festival Week 2
We have plenty of activities to offer throughout the second week of the festival for our walkers, ramblers, trekkers, and cyclists! All abilities have been catered for so please keep an eye out for what activities suit you and your capabilities the most!
Saturday 24 – 09:00-14:00 – Velo Club Cafe Plus Ride (50 miles. Road ride, cafe stop, 15-17mph. Start: Hub and Spoke Oakham)
Saturday 24 – 10:00-13:00 – Velo Club Cafe Ride (25-30 miles. Road ride, cafe stop, 13-15mph. Start: Castle Cafe, Oakham)
Saturday 24 – 21:00-22:30 – Guided Bat Walk (Guided walk by a trained ecologist, 2 mile walk down the canal. Start: Oakham Enterprise Park. See booking link)
Sunday 25 – 08:00-10:30 – Stamford Cycling Presents (Rutland Roamer: 30km, road ride, circular route) (Rutland Challenges: 50km, road ride, circular route. Both routes start at Red Lion Square, Stamford.
Sunday 25 – 08:45 – Junior Parkrun (2km. Timed event, all abilities welcome. Start: Normanton Church, Rutland Water. (Register name on website: www.parkrun.org.uk/register/
Sunday 25 – 10:00-13:00 – Guided History Walk (Guided 5 mile walk down the canal. Start: Church Street Car Park, Oakham. See booking link)
Sunday 25 – 10:00 – Empingham > Fort Henry > Exton > Whitwell (9 mile ramble through the villages. Start @Outside the Chruch in Empingham, LE15 8PN
Sunday 25 – 11:00 – Sigma Sports Gravel Ride (40KM @Sigma Sports, Oakham)
Monday 26 – 10:00 – Pickworth > Castle Bytham > Clipsham (9.5 mile walk hosted by Rutland Start @opposite Church in Pickworth)
Tuesday 27 – 10:00 – Manton > Wing (5 mile circularwalk hosted by Rutland Ramblers
Tuesday 27 – 14:00 – Circular Route From Braunston I (8 miles walk hosted by Rutland Ramblers. STart @Junction of Cedar St, Church St & Wood Lane)
Wednesday 28 – 10:00-12:00 – Harringworth Walking Group (5.5 miles, circular route @Laude Abbey)
Wednesday 28 – 10:00 – Family Trail Walk (0-5 yrs. Starting @Family Hub Oakham and venturing to the castle grounds for a themed activity before returning to The Hub for stories and crafts)
Wednesday 28 – 10:00 – Barrowdden > Harringworth > Seaton > Morcot (8 mile walk hosted by Rutland Ramblers. Start @Village Green opposite Exeter Arms)
Wednesday 28 – 14:00 – Walk Together Oakham (Meeting at the library and ending in cafe for post walk refreshments)
Wednesday 28 – 18:45 – Circular Route from Greetham (4.2 mile walk hosted by Rutland Ramblers, prefect for sunset and post work fun. Start @Greetham Church Lane)
Thursday 29 – 10:00 – Belton-in-Rutland Circular Route (9 mile walk hosted by The Rutland Ramblers. Start @Layby on A47 Allexton Junction, LE15 9JZ)
Thursday 29 – 16:00-20:30 – Youth Club (We will be venturing out of our youth club base this week for a photo challenge around Oakham Town. 16:00-18:00: Year Groups 7-9. 18:30-20:30: Year Group 10+. Starting @Baptist Church, Melton Road, Oakham)
Thursday 29 – 18:30-20:30 – Velo Club Evening Ride (Rutland Water Ride)
Thursday 29 – 18:30 – Walk Together Oakham (Meeting at the library and ending in a pub for post walk refreshments)
Friday 30 – 10:00 – Circular Route from Langham (4.9 mile walk hosted by The Rutland Ramblers. Start @Junction of Well Street and Orchard Road, LE15 7JS)
Friday 30 – 14:00 – The Alpaca Trail (9 mile walk hosted by The Rutland Ramblers. Start @Junction of Cedar St, Church St & Wood Lane by All Saints Church, LE15 8JG)
Booking Form
To book your place on any of the Rutland Walking and Cycling Festival activities, please complete the booking form on the Active Rutland website and select the activities you would like to attend. The booking form should be completed by each person planning to attend so one booking form per person please.
Opening Times
Date From: 17/05/2025
Date To: 30/05/2025
