🌳 Outdoor1–33–58–1212–16Water play🏖 Beach🐐 Animals🛝 PlaygroundAdventure playSeasonal opening
What’s there
- Café on site
- Paid parking
- Dogs welcome
Access & inclusion
- Step-free access
Three main car parks around Rutland Water (Sykes Lane, Whitwell, Normanton), all with toilet facilities; a daily car park ticket is valid at all 3 sites. Barrier ticket system: GBP 2 per hour up to 6 hours, GBP 16 over 6 hours, first 15 minutes free, annual pass GBP 80. Park only in designated Anglian Water car parks.
Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.
Rutland Water is England's largest reservoir by surface area, set in over 3,000 acres of rolling countryside and owned by Anglian Water. Three main car parks - Sykes Lane, Whitwell and Normanton - each offer toilets and refreshments, and a daily car park ticket is valid at all three sites. Sykes Lane (Empingham) is the family hub with an adventure playground, mini golf, a sandy beach in the summer holidays, a large sand pit and an off-lead dog walking area. Whitwell is the action-packed watersports base with the Harbour Cafe, outdoor gym, Rutland Watersports hire, the Aqua Park inflatable course and the Rutland Belle cruise (April to October). Normanton is the spot for fishing, the Waterside Cafe and the iconic Normanton Church, saved from demolition in 1970 when the valley was flooded. The 15.1-mile perimeter cycle and walking track, the Hambleton Peninsula loop and world-class birdwatching make it easy to spend a full family day here.
Rutland Belle cruise runs April to end of October. Sykes Lane beach open in summer holidays only. Barnsdale car park closed weekdays 1 November to 31 March. Most attractions and activities available daily from Good Friday to 31 October.
Stuff to take with you
The things people wish they’d packed for a day out like this one.
- Wellies
- Refillable water bottleMost places will fill it for free.
- Snacks that survive a rucksackCheaper than the café, and buys you twenty minutes.
- Wet wipes
- Nappies
- Bottle or beaker
- Baby carrier or slingBetter than a pram anywhere with steps or mud.
- Car window sunshade
- Bibs
- Waterproof trousers
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