Rutland Water Empingham Circular Walk
Distance: 6.5 miles
Terrain: fairly flat
Location: Rutland / Leicestershire [location map]
Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer 234
Start at Exton (just south of), SK928107. At this start point is a handy lay-by. Waymarkers clearly mark the first part of this route 'Viking Way', a long-distance path running from North Lincolnshire to Oakham (close to here). This part of the Way really is beautiful.
The path eventually arrives at the water close to the Harbour Cafe (which does a great bacon and brie baguette!) You can see the dam from the cafe patio, and following the reservoir's circular route clockwise (keeping the water to your right) brings you to the dam.
Leave the reservoir at the start of the dam and headed for Empingham. The Rutland Round crosses fields to Empingham, but take a more direct route along a track and then on the A606 for a short way (see map below). At SK947087, bypass the town by taking a public right of way across a field (and a cricket pitch!) There is another nice glimpse of water before leaving the Exton Road. (SK948091)
Again the footpaths are well waymarked and the views really beautiful.
At the trout hatchery, follow the road west for about half a mile. It's possible to follow this quiet road back to Exton, but take the right of way which runs parallel to it (past Cuckoo Farm) which is a rewarding finish to this walk.
Osprey webcam at Lyndon Nature Reserve - Rutland Water is home to the first Ospreys to breed in England for 150 years. View the webcam
blog posts about this walk:
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