If you are only planning to fly one day and want some thing to do on the other day, or are bring a mixed group where some are not flying, or the weather stops you flying then you might find this list useful.
Please note that Sky Lincs has no involvement in any of the places listed here, visit them at your own discretion.
This huge reservoir and surrounding area provides lots activities such as; sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, power boating, fishing, walking, cycling (the full circuit is over 25 miles which includes going around the centre peninsular in Hambleton. To do just the circuit is 17 miles and can be completed between 2 to 3 hours dependant on ability of your group.)
Bike hire is £6.95 for 2 hours or £9.95 for 4 hours with 10% discount for 10 or more in a group. Please contact Rutland Cycling to book a group in. In the summer it is very busy so book or turn up before 10.00 am in the morning on a weekend.
There is a great bird and nature reserve to the west of the water and other tourist attractions.
There are several centres around the reservoir:-
Normanton visitors centre
- 0.75 mile from airfield
- Cycle hire, Tel: 01780 720888, www.rutlandcycling.co.uk
- The Church Museum – Rutland’s most famous landmark saved from the water. Tel: 01572 653026
Manton / Egleton
- 2.5 miles from airfield, between Edith Weston & Manton
- Nature reserve,
- Bird watching
Empingham / Sykes Lane visitors centre
- 3 miles from airfield, turn left at A606, past Empingham
- Tourist information centre tel: 01572 653026,
- Butterfly and aquatic centre including the Twilight Zone – lots of nature’s nasties (well worth a visit) Tel: 01780 460515
Whitwell
- 3.5 miles from airfield, turn left at A606, past Empingham
- Water cruises, Tel: 01572 787630 www.rutlandwatercruises.com
- Cycle hire Tel: 01780 460705, www.rutlandcycling.co.uk
- The Rockblok climbing centre Tel: 01780 460060, web: www.rockblok.com
- Watersports centre Tel: 01780 460154
Barnsdale
- 6 miles from airfield, turn left at A606, head towards Oakham
- “The Drought Gardens” and Arboretum
Situated 7 miles from the airfield (go to the A606 and turn right).
Stamford is one of the most beautiful stone towns in England and has become familiar as the location for TV’s Middlemarch. The town has many medieval churches and a wide range of specialist shops. Stamford is a historic old coaching town with plenty of pubs, and restaurants. There is also the Stamford museum located on Broad Street (01780 766317).
Tourist info centre Tel: 01780 755611
Melbourn Bros' All Saints Brewery, located in the shadow of 14th century All Saints Church in the heart of Stamford, Specialises in fruit beers. Guided brewery tours are available Monday to Friday during office hours by appointment. Evening and weekend tours are also available by special arrangement. Restaurant & Café: A good selection of traditional hot and cold food available. To make a booking please telephone Tony Brown on 01780 752186 or e-mail: info@melbournbrothers.co.uk web: www.melbournbrothers.co.uk
Situated 8 miles from the airfield (go to the A606 and turn right, then follow the A1 south, follow the signs at the next roundabout).
This is the largest and grandest house of the Elizabethan era, a magnificent house, park and sculpture garden.
Tel: 01780 752451, Email: burghley@burghley.co.uk burghley@burghley.co.ukweb: www.burghley.co.uk
Situated 18 miles from the airfield (head south through North Luffenham to the A47 then turn left).
Peterborough City Centre is full of interesting places to visit and things to do – Cathedral, museum & art gallery, Nene valley railway & Railworld, Queensgate shopping centre.
Tourist info centre Tel: 01733 344240
Situated at Colsterworth 18 miles from the airfield (go to the A606 turn right, then follow the A1 north to the next roundabout).
Discover a 17th century farmhouse on the outside, with 21st century surprises inside which will entertain your brain! The Discovery Centre explains the scientific achievements of one of the country’s most famous men. With ‘hands-on’ activities, displays and inspiring exhibits, you are invited to find out why Newton is known today as the Father of Modern Science and the ‘Man of the last Millennium’. Open weekends March through to November.
Tel: 01476 860338 Email: woolsthorpemanor@ntrust.org.uk web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Situated 12 miles from the airfield - take the minor road to Manton, then turn left heading south on the A6003. Rockingham is just before you get to Corby.
William the Conqueror built his great hilltop castle at Rockingham, a royal residence for 500 years. Poised above the Welland Valley with fine views of five counties, the ramparts enclose 12 acres of sweeping lawns, formal and informal gardens set among the medieval fortifications.
Open from 31 March (Easter) - 29 September –Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays
(In July & August Tuesday and Thursdays). Castle Open from 1.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. Grounds open earlier on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays at 11.30 p.m. Last admissions 4.30 p.m.
Tel:01536 770240 Email:rockinghamcastle@lineone.net web:www.rockinghamcastle.com
Ancient turf maze at Wing
Situated 4 miles from the airfield - take the minor road from Edith Weston towards Manton, after 1 mile turn left to Lyndon, in Lyndon turn right then left and follow the road to Wing.
Situated 7 miles from the airfield -go to the A606 turn left.
