Retire to Rutland
Retirement living in Rutland
Despite being one of the smallest counties in the UK, Rutland in the East Midlands, packs a punch for retirement living. The beautiful countryside is dotted with traditional villages and pretty limestone/ironstone cottages with roofs of thatch or Collyweston slate, and farms producing prime produce. At the heart of the county you’ll find Rutland Water nature reserve - a breeding ground for ospreys. As its motto, Multum in Parvo, states, Rutland offers a great deal in a small space.
Community
Rutland is a friendly and welcoming place, packed with unique community events, clubs and gatherings.
Uppingham has plenty of spaces to meet new people from the Uppingham Indoor Bowls Club to Rutland Folk Dance Club. Rutland Community Hub in Oakham offers clubs for all sorts of hobbies, like Knit and Natter, Oakham Art Group and Rutland Horticultural Society.
Golf lovers will find a home at the stunning Rutland Water Golf Club. The annual Rutland Walking, Cycling & Outdoor Festival has activities for outdoor types of all abilities and the Rutland County Show has traditional livestock displays and more.
Looking for retirement property to rent in Rutland, or retirement property for sale in Rutland? 83% of McCarthy Stone homeowners experience a sense of community in their new retirement home.
Transport and connections
Despite its size and rural setting, its fairly easy to get around Rutland – although many might argue that the best way to get around is by bike – there are numerous beautiful cycling trails.
In Uppingham and Oakham, you’ll regular bus services around the towns and beyond and rural areas, hamlets and villages are served by a friendly on demand bus service.
There is only one train station in the county. Oakham train station is run by East Midlands Rail, who along with Cross Country Rail offers services around the East Midlands and beyond, with regular trains to Derby, Leicester, Sheffield and Nottingham. It takes around 2 hours to get from Oakham to London by rail and Oakham to Peterborough takes around half an hour.
Looking for retirement homes in rural Rutland? It’s good to know that McCarthy Stone retirement developments are carefully located to provide easy access to amenities and attractions.
Surrounding areas
Rutland is a fantastic base from which to explore the East Midlands. There is a wealth of culture and amenities available at the proud cities of Leicester, Nottingham, Peterborough and Birmingham. And for beautiful coastal escapes the stunning Lincolnshire and Norfolk Coast can be reached within a couple of hours, providing traditional fun at seaside towns like Skegness or bracing clifftop walks and nature reserves at places like Holkham, Norfolk.
While it is technically in Grantham, Lincolnshire, no exploration of Rutland is complete without a trip to Belvoir Castle, home to the Duke and Duchess of Rutland. This stunning estate has been featured in the Crown TV series and has beautiful gardens – formal and parklands, as well as lakes to roam. The castle grounds are also home to the Engine Rooms, a unique artisan shopping village, with a deli, boutique interiors and design clothes shops and a range of eateries.
Things to do in Rutland
One of the biggest draws in this unique county is its wealth of natural beauty. If you love outdoor pursuits, from golf to fishing, this is the perfect spot for you. There are over 23 miles of walking and cycling trails around Rutland Water – Britain’s largest man-made lake. As well as being an important area for wildlife, particularly birds, (you can watch Rutland Water osprey webcam live here) the lake has a water sports centre and offers sailing and trout fishing. You can even take a cruise around the lake on the Rutland Belle. You’ll also want to learn the fascinating history of the iconic Normanton Church that appears to float into the lake.
Rutland only has two towns, Oakham, which has a Norman castle, range of boutique shops and some of the best Rutland restaurants, like the award winning Hitchen’s Barn or quirky Castle Cottage at Oakham Castle – perfect for afternoon tea. And Uppingham, where you’ll love browsing the many fine art shops, galleries and antique shops.
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Retirement living in Rutland. Frequently asked questions
Rutland Water is a haven for outdoor pursuits include cycling, walking, birdwatching, golf and sailing. You’ll also find some fascinating historic buildings, like Normanton Church. The nearby town of Oakham, boasts a Norman castle as well as some impressive eateries. Although small in area, Rutland is an ideal place for an active retirement with plenty to explore and a lIvely calendar of community events.
There are lots of variables that make this a difficult question to answer, but one simple tip is to multiple the amount you’d like to live on every year (say £24,000) by 25 (in this case the answer is £600,000). That is the amount you’d need to save. However this figure doesn’t consider things like your annual state pension, benefits, tax, or the equity you might hold in your home.
Arguably England’s smallest county, Rutland is in the East Midlands, bordered by Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. It has only two towns, Oakham, and Uppingham and is famous for its beautiful countryside, fine produce and large man-made lake, Rutland Water, which is an important wildlife reserve.
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