REVEALED: I visited the UK’s smallest county – it’s as beautiful as Cotswolds and has no tourists.uk
EXCLUSIVE: The county has amazing scenic views, a huge reservoir, markets and a host of independent businesses.
There is a bustling market in Oakham twice a week (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Express)
“What is the smallest county in England?” is a popular question in pub quizzes across the nation. Those clued up on their general knowledge will know that the answer is Rutland, a picturesque collection of unspoiled villages and towns that has been compared to the Cotswolds.
The county, located in the East Midlands, has two main towns, Oakham and Uppingham, as well as a number of quiant villages such as Empingham, Hambleton, Lyddington, Clipsham and Pickworth. It boasts stunning countryside views and has the largest reservoir in the country, Rutland Water. After reading about the beauty of the county, and the fact it attracts relatively few tourists compared to some of Britain’s more celebrated counties, I decided to pay Rutland a visit on a sunny Wednesday morning in June.
Oakham is the biggest town in Rutland (Image: Adam Gerrard)
The first thing to note is that, despite being quiet and peaceful, Rutland is accessible from the Midlands, London and the North. Oakham station, located between Leicester and Peterborough, acts a transport hub for the county and is around a one-and-a-half-hour journey from London with one change.
After having a look around the village of Hambleton, which stands on the peninsula above Rutland Water, I headed two miles east to Oakham. The first thing that stands out in the town is the amount of traditional buildings which are reminiscent of those in the Cotswolds.
Stevie Mitchell is sitting near Oakham Market Square, at the heart of the town, with her two young children. She says Oakham and the wider Rutland area is the perfect place to raise a young family.
“It’s a really lovely place to live. It’s a great place to raise children and have a family,” the 33-year-old says. “There’s no crime or bad behaviour which is certainly very appealing.”
Hambleton stands on the peninsula above Rutland Water (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Express)
Stevie Mitchell says Rutland is a great place to raise a young family (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Express)
She adds: “There’s plenty of cafes and pubs too. The food and drink in Oakham is lovely. And all of the surrounding villages as well. That’s probably one of the main reasons why people like to visit.”
Stevie says that most tourists are attracted to Rutland Water which offers a wide range of activities, including fishing, watersports and cycling. There is also the Rutland Water Nature Reserve which homes a variety of wildlife.
However, Stevie says it’s typically older people that visit the county. “There’s lovely parks, Rutland Water and scenic places to walk which appeals to certain people,” she explains. “If you’re older, it’s absolutely lovely.”
Sat on a bench outside the Butterwick Bakery in Oakham is Sarah Sims. While eating a freshly-made doughnut from the bakery, the 50-year-old says she could never imagine living anywhere else.
“I was born and bred in Rutland. I don’t think I’d ever want to move away really,” she says. “You always bump into somebody you know and it’s a really lovely community.”
Rutland Water is a popular attraction among visitors (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Express)
Sarah Sims has lived in the county for all of her life (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Express)
As well as the warming community atmosphere, Sarah says Oakham is thriving with independent businesses.
Sarah explains: “It’s also beautiful and there’s some lovely old buildings around the streets. There’s lots of places and new businesses opening here which I think is a good sign. There’s pretty much everything you need here.
“We’ve also got a B&M, Lidl and an Aldi now so there’s no reason to leave now. We’ve got pretty much everything.”
On the opposite side of Rutland Water to Oakham is the village of Empingham. Chris Clarkson, 60, says the area is particularly appealing to the older generation.
He is from Empingham but works at Oakham School, a public school founded in 1584 that has educated a host of big names such as cricketer Stuart Broad, actor Matthew Macfadyen, former England rugby captain Lewis Moody and author China Miéville.
Rutland is a quiet and peaceful county (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Express)
Chris Clarkson is from the village of Empingham (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Express)
Chris says: “I’m from Empingham and it’s a really nice place. I understand why Rutland is a popular area with people.” He added that the county does not get as busy as better-known towns in the region.
“We get a lot of tourists but it’s not as busy as other towns in the area like Stamford,” the 60-year-old says. “It’s mainly old people really because there’s more for them to do here. We don’t get any trouble here either. It’s a safe place to live which is appealing nowadays.”
One of the most iconic sights in the area is Oakham Castle. The Grade 1 listed building is known for its Great Hall which is considered as one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in England.
The castle features a collection of horse-shoes dating back to the medieval period. It’s here where I meet Dave Denton who lives around 10 miles away.
Oakham Castle is an iconic attraction in Rutland (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Express)
Dave Denton enjoys the independent businesses in the area (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Express)
The 76-year-old praises the shops on offer in the town. He also says the wider Rutland area has great views and is always really peaceful for visitors.
“There’s a good butchers here, which I use to get my sausages and liver, and there’s a bread stall on the market which I use too,” he says. “I’m not so keen on shopping at supermarkets so it’s good to come in and use the shops and market here.”
Dave adds: “It’s a picturesque place too. The views are great all over Rutland. It’s peaceful and there’s never any bother. There’s plenty to do and something for everyone. It’s not just the independent shops.”
Oakham holds busy markets on Wednesday and Saturday every week. But that’s about as busy as this county gets and it’s hard to see how it’s not overrun with tourists posing for selfies. Long may that continue.
There are traditional buildings on streets across Rutland (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Express)
Rutland Water is the largest reservoir in the country (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Express)
