Two circular walking routes taking in the countryside around Empingham and Rutland Water, starting at The White Horse.
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
The place to buy your luxury foods and indulgent treats, making it a top destination for foodies!
Home of Ferneley’s Ice Cream, an adventure golf course, children’s play areas and an amazing countryside view from the cafe, visitors can be sure of a warm welcome come rain or shine.
Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue is a unique collection of 150 yew trees, most over 200 years old. The Avenue was once the carriage drive to Clipsham Hall, the centre of the Clipsham Estate.
Written by The Great Food Club , this lovely circular walk has the option to eat at three recommended Uppingham venues in the Market Place…
A new and beautifully curated interiors and lifestyle store – stocked with a stylish range of items to create a relaxed Hamptons vibe; soft furnishings, contemporary accessories, carefully selected furniture and rattan basket ware will ensure that you are inspired by the laid-back style of ‘Barefoot Sunday’.
Oakham, the county town of Rutland, is a classic English market town, mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. It has a castle, market place, butter cross and stocks, a famous old school, all in close association with a magnificent parish church and arranged in a rectangular shape around which the town has grown.
If you’ve been inspired by our ‘Perfect Rural Escape’ tourism film, then here is a handy itinerary which includes all of the places featured.
See fantastic national touring productions, comedy acts, music performances, local talent and much more in this new 400 seat theatre built within the shell of the original Corn Exchange Hall, or in the more intimate Theatre Lounge, seating 200.
Start Date: 01/01/2018
Supplying wines, beers and spirits to the local area and also to our online community. We pride ourselves in the quality of fine French wines, and only source from the very best suppliers in Europe, the US, Australia and beyond.
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.
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.
THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE IN SEVENTY MINUTES!
Highest Quality. Designed by original thinkers, beautifully built by skilled craftspeople.
Cycling is one of the easiest ways to keep fit and healthy, it can be a fun activity for all the family. A bicycle does not cause pollution or contribute to climate change.
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.
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.