The county town of Rutland is Oakham, a thriving settlement in the East Midlands of England which is surrounded by beautiful countryside. It is a fantastic place in which to take a cottage break as there is so much to do in this gorgeous traditional market town, from soaking up culture in the Rutland County Museum and Oakham Castle to a spot of shopping in the Farmers’ Market. There are lots of lovely holiday cottages available in Oakham so that you and your loved ones can be assured of plenty of choice when it comes to exploring this stunning part of the UK.
About Cottage Breaks in Oakham
Choices of self-catering accommodation include country cottages near Oakham as well as options such as dog-friendly cottages and luxury accommodation.
Oakham is just to the west of Rutland Water Nature Reserve which is a man-made lake with small areas of forestry and lots of wetland. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and home to the Anglian Water Bird Watching Centre as there are plenty of species that can be found, such as the Tufted Duck, Osprey, Goldeneye and Great Crested Grebe. In August each year it hosts the British Birdwatching Fair. As well as being a haven for birds, Rutland Water is also a popular place for watersports activities and is a great place for chilling out whilst on a cottage holiday. Visitors can go sailing on the lake or walk and cycle along the perimeter of it, and there is even a cruiser, the Rutland Belle, that takes passengers on a relaxing trip around the lake.
Oakham Castle should definitely be visited if staying in the town although only the great hall still remains of this Norman structure. Dating from around 1180, the hall is a Grade I listed building with a stunning interior, decorated with Romanesque details and interestingly, hundreds of horseshoes hanging from the walls. The outer bailey of the castle is a park today with pretty flowerbeds, a kid playground and a bandstand and is lovely place to go for an afternoon picnic whilst on a cottage break in Oakham.
The fantastic Farmers’ Market comes to Oakham every third Saturday of the month and there are stalls selling quality local produce for those wishing to purchase tasty goods to bring home to friends or to use for cooking in self-catering accommodation. It is a brilliant market steeped in tradition and history.
Oakham is home to an array of shops, restaurants, bars and pubs, with friendly locals at every turn. Those who love the great outdoors can go on one of the many walking trails around the town including the Oakham Heritage Trail which gives an insight into the history of this fascinating settlement in the heart of Rutland. Although Oakham doesn’t have its own tourist information centre (the nearest is at Stamford), it does have a Visitor Centre which you can visit for lots of free information. With so much to recommend it, Oakham could be a great choice for a family self-catering holiday or a romantic break away.
Whether you choose to book a holiday cottage in Oakham, an apartment, a lodge or another type of self-catering holiday accommodation, we hope you have your best holiday yet in Rutland.
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