If you have a dog make sure you keep it on a lead all the time or you could get very publicly told off! We went about three years ago and there are signs up all over the main areas saying that dogs must be kept on leads. It was a very hot day when we went and the dogs really needed to cool off, so we found a very quiet corner well away from the main body of the lake and with no-one around, and let them have a swim. While we were there the pleasure boat sailed past, which we thought nothing of, but a few minutes later a guy came whizzing along in a RIB and shouted through a loud hailer for us to put the dogs on a lead - I can only assume that the pilot of the pleasure boat had radioed him and told him we were there. Now had we been in one of the main areas then I could have understood us being told off (though we wouldn't have had the dogs off lead anyway) but we were in a quiet corner disturbing no-one.
It's a lovely area and great for dog walking but to let a dog run free - forget it!
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
You need to park at the nature reserve near Lynton Top camp site there is a walk from the centre there to see the Ospreys nest. But I think they have left the nest now.
------------- Cuckoo corner nr Hereford 2to 9th September 2017
22nd 23rd September 2017 St Neots
9th 14th October Mablethorpe
Just got back from Rutland Water and seen the Ospreys
The younguns have left the nest but do return to perch.We went to Lyndon Top and its free to view if you stay in the visitor centre and £5 to enter the reserve and view the water and birds from the hides.
Its well worth a fiver and we have had a cracking day
If anyone is planning a visit be quick,the Ospreys will be leaving for Africa soon.First the females and then a little later the males and younguns.
We went to Rutland this weekend, stayed at Wing Lakes (not bad - have reviewed it). We hired bikes one day and cycled around the lake, as it has been recommended as a top cycle route in the UK. We were a bit disappointed, to be honest.
Given that you can hire hybrid bikes (with road tyres) and tandems as well as mountain bikes, I was surprised that there are a lot of loose and muddy surfaces and tight corners. Husband and I are relatively experienced cyclists and hired a tandem just to see what it was like, but at times we felt vulnerable and/or a risk to other users because the path was confined, had tight bends, gates etc. We often got off to walk, which spoilt things a bit!
For something promoted specifically as a cycle route there are far too many Cyclists Dismount signs. These appear at steep hills and cattle grids and gates (also loads). The path went through most of the official car parks around the lake, which seems dangerous. The few sections alongside the road mostly had tarmac paths on the grass verges, but these were really too narrow for 2-way cycling, and we nearly came a cropper when some idiots on mountain bikes came flying the other way around some pedestrians on the path. It's pretty short sighted as in many places there is acres of grass verge and doubling or even tripling the path width to keep everyone safe would be easy. To do the circuit we reckon you really need a mountain bike, and lots of patience.
On the plus side the pubs at Manton and on the peninsula are very good. We found the peninsula a bit dull really and possibly not worth it except for the pub and the pretty village, which thankfully are the nearest bit to the main circuit!
We didn't go in all the car parks (although your £3 day ticket is valid for all of them which is great). We thought Normanton was better than Whitwell. Whitwell has a larger bike hire place (and shop), and a climbing wall and high ropes course for kids, but Normanton still has adequate bike hire plus more/nicer green space by the lake, and (vital in UK weather!) an indoor cafe. Whitwell only has a tiny snack bar with outside tables, plus a burger van over on the boating side.
What it really seems to lack is a "proper" visitor center (like at Carsington in Derbyshire). However I think we may have missed this by not going to the bird watching centre?
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Rutland Water
