5 Things to do at Rutland Water

Rutland Water has been described as ‘the playground of the East Midlands’, as people go there for water sports, fishing, cycling, to visit the nature reserve or just for a simple walk around the reservoir.

The reservoir itself is impressive, being one of the largest artificial lakes in Europe! Set in over 3000 acres of countryside and wetland nature reserve, there is a 25-mile track around the perimeter and even a pleasure cruiser (The Rutland Belle) that takes people across the water.

Here’s our pick of 5 things to do at Rutland Water this year:

1. Hire a bike (or bring your own)

Act like a Rutland local by cycling around the reservoir through lovely countryside. Explore the off road, 23-mile route on your own bike or hire one from Whitehall or Normanton. There’s lots of types of bike to choose from: mountain bikes, lightweight hybrids, easy riding cruisers or even tandems! Whatever your level of ability or fitness, this is a nice easy day’s cycling, with several country pubs for food and refreshment along the way

2. Bounce around at Aqua Park

In the summer months the North shore of Rutland water is taken over by the UK’s biggest inflatable obstacle course. The park has been a hugely popular attraction and has doubled in size since last year, featuring over 36 obstacles to climb, jump, crawl, launch off and slide over. Are you brave enough to tackle The Beast – the UK’s tallest inflatable climbing wall with a huge drop?!

3. Watersports for the whole family

If you’ve always wanted to try sailing, Rutland Water is a great place to learn as there are no problematic tides to worry about! Rutland Sailing Club can teach you how to sail keelboats and cruisers, whereas Rutland Sailing School is the place to go for dinghy and catamaran sailing. If you don’t fancy sailing, you can also learn windsurfing or canoeing.

4. Get close to nature

Rutland Water is internationally famous amongst bird watchers as it’s a hugely important sanctuary for wildfowl. The Anglican Water Birdwatching Centre is open to visitors all year round and whatever the weather and is run by knowledgeable staff and volunteers who can answer and questions you may have. Pick up a guide and see how many species you can spot from one of the 30 hides dotted around the site.

5. Learn a new skill

Discover Rutland run courses and workshops throughout the year, where you can learn how to do all sorts of things from wood carving to growing your own food. Find out how to use the power of plants to improve your health in a Herbology class (sounds like something out of Harry Potter!) or get tips from a professional artist on how to create a watercolour masterpiece.

So whether you’re visiting for the day, camping for the weekend or staying in one of the nearby hotels for a longer break, there’s plenty to keep you entertained at Rutland Water.