Rutland Water Visitor Information

Our teams will be more than happy to help you while you are visiting us. Do call into our main Visitor Centre at Sykes Lane, where you can pick up a free map, find out more about Rutland Water and our history, browse our shop packed full of gifts and souvenirs. You can of course contact us or pop into any of our centres as detailed below.

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Normanton, Sykes Lane, Whitwell & Barnsdale

Open from 9am daily

Rutland Water welcomes well behaved pre-booked groups. Groups are defined as a gathering of 15 or more people. So that we can manage the park effectively we ask that all groups pre-book their visit using the Group Visit Request Form below.

Please return completed forms to parksinfo@anglianwater.co.uk (please state Rutland in your subject)

Please note: Alcohol, music and litter are not permitted at Rutland Water and all groups must have left site by the advertised car park lock times.

A full list of our byelaws can be found here

Rutland Water has four main car parks. Each is a great place to start your day. 

• Whitwell Car Park (LE15 8BL)
  • Located on the North Shore, Whitwell is a great place to park for the day for those looking for an active day out. At Whitwell you will find:
    • Watersports 
    • Aqua Park Rutland 
    • Rutland Cycling
    • The Rutland Belle
    • Outdoor Gym
    • The Harbour Bar Café 
    • Takeaway Café  

• Sykes Lane Car Park (LE15 8QL)
  • Located on the North Shore, Sykes Lane is a great place for a family day out. At Sykes Lane you will find:
    • Mini Golf
    • Rumble Live Action Gaming
    • The Rutland Water Beach
    • Children's Adventure Play Area
    • Takeaway Café 
    • The Rutland Water Visitor Centre (Information, Gifts & Souvenirs) 

• Normanton Car Park (LE15 8HD)
  • Located on the South Shore, Normanton is a good place for picnics and relaxing. At Normanton you will find: 
    • Specialized Cycle Store
    • Rutland Water Fishing Lodge
    • Normanton Church
    • The Rutland Belle 
    • The Waterside Café
    • The View takeway Kiosk

• Barnsdale Car Park (LE15 8AB)
  • Located on the North Shore, Barnsdale is the perfect place to just escape it all, enjoy wonderful views and relax. At Barnsdale you will find: 
    • Children's Play Area
    • Please note - Barnsdale car park is open Mid March - End of October and is only open at weekends between November and April.

For Nature Lovers and Birdwatchers or if you just want to walk in calm surroundings and get closer to nature we recommend a trip to our nature reserve located on the Western end of the water. We have two visitor centres - one at Egleton, which is open daily all year round and one at Lyndon (home of the Rutland Ospreys) which is open April - September. Car Parking here is for those buying day tickets to the Nature Reserve.

Egleton

Access Statement for Rutland Water & a Countryside for All Route Map can be found below:

Email rutlandactivities@anglianwater.co.uk 

Tel: 01780 460154 Postcode: LE15 8BL

Opening hours below: For Last hire times see Watersports page

• April - 9am - 6pm
• May to August - 9am - 7pm
• September - 9am - 6pm
• October - 9am - 5pm
• November - 9am - 4pm (Closed Tues & Wed)
• December to February - 9am - 3pm (Closed Tues & Wed)
• **21st December to 1st January open every day (Closed Christmas Day).
• March - 9am - 3pm (Closed Tues & Wed)

Email: fishing@anglianwater.co.uk

Tel: 01780 686441 Postcode: LE15 8HD

Opening hours below:

• March to September - 8am - 4pm
• October - January - 8am - 2pm
• February - 9am - 2pm
• Closed Christmas Day
   

Email: parksinfo@anglianwater.co.uk (please state Rutland in your subject)

Tel: 01780 686800 Postcode: LE15 8QL

Opening hours below:

• 1st April to 27th October - 10am-5pm
• 28th October to 8th March - 10am-3.30pm
• 9th March - 31st March - 10am-4.30pm
• Closed Christmas Day

Email: parksinfo@anglianwater.co.uk (please state Rutland in your subject)

Tel: 01572 770651 Postcode: LE15 8BT

Opening hours below:

• March to Oct - 9am-5pm
• November to Feb - 9am-4pm
• Closed Christmas Day

Email:parksinfo@anglianwater.co.uk (please state Rutland in your subject)

Tel: 01572 737378 Postcode: LE15 8RN

Opening hours below:

• April to September - 9am - 5pm

Local bus services operate to the villages of Edith Weston, Empingham, Whitwell & Barnsdale. These are a short walking distance from the main visitor entrances. Search the 'bus services by village/town' on the following website: www.rutland.gov.uk/buses/bus-times-travel

We want you to have fun at Rutland Water, but we also want you to be safe. There are many safety notices placed around Rutland Water – please look out for them and read them.

A few other points for you to note: 

• Keep young children in sight at all times
• Keep your dog on a lead
• Help us keep Rutland Water green by recycling your waste
• Our tracks have shared access, so please be caring when sharing
• Whether you are walking or cycling, always keep an eye out for uneven ground
• Swim only in designated areas at designated times
• Please keep BBQ's raised off the grass at all times
• Enjoy the site at a relaxing pace and stick to the 10mph speed limits
• No Drones - Drones are not permitted on site for use by visitors

Please follow our dog code:

• Lead by example - your dog must be on a lead at all times.
• Share this space - please make sure your dog doesn't spoil other people's enjoyment
• Keep our parks clean - bag and dispose of your dog's waste responsibly
• No doggy paddling - Please keep dogs out of the water, blue green algae can develop in the margins and is harmful if ingested.  The water also provides sanctuary to an abundance of wildfowl, often nesting on the waters edge.

Also, we like to see people enjoying themselves during their visit to Rutland Water, so be sure to keep in touch with us via social media and let us know what you are up to!

Rutland Water has been recognised by Visit England as a visitor attraction as part of the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme

www.visitengland.com

Rutland Water has been awarded the Green Flag. The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

www.greenflagaward.org.uk

If you would like to know more about the county of Rutland & everything it has to offer including local accommodation, things to do or food & drink, please visit Discover Rutland website.