THE NOTSWOLDS: EXPERIENCES FOR EVERY KIND OF ESCAPE
FIELD NOTES
Not everyone explores the same way. Some chase outdoor adventure, others uncover hidden stories, some follow flavour, and many simply want to pause and breathe. The Notswolds is a destination that holds it all: activities, experiences, and escapes designed for every kind of traveller. Whether you’re wild at heart, endlessly curious, creatively driven, flavour-obsessed, or in search of stillness, you’ll find your perfect way to experience the Notswolds.
FOR THE OUTDOORS: ADVENTURES & ACTIVITIES IN NATURE
For the wild at heart, the Notswolds is more than countryside, it’s an adventure waiting to happen. From foraging trails and woodland hideouts to outdoor gaming and wildlife encounters, it’s where nature meets play. Perfect for anyone searching for fresh-air activities and unforgettable outdoor experiences in the Notswolds.
WILD RUTLAND : GUIDED WILDLIFE WALKING TOURS
For anyone curious about life within ancient woodland, Wild Rutland offers guided tours through Burley Wood, the largest of its kind in Leicestershire and Rutland. Discover its hidden history while spotting fallow, roe, and muntjac deer in their natural habitat.
On select dates in October, Burley Wood
BUSHCRAFT FORAGING TOUR AT EASTON WALLED GARDEN
A hands-on guided walk that blends bushcraft with botany. Over three hours you’ll explore Easton Walled Garden, learn to identify wild plants, and uncover the practical skills and stories hidden in the landscape.
27 August, Easton Walled Gardens
THE WOODLAND ARMS
Nestled in Leicestershire’s woodlands, The Woodland Arms becomes a hub for food, drink, and community between April and September. Exclusive ticketed events bring seasonal feasts, craft drinks, and live entertainment together, creating memorable nights in a unique setting.
On select dates until end September, Markfield
RUMBLE LIVE ACTION GAMING
For those craving high-octane outdoor thrills, Rumble Live turns woodland into your own immersive battleground. Armed with next-gen laser tag gear, you’ll dart between trees on missions that mix strategy, teamwork, and adrenaline. Perfect for friends, families, and groups looking for fresh-air action.
Weekends until the end of October, Rutland Water
FOR THE CURIOUS: HISTORY, CULTURE & HIDDEN STORIES
For the endlessly curious, the Notswolds is full of tales waiting to be told. Wander hidden streets, explore exhibitions, and join twilight tours of grand estates. Every turn is a story worth chasing. Ideal for those looking for cultural experiences and things to do steeped in heritage.
STAMFORD SIGHTS & SECRETS TOURS
Uncover Stamford’s story on a 90-minute guided walking tour through its perfectly preserved medieval, Tudor, and Georgian streets. With themed routes and private group options, expert guides bring the characters, history, and hidden corners of the town vividly to life.
On select dates until end October, Stamford Arts Centre
BURGHLEY BY TWILIGHT
An exclusive after-hours experience, Burghley by Twilight offers a rare chance to see this great house in a whole new light. As the sun sets, the State Rooms glow with soft candlelight, transforming frescoes and artworks into something otherworldly. Live classical performances evoke the elegance of evenings when Burghley once hosted lavish dinners and grand balls.
2-4 October, Burghley House
THE ANICIENT ART OF LACQUERING
Uncover the mesmerising craft of lacquerware, an art form born in the East around 5000 BC and long prized in Europe as a mark of luxury. This mini‑exhibition at Grimsthorpe sheds light on the techniques, enduring beauty, and timeless allure of lacquer objects.
Until 30 September, Grimsthorpe Castle
BELTON COMMUNITY FESTIVAL
A celebration of creativity and community spirit set against the backdrop of Belton Estate. From dance and art, to music, demonstrations and family-friendly activities, the festival brings people together to enjoy art, heritage, and the great outdoors in one inspiring space.
13-14 September, Belton Estate
FOR FOODIES: LOCAL FLAVOURS & CULINARY EXPERIENCES
For the flavour-obsessed, the Notswolds is a feast. Supper clubs, secret food tours, and farm-to-table dining put local produce and culinary heritage centre stage, every bite tells a story. It’s the perfect destination for food lovers seeking unforgettable dining experiences.
KEYTHORPE DINING CLUB
Once a month, Keythorpe Hall transforms into an intimate restaurant experience. In-house chef Bent Varming creates a six-course menu that celebrates the season, using ingredients from the estate’s walled garden, neighbouring farms, and local artisan producers.