At the heart of Oakham lies the great hail of an ancient Norman Castle, filled with symbolic horseshoes donated by royalty and peers of the realm over the centuries. Today, it is open to the public and is becoming a popular location for weddings. Close by, in the Market Place, you can find an old Butter Cross and Town Pump. Rutland County Museum is full of historic artifacts and exhibits, as well as temporary shows.
Tourist info centre Tel: 01572 724329
Situated at Oakham 7 miles from the airfield -go to the A606 turn left, to Oakham.
Long established rare breeds, exhibition of old farm equipment, play areas, walks, shop etc, Tel: 01572 756789
Rutland Railway Museum
Situated between Ashwell and Cottesmore 13 miles from the airfield -go to the A606 turn left, to Oakham, then follow B686 to Cottesmore.
Working steam/diesel museum based on local quarry and industrial railways. Train rides, refreshments, shop, lineside footpath, picnic areas. Locomotives, carriages and wagons, walk along the Oakham canal. Open for casual viewing. Easter – December w/e only.
Tel: 01572 813203
Nene Valley Railway
Situated 8 miles from the airfield (go to the A606 turn right, to A1, then follow the A1 South). Wansford station is off the southbound carriageway of the A1 at Stibbington between the A47 & A605 junctions. Avoid Wansford village on the opposite side of the A1.
Wansford site is open all year and the station buildings and offices are open 9.00am to 4.30pm (except Christmas day and the week following). Visitors can view Locos, carriages, use the toilet and the Riverside Picnic Area. The shop is also open on request and a vending machine is available
Enquries: 01780 784444, Talking Timetable: 01780 784404, Web: www.nvr.org.uk
Situated 8 miles from the airfield. Go to the A606 turn right, to A1, then follow the A1 South to Wansford.
Tel: 01832 280490, Email: info@skydivesibson.com Web: www.skydivesibson.com
A little further a field….
Situated at Oakham 31 miles from the airfield - go to the A606 turn right, to the A1, north up the A1 to Grantham, turn off at the A607 and head for Denton follow the signs for Belvoir Castle.
A Spectacular Castle with sensational interior - Belvoir houses one of the largest private art collections in the country with work from many great masters. The interior is unique with fine French furniture, Italian sculpture and magnificent tapestries. The Grounds at Belvoir are restful and you are free to wander around studying the amazing collection of sculptures.
Open 11am to 5pm, April and October on Sundays only, May to Sept open 7 days a week.
Tel: 01476 870262, Email: info@belvoircastle.com, web: www.belvoircastle.com
Situated 30 miles from the airfield - go to the A606 turn right, to the A1, north up the A1 to Grantham, turn off at the A607 follow through Grantham. Belton House is 2 miles the other side on the A607.
Belton is one of the finest Restoration houses in the country and has stunning interiors and fine silver and furniture collections. Discover the many stories that Belton has to tell, including why King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson stayed here prior to their marriage and the abdication. Discover the 35 acres of gardens with the restored orangery and statue walk. Explore outside with 1,000 acres of available parkland all year round. Children Welcome - Adventure playground, Wildlife Discovery Centre, children’s guidebook of house with fascinating facts and puzzles, children’s activity room, baby—changing facility, highchairs, children’s meal portions.
Tel: 01476 566116, e-mail: belton@ntrust.org.uk web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
A multi-million pound landmark project, supported by the Millennium Commission opens to visitors. Leicester’s spectacular National Space Centre will take you on an awe-inspiring journey into outer space and beyond! See real rockets and satellites on a fantastic voyage of discovery. The centre houses a planetarium, a research centre, artifacts from space and the only Challenger Learning Centre outside North America. Open every day from 9:30am (Mondays 12 noon) with last entry at 4:30pm
Situated 25 miles from the airfield - take the minor road to Manton, then turn left heading south on the A6003 to the A47, Turn right and head into Leicester. Carry on to the city centre ring road (A594) and turn right. Follow round to the A6 and turn right heading north. Left turn after 1.5 miles -follow signs for the space centre.
Tel: 0870 60 77223, e-mail: info@spacecentre.co.uk web: www.spacecentre.co.uk
Situated next door to the National Space Science Centre.
The Abbey Pumping Station includes beautifully preserved Gimson beam engines (in steam on special event days), historic vehicles and the famous interactive loo!
open Mon-Sat 1 0-Spin, Sun 1 -5pm (4pm Oct - March)
Camping in the area
The following are Scout Association camps please see detail on www.scoutbase.org.uk
Oaks in Charnwood and Shacklewell Hollow .
There is also another campsite next to the yacht club on the south side of the water which has, on occasion, allowed scout groups to camp – but it’s hit and miss. Contact Rutland Sailing Club for details 01780 720292. They also have a 48 bunk bedded building which they may let you use if they have no sailing courses running. £11.00 a night. Ask nicely!
The other public camping is at Wing Lakes Caravaning and camping on 01572 737709. It’s open all year. It has great views and we would recommend it. As a group, you can usually get a field to yourself.