The Best Places To Visit In Rutland

 If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that we spend a lot of time in Rutland visiting the (not-quite) in-laws, and whilst I lived close to the area growing up, I never really appreciated it until now.

Whilst it may be the smallest county in the UK, it’s certainly one well worth exploring. And I actually think that it’s an area that’s underrated because let me tell you, it’s picturesque and very beautiful. There’s Rutland Water to wander around, quaint villages to admire, and lovely walks to be had. So with that, I’m sharing my favourite places within Rutland.

NORMANTON, RUTLAND WATER

Rutland Water is one of the largest man made lakes in Europe, and covers over 3,000 acres of countryside with plenty of space and activities for everyones. My favourite spot is Normanton which features Normanton Church, a distinguished and iconic feature of Rutland Water with its gothic look. It’s a lovely spot to wander around where you can continue to walk round to the Dam. I’d also recommend cycling around the area, or setting up camp on the grass somewhere for an afternoon picnic. An ideal place for all the family or friends!

EXTON

This is my favourite village of them all. Whatever the season, Exton looks absolutely beautiful and truly highlights that country English vibe. Take a stroll around the village admiring the thatched cottages, lanes with small houses or wander around Exton estate with peaceful views and wildlife for a proper countryside feel. A true photogenic village so don’t forget your phone or camera!

EMPINGHAM

Whenever we head to Rutland Water, we always drive through Empingham (it’s close to the North shore of Rutland) and dream about which house we’d love to live in. Some big, some small. Again, it’s a village that has little off roads with Rutland stone houses, and an incredibly cosy pub, The White Horse, which is always inviting you to stop in for a drink, or three. A charming spot.

MARKET OVERTON

Obviously I had to mention Market Overton on the list, considering this is where we spend so much of our time. The village, like most of the other Rutland villages, has quaint cottages, grand houses and fields with endless views. There are lovely walks through to the next village, Barrow, with well kept land and narrow lanes to explore. The local pub is friendly and inviting, and the local shop is as quaint and cute as the homes, and there’s even a reminder of the past with the village stocks and whipping post on the village green!
We’ve been lucky enough to see it snow around here a few times too, and I can confirm that it’s even prettier when covered in white!

OAKHAM

Oakham is the market town, with plenty of shops, pubs and places to grab some food. It’s inevitable that there’s chain shops, however there’s a whole host of independent shops to browse around, or the local deli’s and food shops (would recommend Otters for delicious cheese). The pubs are always bustling (The Lord Nelson and Hornblower are great boozers), and there’s even market day on a Wednesday or Saturday to get all your fresh produce. You can also wander around the back streets, looking at a variety of old and new homes, and it’s worth checking out the Grade II listed train stations purely for it’s Victorian architecture.

HAMBLETON

Oh Hambleton, one of the finest villages in the county. The village is located on the Peninsula of Rutland Water so it can sometimes appear hidden when driving around the outskirts. And whilst it may be tucked away, it’s certainly full of beautiful thatched cottages, grand homes and incredible views overlooking the water. There are many walks to take around Hambleton, with bluebells blooming around the woods in Spring, and of course the local pub, The Finch’s Arms, is located in prime spot for a good bit of food and drink after a walk or cycle.

Other villages that I’d also recommend for a little potter around are Uppingham (Dom Paddy’s is lovely for some food and a glass of wine), Lyddington (the main street will give you huge home envy), Lyndon (small but beautiful), Langham and Greetham.

Who’s for a weekend here?