Monthly, Keythorpe Hall, Tugby
HIDDEN FOOD TOURS
Led by passionate foodies Matt and Charla, award-winning Hidden Food Tours uncover the flavours that define a city. From traditional favourites to tucked-away gems, each stop tells a story of history, culture, and community. A journey designed to take you off the tourist trail and into the real soul of the place.
Monthly, second Saturday, Lincoln | third Saturday, Melton Mowbray
TAP AND KITCHEN
Set on the water at Oundle Wharf, Tap & Kitchen is a restaurant and bar built around simple, honest cooking. Menus driven by seasonal produce and local sourcing, offering fresh dishes that celebrate what’s best right now.
Daily, Oundle
RESTAURANT JERICHO
Restaurant Jericho is rooted in the land, with a Michelin Green Star menu built around seasonality and the honesty of cooking with fire. Ingredients from the kitchen garden and nearby farms shape a tasting menu that blends tradition and innovation, served in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
Wednesday-Saturday until 20 December, Plungar
FOR CREATIVES: ART, WORKSHOPS & INSPIRATION
For those who see the world as a canvas, the Notswolds is a spark. Workshops, art socials, and exhibitions create space to make, share, and be inspired. Whether you’re seeking hands-on classes or artistic inspiration, the Notswolds is made for makers and dreamers.
HERITAGEXPLORE × THE DOT PROJECT
This autumn, Belvoir Castle becomes both muse and canvas as a contemporary artist lives and works within the castle, creating new pieces in response to its layered cultural and physical landscape.
November, Artist in Residence Exhibition Belvoir Castle
Image credit @nicktfry
MILLY’S CREATIVE COMPANY
Milly’s Creative Company brings people together through a new series of relaxed, social workshops designed to spark ideas and conversation. Craft something by hand, share food and drink, and leave with both what you’ve made and the kind of connections only creativity can spark.
Select dates until end November, Milly’s Bistro Stamford
LANGTONS POTTERY
In Tur Langton, Langton’s Pottery makes getting hands-on with clay easy and inspiring. One-day tasters, weekend workshops, and six-week courses give everyone — from first-timers to keen makers — the chance to shape, experiment, and create in a relaxed studio setting.
Select dates throughout the year, Tur Langton
ART SOCIAL AT CURIOUS MAGPIE
The newly opened Curious Magpie in Mountsorrel is fast becoming a hub for creativity. Alongside a programme of workshops, the space also hosts Art Social — a monthly meet-up where people can connect, share ideas, and enjoy a relaxed evening of making together.
First Thursday of the month, Curious Magpie Mountsorrel
FOR REST: WELLNESS, RETREATS & STILLNESS
For those who know slowing down is the new luxury, the Notswolds is the ultimate reset. Picture yoga in hidden gardens, spa days that melt time, and landscapes that invite you to breathe deeper. A haven of wellness and restorative escapes for anyone in need of calm.
THE RW WELLNESS RESET
Hosted at Rutland Watermill, the RW Wellness Reset is a day designed to recharge body and mind. Expect a morning run club, yoga, cold plunge and outdoor sauna, plus post-run massages and exclusive coffee-and-pastry perks.
Last Sunday of every month, Rutland Watermill South Luffenham
THRIVE & BLOOM RUTLAND NURSERY
Thrive & Bloom brings wellness into the calm surroundings of the nursery. In The Loft, a programme of monthly talks and workshops explores different aspects of wellbeing, offering practical advice and space to pause away from the pace of everyday life.
Monthly, Rutland Nursery
EVENTS AT EASTON WALLED GARDENS
Workshops, regular outdoor yoga classes, and seasonal tree tours make Easton a hub for slowing down. Somatic yoga in the gardens offers a gentle, uplifting start to the day, while autumn tours with arboriculturist Monty Cholmeley open up Easton Park, a landscape usually closed to the public.
Yoga second and fourth Saturdays, Autumn Tree Tour 4 October, Easton Walled Gardens
IN THE STIX BOUTIQUE RETREAT & SPA
A boutique retreat and spa set in the landscape. Think spacious geodomes, log-fired hot tubs, and private field kitchens with pizza ovens. A series of retreats run throughout the year.
Spa days bookable through the website. Boutique Wellness Retreat 26-28 September, Greetham Rutland
FIND YOUR NOTSWOLDS
Whether you’re chasing adventure, uncovering hidden stories, getting creative, tasting your way through the region, or simply slowing down, the Notswolds has something for you. Explore the calendar, pick your moment, and make it your own.
RECOMMEND YOUR NOTSWOLDS
Do have a favourite place in the Notswolds that you think we should know about? Get in touch at hq@notswolds.com.
SHARE YOUR NOTSWOLDS
Share your Notswolds experiences on social. Tag @notswolds and use #notswoldsmoments to be part of the story.