Be sure to take part in some autumn walks in and around Rutland and experience the crisp air and crunchy leaves under your feet.
Rutland’s gift for Active Holiday enthusiasts!
Rutland Water is the centrepiece for sporting activities in the county. Set in stunning 3,100 acres of beautiful rolling English countryside, Rutland Water has a 25 mile (40 km) perimeter track, perfect for cycling, walking and running. There’s a huge range of activities waiting for you, regardless of your age or ability. Whilst famous for its water sports and sailing facilities it’s also the perfect place for a spot of fly fishing. Rutland Water is proud to host the Rutland Sailability program that is designed to enable people with any disability to enjoy sailing in a safe environment.
There is a weekly parkrun at Rutland Water every Saturday at 9am starting at Normanton Church. Parkrunners can register for free via the parkrun UK website and need to bring a hard copy of their barcode. The parkrun attracts all ages and abilities who walk, jog or run the 3 miles, from babies in buggies to Nordic walkers, there is also provision for all abilities – and everyone is encouraged back to the restaurant for a drink and a chat afterwards. Junior parkrun happens every Sunday, also at Normaton at 9am, but a shorter distance of 2km and lots more cheering! £1 all day parking for park runners on the day.
Rutland is ideal for cyclists and ramblers, with trails and routes available from the Visitor Centre at Sykes Lane (which has an adventure golf course not to be missed!) Hiking from village to village whilst taking in the views and a country pub or two is very rewarding!
Golf in Rutland
Rutland is blessed with some fantastic Golf Courses, many enjoying the best views in the county and offering fabulous social opportunities and dining facilities at their club houses for visitors. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an amateur, you’ll enjoy Rutland’s five excellent courses, and each with their own golfing challenges.
Rutland Water Golf Course, with panoramic views of Rutland Water, provides excellent golfing and wonderful leisure facilities. There’s a driving range, the Hambleton 9-hole par-3 course and the challenging 18-hole Championship Normanton course. Golf clubs and golf buggies can be hired and there are superb chipping and putting greens for practice. The site offers luxury en-suite accommodation and a self-catering cottage to allow you to enjoy a relaxing golfing break with unparalleled views of Rutland.
Greetham Valley Golf Course features two 18-hole and one 9-hole course as well as fully equipped Clubhouse, pro-shop and driving range. This popular golf club has a variety of Golf Breaks and Golf Society days with a thriving membership. Their Golf Academy offers one-to-one, duo and group lessons that are available for novices, improvers and the occasional despairing low handicapper! Greetham Valley has 35 hotel bedrooms, 8 eco friendly log cabins, restaurant and many other facilities.
There is also Woolfox Golf & Country Club, North Luffenham Golf Club and Luffenham Heath Golf Club to explore.
Sporting events
Rutland is host to many big sporting events, many being delivered by the excellent Pacesetter Events, including the Dambusters Triathlon, The Vitruvian, Rutland Water Marathon, SwimRutland and more. The SwimRutland NightSwim gives you the chance to experience the thrill of swimming in open water underneath the stars, this fantastic event is sure to be a firm favourite with adventurers! If open water swimming is of interest (first timers or regulars) then check out Inspire2Tri and their swim sessions.
There are also many sporting events and challenges throughout the year at venues including Burghley House and Belvoir Castle, including Tough Mudder.
The county also hosts prestigious international sporting events ideal for spectators; both the International CiCLE Classic race which sets off in Oakham every April and the annual Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in nearby Stamford, draw huge numbers of spectators from all over the world.
Culinary Courses
For a less ‘active’ activity, hone your BBQ skills with England Cricketing legend Matthew Hoggard – Hoggy’s Grill is based at Rutland Nursery and offers fun half day courses to inspire and give you confidence to become a BBQ king or queen!
Horse riding
If you enjoy seeing the countryside from the saddle, then Rutland can offer you some fantastic hacking, plus horse friendly accommodation! Leicestershire & Rutland Bridleway Association organise a programme of rides throughout the year, including the Hambleton Bluebells, a 6 mile ride on mainly private tracks at Rutland Water.
If you’ve not ridden before and want to try some lessons, try booking into Somerby Equestrian Centre, Stretton Riding School or Owston Lodge Equestrian Centre.
Bowl Everyone Over With Our Grilling Courses
Mallard Point is a family-run Single Estate Vineyard and Distillery located in Essendine, Rutland, offering tours and creating a range of local gins and still and sparkling wines.
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.
Rutland is a county bursting with flavour! The variety and quality of produce made in this area is astonishing.
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.
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.
Part of the new Discover Rutland Food & Drink Map is this Northern Cycle Route of 24 miles, with a shorter 14 mile option. The route follows rural roads.
Featured Listings
Twenty-three miles of beautiful traffic free trails around Britain’s largest man-made lake, makes a day at Rutland Water a real countryside delight, pedalling through the beautiful countryside with spectacular views over the water.
Rutland Water Open Water Swimming is a popular choice for both professional and recreational swimmers as well as those wanting to engage in group coaching sessions.
For those keen to hit the water, the Rutland Water Fishing Lodge is your starting point for boats, permits, tackle and tuition. Rutland Water Fishing Lodge is ideally situated and offers bait, tackle as well as tuition by experienced instructors.
If you’re looking for where to don your cossie and do some lengths, this useful list should help…
It is said that the East Midland has the best riding countryside in Europe and we have many hunts in the area as well as private stables and of course the Internationally famous Burghley Horse Trails plus Rockingham Horse Trails.
Enjoy a round or two of golf! Set in beautiful undulating Rutland countryside, Greetham Valley is viewed by many as simply the best golf complex in Rutland and the East Midlands, offering 45 glorious holes of golf, 2017 winner of the prestigous Environmental Golf Course of the Year award. Set amidst 276 acres of picturesque countryside just a few minutes’ drive from Rutland Water, since 1991 Greetham Valley has been carefully developed from traditional undulating farmland to create three diverse golf courses, The Lakes, The Valley and the par 3 Academy, each with their own unique challenges for every level of player.
A cruise aboard the Rutland Belle allows you to enjoy the sights of Rutland Water whilst listening to commentary highlighting points of interest.
The Rutland Belle can carry up to 110 passengers, with 60 places in the under-cover saloons. Drinks are available on board.
Proudly hosting athlete focussed events in and around the county of Rutland, including triathlons, walks, swims and walks. This year you will see the return of some established favourites alongside some newer offerings, find the perfect event for your next sporting challenge!
