Sunnyside Cottage, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6BB

This charming Christian holiday cottage, Rutland, sits tucked inside a quiet gated courtyard in the heart of Oakham — England’s smallest county town, and a classic slice of pretty Middle England. Sunnyside Cottage is a characterful 19th-century bungalow-style cottage with its own enclosed, secure private garden and an outdoor table for eating al fresco whenever the Rutland weather allows. It’s an ideal size for a family or a couple looking for a peaceful, self-contained base for exploring Rutland Water and the surrounding countryside, with a genuine sense of Rutland’s quiet, unhurried character from the moment you arrive. The gated courtyard setting also means a settled, private spot to come back to after a day out exploring the county.

Oakham itself has plenty to offer within a short walk. The town’s medieval castle, Oakham Castle, houses the finest surviving example of Norman domestic architecture in Europe — its Great Hall was raised between 1180 and 1190, and its walls are hung with more than 230 ceremonial horseshoes, gifted over the centuries by peers of the realm visiting Rutland, the oldest dating back to 1470 and given by Edward IV himself. Just a couple of minutes from Sunnyside Cottage, Oakham’s town centre and a Tesco supermarket cover everyday essentials, while Oakham railway station is only five minutes away on foot.

Rutland Water, one of the largest reservoirs in Europe, is close by and shapes much of what makes this part of the county special. Its cycle way circles the water’s edge, and Sunnyside Cottage makes exploring it easy, with a secure cycle rack provided at the property alongside free basic bikes for guests to borrow. Watersports, sailing and gentle waterside walks are all within easy reach too.

Look out for Normanton Church, the reservoir’s best-known landmark. This rebuilt 19th-century chapel was nearly lost when the Gwash valley was flooded to create Rutland Water in the 1970s — saved only by a local campaign that raised its floor above the new waterline and built a causeway and breakwater around it. It now stands like a small island just off the shore, and remains a popular spot for a waterside walk.

Birdwatchers are equally well served here too. The Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre at Egleton, gateway to the Rutland Water Nature Reserve, is home to the Rutland Osprey Project, where these magnificent birds of prey have nested and fished over the lagoons since their reintroduction to England in the early 2000s. The Hambleton Peninsula, reaching out into the reservoir, adds a further stretch of walking and wildlife-watching within easy reach of Sunnyside Cottage.

There’s no dedicated parking at Sunnyside Cottage, though the secure cycle rack and central location mean a car isn’t essential — limited street parking and nearby pay car parks are available for those who do bring one. Inside, a large open-plan lounge and kitchen-diner make the cottage comfortable and sociable for a short break or a longer stay, and its position within Oakham’s old heritage conservation trail adds a genuine sense of place to any walk around town. It’s a lovely corner of the Midlands and Peak District to explore slowly, on foot or by bike, whatever the season.

Whether it’s a few days of rest between parish duties or a longer family holiday built around Rutland Water’s cycling, sailing and birdwatching, this Christian holiday cottage, Rutland, offers a quiet, affordable base right in the middle of it all — with the HolyHols clergy discount already built into every stay, all year round, whenever you need it most.

Perfect for:

• Clergy and church workers looking for an affordable, restful short break close to home comforts
• Couples wanting a quiet, self-contained courtyard cottage away from the crowds
• Small families exploring Rutland Water and Oakham’s historic town centre together
• Cyclists and birdwatchers making the most of Rutland Water and the Hambleton Peninsula
• Guests arriving by train, thanks to Oakham station’s five-minute walk from the door