Aqua Park Rutland - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

The Hambleton Peninsula lies within the reservoir Rutland Water, in Rutland, England. When the Gwash Valley was dammed in 1975, the area surrounding what was then a ridge were submerged, including a small number of properties in the hamlets of Nether Hambleton and Middle Hambleton. The village of Upper Hambleton survived, and now sits on the peninsula, which is some 3500 metres in length and 1000 metres in width.

Normanton Church served as a parish church until the early 1700s when a large part of the village was demolished to create an estate for the Heathcote Baronets. These wealthy aristocrats used the church as their private chapel and mausoleum. It was later rebuilt in a classical style in the 18th century when the Heathcote Baronets created their estate in Rutland and used the parish church as their private chapel.

Barnsdale Gardens, in Rutland, is Britain's largest collection of individually designed gardens designed by Geoff Hamilton, who presented BBC Gardener's World from 1979 until his death in 1996. Its award-winning collection of 38 individually themed garden ‘rooms’ will delight and inspire any gardener or garden-lover. It now covers 8 acres, comprising 37 individual gardens and features.

An ideal place to See birds of prey close at hand and watch them in flight, it is the centre’s aim to provide as natural a setting as possible for the owls, hawks, falcons, buzzards, eagles and even vultures. Explore the natural woodland trails around ponds and purpose-built wild bird feeding stations, see different nesting boxes and enjoy the sound of the countryside birds.

Rutland Water is one of the best places to enjoy birds and wildlife in the UK. Search for rare spring migrants, admire fishing ospreys in the summer, enjoy the autumn wader passage and marvel at huge flocks of winter wildfowl. With events year round, walking trails and two visitor centres, you'll be sure of an immersive wildlife experience for the whole family.