A Local Guide to the Welland Valley: The Best Things to Do Near Stamford and Rutland
Tucked on the border of Northamptonshire and Rutland, where honey-coloured stone villages open onto quiet countryside and red kites wheel overhead, this is one of England's quietly rewarding corners. Within a short drive of The Shambles you will find Elizabethan mansions, a castle that has stood for nearly a thousand years, the largest reservoir in England and a good scattering of proper country pubs. If you are planning a few unhurried days here, this is where we would send you first.
Great houses and castles
The headline draw is the sheer concentration of history on the doorstep.
Burghley House, around twenty minutes away on the edge of Stamford, is one of the largest and grandest houses of the sixteenth century. It was built for William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1555 and 1587, and his descendants live there still. Inside are eighteen state rooms and the dramatic painted Hell Staircase; outside, a deer park landscaped by Capability Brown that is free to wander, plus a woodland adventure playground that keeps younger visitors happy for hours. The house opens for most of the year, so it is worth checking ahead before you set off.
Kirby Hall is barely ten minutes from the cottage and quite unlike anywhere else. This roofless but magnificent Elizabethan mansion, now cared for by English Heritage, is celebrated for its strict symmetry, its intricate Renaissance carving and formal gardens that were once counted among the finest in England. It is an atmospheric, uncrowded place to spend a morning.
Deene Park has been the home of the Brudenell family since 1514. It was the seat of the Earls of Cardigan, one of whom led the Charge of the Light Brigade in 1854, and the gardens are a delight, complete with a lake and a parterre of topiary teapots. Opening days are limited through the season, so do book before you visit.
Rockingham Castle, built on the orders of William the Conqueror and lived in for almost a thousand years, completes the set, with sweeping views back across the Welland Valley.
The great outdoors
If you would rather be out in the fresh air, you are equally spoilt.
Rutland Water is the largest reservoir in England and a genuine day out in its own right. There is a long circular route for walking and cycling, bike hire if you have travelled light, sailing and watersports, a nature reserve at the western end for birdwatchers, and the much-photographed Normanton Church standing right at the water's edge.
Closer to home, the Welland Viaduct at neighbouring Harringworth is a quiet marvel: the longest masonry viaduct across a valley in Britain, its eighty-two arches striding for more than three-quarters of a mile across the countryside. It is best appreciated on the circular walk from the village.
For woodland, Fineshade Wood is a surviving fragment of the ancient Rockingham Forest, with waymarked walking and cycling trails, bike hire and a café at Top Lodge. It is one of the most reliable places in the area to look up and see red kites overhead.
Market towns worth a wander
Stamford, about twenty minutes away, is regularly named one of the finest stone towns in England. Its Georgian limestone streets have stood in for period London on screen more than once, and there is a satisfying mix of independent shops, riverside walks, a Friday market and plenty of good spots for lunch.
Oundle, fifteen minutes in the other direction, is a handsome market town with independent shops, cafés and a farmers' market on the second Saturday of each month.
Over the Rutland border, Oakham and Uppingham are the county's two market towns. Oakham has a medieval castle famous for its extraordinary collection of ceremonial horseshoes, while Uppingham is small, pretty and full of traditional shops.
Where to eat and drink
You are never far from a good table. In the village itself, The Queen's Head in Bulwick is a quintessential Northamptonshire local, serving good food, wine and beer with both indoor and outdoor seating for whatever the weather does.
A little further afield, The Falcon at Fotheringhay is more restaurant than pub, with a smart menu and a garden for summer evenings. Fotheringhay is worth the trip in any case for its castle mound, the place where Mary, Queen of Scots met her end in 1587.
In Stamford you will find characterful old coaching inns such as The George and the Bull & Swan, and for a special occasion the celebrated Olive Branch at Clipsham is a short drive into Rutland.
Make The Shambles your base
Everything above sits within easy reach of the cottage, which makes it an ideal base for exploring at your own pace, whether you are here for the history, the walking or simply a quiet few days in beautiful countryside. When you arrive, we are always happy to share more of our own favourites.
When you are ready, booking direct with us is the best way to stay.
