Normanton Church (Image: Getty)
A stunning English county is the smallest in the UK and is dubbed the “Notswolds” due to its scenic beauty.
Rutland, a ceremonial country in the East Midlands of England, boasts unspoilt countryside and picturesque villages that earn it constant comparisons to the , in south-western and west-central England.
However, despite its remarkable scenery, Rutland is said to attract fewer , making it a great spot for a quiet staycation getaway.
As well as hills and farmland that are a dream for hikers and explorers, it’s , Rutland Water.
On the waterfront is perhaps the area’s most famous landmark, Normanton Church, a Grade II-listed consecrated church which has become a popular venue for weddings due to the enchanting landscape that surrounds it.
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Landscape around the artificial lake of Rutland (Image: Getty)
Empingham Village (Image: Getty)
Rutland Water is also said to be an idyllic spot to encounter wildfowl, with a rich selection of birds, including ospreys.
The county is home to dozens of unspoiled villages, with highlights including Wing, Lyddington, Clipsham, Pickworth, Ashwell and Barrowden, as per .
Nick Leeming, chairman of estate agents Jackson-Stops, told that while it may the UK’s smallest county, “it is well located with beautiful countryside, historic market towns, public schools and Rutland Water”.
“With good rail links to London and limestone villages, it has all the ambience of the Cotswolds without the price tag,” he added.
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Village of Seaton, near the Welland Viaduct (Image: Getty)
The county has only two towns in Uppington and Oakham, which has a wealth of Medieval history.
Visitors to the market town, which has a population of around 12,000, can enjoy the grand Norman architecture of Oakham Castle, and Rutland County Museum.
There you can see artefacts discovered by archaeologists in digs across the county.
Oakham Station, a transport hub for the county, sits around halfway between the Leicester and Peterborough train stations and is a sight in itself, as an impressive Grade I listed building dating back to 1848, as per .
It’s around a one-and-a-half hour journey from London with one change.