SK9009 : Rutland Water Circular Route near the Barnsdale Hotel
taken 1 year ago, near to Upper Hambleton, Rutland, England

Part of the 23 mile (37 km) footpath and cycleway that follows the shoreline of Rutland Water.
A 290 mile route devised to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support to which all proceeds are donated. It runs along sea banks and river banks, from Boston, across the Lincolnshire fens via Stamford, eventually to Abbotsbury on the Dorset Coast. From the fens it follows, as near as possible, the course of the oolitic limestone belt, called 'Cotswold' stone in that area, but found in slightly varying form from South Yorkshire to Dorset.
The Way provides a link with the Viking Way at Oakham, the Thames Path National Trail near Thames Head and with the South West Coast Path National Trail at the finish. It also has a Macmillan Way West (Link ) from Castle Cary to Barnstaple.
The Way is so named because it crosses an area which was occupied by Norse invaders. From the banks of the River Humber it crosses the Lincolnshire Wolds to Caistor, then along the Bain valley to Horncastle from where the Spa Trail is followed along the trackbed of a former railway to Woodhall Spa and along the Witham Valley, crossing flat fenland to Lincoln. Turning along the limestone escarpment of Lincoln Cliff and over Lincoln Heath, the route of the prehistoric Sewstern Lane is traced to reach Woolsthorpe Locks on the Grantham Canal. Another section of Sewstern Lane and other old tracks are followed to Thistleton from where the Way takes field-paths and lanes past Greetham, Exton and Rutland Water. At Oakham it links with the Macmillan Way and the Hereward Way.
Paths are marked with a Viking helmet on a yellow disc.
The Hereward Way is a 110 mile long footpath that links the Viking Way at Oakham with the Peddars Way at Knettishall Heath, near
Thetford.
The path takes its name from Hereward the Wake, the 11th-century leader who fought against William the Conqueror, who had his base in the Isle of Ely which is located near to the middle of the path. The footpath runs through Stamford, Peterborough, March, Ely and Brandon. It also goes through Thetford Forest. It links two other long-distance footpaths: the Viking Way in the west and Peddars Way in the east.
Rutland Water is Anglian Water's reservoir in the county of Rutland, it was known as Empingham Reservoir during its construction and until its opening in 1976.
It has a surface area of 10.86 square kilometres (4.19 sq miles), making it the largest reservoir in England by surface area.
Set in 3,100 acres (13 kmē) of countryside, it has a 25 mile (40 km) perimeter track for walking and cycling.
