A short visitor's guide to Cottesmore, Rutland: things to do, places to eat and drink, and what's on through the year.
Cottesmore (often pronounced Cotts'more) is a village in the north of Rutland in the East Midlands of England, and by population the largest village in the county, behind only the market towns of Oakham and Uppingham. Its size is partly explained by the presence of Kendrew Barracks (formerly RAF Cottesmore), which brought a sustained population to the area.
The village sits in open Rutland countryside, close to the villages of Greetham and Exton, and is a quiet base for exploring the wider county.
The village has two drinking establishments on Main Street. The Sun Inn is a beautiful 17th-century thatched inn with traditional ales, a food menu built from local produce, and a warm welcome for walkers and dogs. A few doors along, McNeill's Bar is a more recent addition on the same street.
The Chip Shop on Main Street is the village's fish and chips takeaway, highly rated with over 260 reviews.
Hambleton Bakery on Cottesmore Road in Oakham is one of Rutland's most respected artisan bakeries, producing handmade breads, cakes and savouries free of additives and preservatives. It supplies restaurants and families across the county and is worth a visit for fresh bread and pastries.