Rutland is England's smallest county and is bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire, and southeast by Northamptonshire.
Historically, Rutland was a disconnected portion of Nottinghamshire, cut off from the remainder of that county by Leicestershire. Its greatest length north to south is only 18 miles; greatest breadth east to west, 17 miles. The county was abolished in the local government reorganisation of 1974, but in was restored by popular demand in the later administrative reform of 1999.
The two principal towns are Oakham[?], the county town, and Uppingham[?]. At the centre of the county is a large lake, Rutland Water, which is an important nature reserve, serving as an overwintering site for water birds[?].
Eric Idle, of the Monty Python team, joined with Neil Innes, of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, to create the television comedy series Rutland Weekend Television[?] in the 1970s.
Towns and villages
- Ashwell[?]
- Barleythorpe[?], Barrow[?], Barrowden[?], Belton in Rutland[?], Braunston[?], Brooke[?]
- Cottesmore[?]
- Edith Weston[?], Egleton[?], Empingham[?], Essendine[?], Exton[?]
- Great Casterton[?]
- Langham[?], Little Casterton[?], Lyddington[?]
- Manton[?], Market Overton[?], Morcott[?]
- Normanton[?], North Luffenham[?]
- Oakham[?]
- Ridlington[?], Ryhall[?]
- South Luffenham[?], Stone Bridge Corner[?]
- Thistleton[?], Tickencote[?]
- Upper Hambleton[?], Uppingham[?]
- Whissendine[?], Whitwell[?], Wing[?]
Places of interest
- Tolethorpe Hall[?]
- Lyddington Bede House[?]
- Barnsdale Gardens[?]
- Rutland Water[?]
- River Eye, River Chater[?], River Welland