There is a moment, as the sun begins to slip below the ridgeline, when the Vale of Belvoir becomes something truly magical. The warm light casts long shadows across the folds of pasture and ancient hedgerows. The castle rises above it all like a sentinel of time, watching over a landscape that has changed remarkably little for centuries. It is a moment that still stops me in my tracks — and one that reminds me why I will always call this pocket of England home.
The Vale of Belvoir is not a place of grand gestures or attention-seeking landscapes. It is gentle, quietly poetic and layered with history. You don’t need to look far to find Roman roads, medieval field systems or Jacobean farmsteads. However, it is the land itself that steals your heart — soft, rolling hills that seem to breathe with the seasons; golden fields that stretch like a patchwork quilt across the horizon.
An enchanted kingdom: from Belvoir Castle, beloved ancestral home of Lady Violet Manners, one can see three counties, each a patchwork of thriving village life.
There is something immensely grounding about the rhythm of life here — the quiet surrounding Vale villages, the Sunday church bells, the familiar faces. The smallness of life in the Vale is its greatest luxury — a reminder that beauty often lies in the details, not the drama.
Belvoir Castle, of course, is a crown jewel of the surrounding area. A fairy-tale silhouette perched above the Vale, it has stood for 1,000 years — witness to wars, weddings, harvests and homecomings.
Belvoir Castle's architecture and grounds are both equally beautiful.
What I love most is not the grandeur of its turrets, but the intimacy of its connection to the land. From the castle grounds, on a clear day, you can see three counties stretch out in every direction. The wind seems to carry the stories of the past across the fields. Just below, our little Engine Yard hums with new life — a collection of local shops and eateries, filled with heart and hustle. If you know, you know: the pizzas there are some of the best in the country, but still delightfully under the radar.
Soon, the much-loved The Manners Arms in Knipton will reopen — my favourite pub and a place that always felt like an extension of home. There’s nothing quite like a pint in the garden there on a long June evening, with the castle silhouetted behind the trees. To me, Belvoir is not only beautiful — it’s alive. It breathes with the stories of the people who have shaped it and welcomes those who come seeking something slower, richer and rooted.
Lady Violet Manners on what not to miss in the Vale of Belvoir
Local highlight
The Manners Arms in Knipton (reopening this summer)
Local lowlight
Lack of public transport — there is no direct bus to Belvoir (although it keeps things peaceful)
Underrated
The view from the castle at dusk — and the Engine Yard pizzas
Lady Violet Manners is the host of the ‘Hidden Heritage’ podcast and founder of the heritage travel platform HeritageXplore, covering 50 independent historic houses
-
The Scottish survival experience, beloved by Sir David Beckham, Ian Wright and heavyweight CEOs, that's all about learning to appreciate the dizzying brilliance of the natural world againPatrick Galbraith follows in the footsteps of Sir David Beckham — who marked his 50th birthday with a 'survival' experience in the Scottish Highlands.
-
Cocker spaniels: The indefatigable dog breed with medieval lineage that stole David Beckham’s heartOnce bred to flush out woodcock, now found in royal estates and Hollywood homes — the Cocker Spaniel’s charm knows no bounds.
-
London has long been the private members’ club capital of the world, but New York is finally catching up. Here are five of the bestNew York members clubs are all the rage, but apply wisely, says Owen Holmes.
-
Ashford Castle review: The fantastic five-star hotel in Ireland that the Guinness family once used to show off their wealth and influenceYou’ve seen ‘The House of Guinness’ — well here’s the castle.
-
Sophia Money-Coutts: I can’t believe I’m saying this, but should dogs really be allowed in posh hotels?Dog lover, Sophia Money-Coutts, debates whether our canine companions should be able to accompany us to Five Star establishments.
-
England and the 1966 World Cup — which was stolen and later recovered by a dog called PicklesIn celebration of the footballing talents of Country Life's guest editor Sir David Beckham, we look back at the summer of 1966, when the England national team was on top of the world.
-
The Irish red and white setter: The rare beauty brought back from the brinkA history of Ireland’s original setter — the elegant, intelligent breed saved from extinction by devoted breeders and cherished as a symbol of the nation’s sporting heritage.
-
‘Activities are of the derring-do variety, and the weather is unreliable year round, so it’s useful to be a good sport’: A memorable road trip to the tidal island in Scotland where J. M. Barrie liked to holidayThe opening of three new hotels in Scotland was all it took to convince Jo Rodgers to journey northwards on a road trip with her husband and three young children in tow.
