Follow the established main circuit of Rutland Water from Normanton, leaving out the Hambleton Peninsula. This substantial 24.7 km circular walk combines reservoir views, woodland and village stretches. Allow about six hours of walking, plus breaks, and plan your finish around daylight and the car-park locking time.
Start at the walking-path junction on the edge of Normanton public car park, off Normanton Road (LE15 8HD). Head west on the shared southern-shore route towards Lyndon, then follow the main circuit through Manton and Egleton. Continue past the Hambleton junction without entering the peninsula, around the northern arm to Barnsdale and Whitwell, then on to Sykes Lane. Cross the dam and return along the eastern shore past Normanton Church to the same car park. Keep to the main signed route rather than nature-reserve trails.
The route mixes surfaced and gravel paths with road sections around Gibbet Lane, Lyndon, Manton and Egleton. Some road sections have no pavement; use available pavements, take care at crossings and share paths with cyclists. Gates, a cattle grid, uneven ground, gradients and the long distance mean the whole circuit should not be assumed step-free. The dam is exposed in windy weather. At Barnsdale use the pedestrian bypass beside the vehicle gate.
Normanton has paid public parking, toilets and a café, subject to opening hours. Parking opens at 9am; seasonal closing times change, with a 4pm closure from 26 October in the published 2026 timetable. That winter window leaves little spare time for this full circuit. Check the current gate notice before setting off. The published tariff is £2 per hour up to six hours and £16 for stays over six hours; check on-site terms.
Keep dogs on leads and out of the water. The nature reserves and Sykes Lane beach have dog restrictions. Anglian Water’s current low-water notice warns of soft mud: stay off exposed reservoir bed, inlets and water edges. Groups of 15 or more must pre-book with the park. Check current notices and access conditions before travelling.
Route and visitor information, checked 22 October 2026: https://anglianwaterparks.co.uk/rutland-water-park/walking-relaxing and https://anglianwaterparks.co.uk/rutland-water-park/visitor-information . Current notices: https://anglianwaterparks.co.uk/rutland-water
Route geometry: © OpenStreetMap contributors, licensed under ODbL 1.0. https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright
