Camping in Ketton

Ketton and the surrounding Rutland countryside offer gentle, low-key camping territory rather than dramatic wilderness, and as everywhere in England, wild camping without the landowner's permission is illegal, so a proper campsite or a farm pitch with the owner's consent is the way to go. The terrain here is soft, rolling farmland cut through by the River Chater and dotted with the limestone quarries and old stone villages that give the area its distinctive golden colour, quite different from the rockier landscapes further north or west. Rutland Water, a short drive from Ketton, anchors a cluster of campsites and caravan parks geared towards walkers, cyclists and watersports fans making the most of England's largest reservoir by surface area, while smaller farm-based sites in villages around Ketton and Stamford offer a quieter, more rural pitch away from the main visitor routes.

Spring and summer are the best seasons to camp here, when the water meadows along the Chater are at their greenest and the long evenings suit a walk along the village's waymarked routes or an evening at the Railway Inn. Autumn brings its own appeal too, particularly around harvest time at the Rutland Vineyard just outside the village, though nights can turn cool enough to want a decent sleeping bag by October. Winter camping is possible at sites with all-weather facilities but is a minority pursuit in this part of the East Midlands, given the flat, open fields offer little shelter from wind and rain.

For those who prefer a roof over their heads without giving up the outdoor feel, glamping has taken hold around Rutland in recent years, with shepherd's huts, safari tents and converted farm buildings offering a step up from a standard tent while keeping the same rural, stone-village setting that makes Ketton and its neighbours so appealing. These sit well alongside the area's working farms and vineyards, several of which have diversified into small-scale visitor accommodation, meaning a glamping stay can often be combined with a farm shop, a vineyard tour or a pub within easy walking distance. Whichever style of camping is chosen, Ketton's position close to Rutland Water, Stamford and the A1 means a pitched tent or a hired shepherd's hut here still puts the whole of Rutland within easy reach.