Luxury cottages in Oakham

For those drawn to country charm on a quieter stage than the Cotswolds or Somerset, Rutland’s motto – multum in parvo – ‘much in little’ delivers on its promise in Oakham. Its historic marketplace, framed by honey-hued Georgian architecture, shelters artisanal delis, independent bookshops and twice-weekly markets to stir the senses with local, seasonal produce. Michelin-recognised restaurants sit alongside organic wine bars and pubs serving chilled pints of regional bitter and the county's own Rutland Pippin – a pork pie shaped like an apple.

 At the town's ancient heart stands Oakham Castle, a masterpiece of Norman architecture where the ancient ritual of horseshoe tributes has been upheld for centuries. Further afield, Rutland Water, Britain's largest reservoir, draws sailors and birdwatchers seeking ospreys and red kites. Cycle the 25-mile perimeter through woodlands and quiet coves or windsurf and fish its shimmering waters. For a romantic escape in Oakham, our collection includes a lakeside Victorian boathouse with sprawling private waters and extensive gardens.