England's prettiest reservoir, a little church standing in the water, and miles of lakeside path built for a dog. Here is how we would spend a day at Rutland Water with yours.
Rutland Water is one of the great dog days out in the middle of England. It is a vast man-made lake ringed by a 25-mile shared path, with a photogenic little church half-standing in the water, ospreys nesting in the reserves and a market town, Oakham, sitting just up the road. For a dog, it is basically a very large, very good walk with cafes and pubs spaced around the edge.
You will not do the whole loop in a day, and you do not need to. Pick a stretch of shoreline, take a boat, see the church, and end up in a pub. Here is how we would spend it, with the real, well-reviewed places we would actually take our own dog.
1
Morning: a proper stretch by the water
The lakeside path is the whole point. The Rutland Water circular is flat, well-surfaced and endless, so just pick a section and walk out and back. The Hambleton Peninsula loop is a favourite, poking out into the middle of the lake with water on both sides. Keep dogs on leads near the grazing stock and out of the water in the nature-reserve stretches, but there is plenty of open shoreline for a paddle.
It is as good on two legs as four, and if your dog has the miles in them you can happily lose a whole morning to it before anyone thinks about lunch.
Normanton Church is the picture everyone comes for, a domed little church marooned on a spit at the water's edge, and the dog-friendly grounds around it make a lovely short leg-stretch and photo stop. From nearby you can board the Rutland Belle, which welcomes quiet dogs on leads by arrangement for a gentle cruise out across the lake.
For wildlife, the Lyndon reserve at the quiet end is famous for its ospreys, with dogs allowed on short leads on the Lyndon trails.
Just off the water, Barnsdale Gardens, the television gardener Geoff Hamilton's own plot, keeps a couple of pre-bookable shaded dog spaces so you can wander the borders together on a warm day. And in Oakham itself, the castle is worth a look for its extraordinary hall hung with hundreds of ceremonial horseshoes, with dogs welcome in the grounds.
You will have earned it. Fika is a lovely, well-reviewed cafe that welcomes dogs, and the Hub and Spoke, a cyclists' and walkers' cafe by the water, hands out a treat for every tail-wag. For something more of a meal, the Lake Isle in Uppingham is a smart, dog-friendly restaurant with rooms.
The Grainstore Brewery in Oakham is the walker's choice, a proper brewery tap in an old railway grainstore where dogs are welcome throughout and nobody minds a bit of lakeside mud. Out in the villages, the White Lion Inn and the Wheatsheaf both keep a genuinely warm welcome for a dog in the bar and garden.
To make a weekend of it, the Falcon Hotel in Uppingham keeps dog-friendly ground-floor rooms with bowls and treats, Rutland Hall sits right on the water with dog beds and 65 acres to walk in, and the Barnsdale welcomes dogs throughout, restaurants included, with a bed and bowl in the room.
Rutland Water is really just an enormous, beautiful walk with pubs around the edge, which is a dog's idea of a perfect day.
What to pack for a day out
The short list that turns a good day into an easy one. Throw it in the boot before you set off.
Water bottle and collapsible bowl
Towel for the boot
Poo bags, always
Spare lead and a long line
Treats for the pub
ID tag and vaccinations up to date
Questions dog owners ask
Is Rutland Water good for dog walking?
It is one of the best in the Midlands. A 25-mile shared path rings the lake, mostly flat and well-surfaced, with open shoreline for paddling. Keep dogs on leads near grazing stock and in the nature reserves.
Can dogs go to Normanton Church?
Yes, the grounds around Normanton Church are dog-friendly and make a lovely short walk and photo stop on leads. The church interior is a small museum, so check before going inside.
Can dogs go on the Rutland Belle boat?
Quiet dogs on leads are welcome on the Rutland Belle cruises by prior arrangement, so it is worth calling ahead to confirm before you travel.
Which pubs near Rutland Water take dogs?
The Grainstore Brewery in Oakham is the walker's favourite and welcomes dogs throughout, while the White Lion Inn and the Wheatsheaf in the villages welcome them in the bar and garden.
Where can I stay at Rutland Water with a dog?
The Falcon Hotel offers dog-friendly ground-floor rooms, Rutland Hall sits on the water with 65 acres to walk in, and the Barnsdale welcomes dogs throughout with a bed and bowl.
Oakham & Rutland Water through the seasons
Spring
The ospreys return to Lyndon and the shoreline greens up. A cool, clear morning on the Hambleton loop with the water like glass is hard to beat. Keep dogs leashed near the nesting birds.
Summer
Long, flat miles and plenty of shoreline for a paddle, though it gets busy at weekends. Start early, carry water, and pick a shaded stretch or a boat trip in the heat of the day.
Autumn
The trees around the water turn and the paths quieten down. Barnsdale Gardens is lovely, the light on Normanton Church is at its best, and pub fires start getting lit.
Winter
Crisp, quiet and wide open. Wrap up for a blustery lakeside walk, watch the winter wildfowl on the water, then thaw out at the Grainstore with a muddy dog at your feet.