Experiences & Hobbies

Learn Something New through Workshops, Courses and Experience Days in Rutland

With a huge selection of skills and activities to train in throughout the year, your next Rutland break could guarantee a chance to learn something new and try something different.  Barnsdale Gardens and Rutland Water Nature Reserve offer a year round calendar of events, so plan your next trip to Rutland and choose from watercolour painting to willow weaving, or even try your hand at old countryside skills such as dry stone walling.

Experience Days

Watersports on Rutland Water

Rutland Watersports offer sessions for sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing or stand up paddle boarding, from beginner to expert.

Or for an unforgettable 3 hour sailing experience on one of Europe’s great lakes, Rutland Sailing Club offers the chance for individuals and small groups to have a taster session in a Dinghy or catamaran with an instructor. Prices from £40per person.

Learn to Fly Fish

Rutland Water Fishing Lodge offers everything you need; boats, permits, tackle and tuition by experienced instructors, and is ideally situated under the Waterside Cafe at Normanton! Either head over for some advice, or book onto one of their full day beginners courses, getting to grips with casting techniques, trout behaviour, tackle and safely.

Driver Experiences: Steam Train & Diggers

If you’ve been a fan of the Railway Children or Thomas the Tank Engine and always harboured a dream to be at the helm of a steam train, then it’s time to take a trip to Rocks by Rail: The Living Ironstone Museum (formerly Rutland Railway Museum). You certainly won’t be hitting the buffers with this experience as it’s full steam ahead for an exciting day out!

Take the controls of a vintage Ruston Bucyrus 22RB diesel face shovel to simulate digging ore from the quarry face and loading it into the iron ore wagons on the train.  Learn to fire up and manage the boiler of the locomotive and make sure there’s enough steam before taking the controls of an historic engine to propel the wagons up to the quarry and shunt them onwards. This fun packed day out makes a great gift experience or a special gift for Dad!

Workshops and Courses

Hoggy’s Grill: BBQ Academy and pop up restaurant run by the former England cricketer at Rutland Nursery, offering courses including ‘3 course gourmet’ ‘veggie extravaganza’ and providing a great fun environment making an experience to remember.

Tresillian House in Melton Mowbray also have a huge variety of opportunities, from Willow Sculpture to all aspects of Gardening, from designing and making your own jewellery to learning a new language.

Rosie Makes Jam offers a wide range of hands-on courses that will give you the know how on making jams, preserves, chutney.

The Rutland Cookery School offers a delicious menu of courses running throughout the year.  Enjoy expert advice, hands on learning all set in a friendly, fun atmosphere.

Plus (as mentioned in the intro) Barnsdale Gardens and Rutland Water Nature Reserve  never fail to offer an excellent programme throughout the year.

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Horse Riding Experiences

Enjoy the stunning Rutland countryside riding through a patchwork quilt of fields and bridleways on horseback. From half hour lessons, to two hour hacking experiences, or even whole day rides – enjoy a safe, affordable, horse riding experience with fully qualified instructors and expert guidance on hand. Children’s Pony Days, which combine a mix of riding and stable management, are held throughout the year and are always hugely popular.

Escape Rooms

Oakham offers immersive themed escape rooms where strategy, team work and brain power are required to solve the puzzles at One Way Out.

Airsoft Rutland

Test your skills at The Gaol, an urban Airsoft experience – a full day of strategy and team building starts at 08:00hrs at the old HMP Ashwell Prison site.  After a full safety briefing, an intense Airsoft battle commences.  Realistic scenarios involving the old prison wing, office space and open air situations bring an adrenaline fueled day at one of the best Airsoft experiences in the UK!