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One of the prettiest villages in all of Cumbria, Cartmel is a picture-postcard destination, with a delightful olde-worlde feel and a fine collection of inns, artisan shops and cute cottages. At the heart of the village is a beautiful 12th-century priory, which is only a few steps away from its ancient racecourse that still hosts one of England’s most famous racing festivals. And to top it all off there’s the world-famous sticky toffee pudding, sold here in enormous quantities and served in all of its restaurants, including the ones with Michelin stars.
Food & Drink
Cartmel is a foodie paradise, boasting some of the finest dining in the country. When you have 5-star food and service and a 16 course taster menu, of superb oysters and glorious venison, you certainly don’t rush! This is an experience to be savoured over a 4-hour period of pure heaven. This is when food becomes pure theatre and the most impeccable and luscious art. Vegans and vegetarians are given lots of delicious options to choose from, as are those looking for Gluten Free. And all this can be enjoyed with pretty views looking out over the village, or to Cartmel Priory.
The village is very fortunate to have three 4/5-star wheelchair accessible restaurants, offering excellent silver-service, friendly staff and roaring fires on a cold day. Some restaurants have a country house feel, where diners will be greeted personally by the owner, which is always a lovely touch. Local dishes are presented from succulent, local lamb to delicious Cartmel tart.
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Although fine dining is a wonderful way to spoil yourself, you might be looking for something a little lighter; local shrimps perhaps, an excellent homemade fruit pie or Cartmel’s own, sticky toffee pudding? Cartmel has an abundance of delightful cafes to try out with wonderful home-baked treats in a relaxed and cosy atmosphere. They’re family and dog friendly and often there’s popular extras, like free papers to read, book swap exchange and local gifts.
Some cafes have food shops downstairs offering local cheeses, beers, jams and potted shrimps to purchase and take home with you, while upstairs you can sit in a window seat overlooking the village square whilst sipping your coffee and sampling one of the many home-baked treats.
You can’t beat a good traditional pub though, complete with oak beams and roaring fires. Cartmel has three great quality pubs to choose from, where you’re guaranteed a good atmosphere with an excellent choice of local beers, wines and cocktails and an excellent choice of homemade dishes - pies being a favourite! Sunday lunch is very popular too and is often great value. In the warmer months you can sit in the Beer gardens, giving lovely views over the village and across the fields.
Culture & Heritage
Around 678 AD, the Cartmel peninsula was granted to St Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, by King Egfrith of Northumberland for the establishment of a monastery. An early church dedicated to St Cuthbert was built at Kirkhead near Allithwaite, although nothing now remains of the structure. It was not until 1189 that an enduring ecclesiastical presence was established with the founding of Cartmel Priory next to the River Eea (pronounced ‘Ay’).
Locals eked out a living with farming and fishing, with the monks lending a helping hand. Limestone was crushed and burned to produce quicklime for spreading on the fields to ‘sweeten’ the grass, woods provided coppice timber for agricultural implements and for charcoal burning, oats were grown, and the sea and rivers yielded good supplies of fish. The monks stored their grain at Grange (from the French word ‘graunge’ meaning ‘granary’) and may have had a small harbour here.
The famous Cartmel Races are said to date back to monastic times, as part of the Whitsuntide celebrations. The priory was at the heart of community life, until it was largely destroyed on the orders of Henry VIII in 1536. An appeal by the villagers to keep the church as a place of worship for the parish was granted, thus saving this impressive church (and the gatehouse) for posterity.
Up to the mid-19th century, the only viable link between the peninsula and the rest of the country was over the sands of Morecambe Bay at low tide. Individuals on foot or travelling by horse and cart would regularly make the perilous journey, fraught with danger from swift incoming tides, unsuspected quicksands or changing river currents. A guide appointed by the abbot of Cartmel Priory would conduct travellers from Kents Bank to Hest Bank near Bolton-le-Sands (9 miles/14.5 km).
Surrounding Areas
Flookburgh - Flookburgh, to the west, was once an important fishing and market garden centre. Fishermen still go out on a daily basis to fish for shrimps, cockles, mussels and flukes (flatfish); the latter earning the village its name.
Field Broughton - North of Cartmel is Field Broughton, a pastoral village that still has a well-preserved pinfold.
Meathop - Further east is the isolated hamlet of Meathop established around one of the first sanatoriums in the country.
Grange-over-Sands - Grange retains much elegance from its Edwardian heyday, with ornamental gardens, attractive shopping arcades and a sea-front promenade for relaxing walks.
Did you know?
Lakeland Miniature VillageThe talented Edward Robinson has created an impressive collection of miniature buildings hand-made out of local slate and set in naturalistic surroundings.- Priory Church of St Mary & St MichaelFounded in 1189 by Augustinian canons and threatened with destruction after the Dissolution of the Monasteries Act in 1536, the church survived to become the parish church.
- HampsfellThe limestone plateau of Hampsfell is one of the highest points on the Cartmel peninsula at 727 ft (221 m) high and commands extensive sea and fell views in all directions.
- Cartmel Village ShopFamed for its Sticky Toffee Pudding, the village shop is an all-year-round destination for food-lovers from far and wide.
- Holker HallThis family seat of the Cavendish family can be dated to the early 16th century.
- Cartmel Priory GatehouseBuilt in the early 14th century as the gateway to the priory precinct, the building has been variously used as a courthouse, grammar school for 200 years and latterly, as a shop.
Highlights
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Watching the sun go down over Morecambe Bay is the stuff memories are made of
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Towns & Villages
Number of results: 37
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Address
5 Meadow View, Cark in Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7NZGrange-over-Sands
We specialise in luxury Lake District holiday cottages located in the South Lakes area, around Cartmel village and near Coniston Water.
Grange-over-Sands
Beautiful secluded setting. The Woodlands Hotel & Pine Lodges is an ideal base for touring the Lake district . Great food. Great value. Friendly staff. A real hidden gem. Guests return again & again. View our 5-star Trip Advisor reviews.
Address
Grange-over-SandsThis is one of the easiest rides in the South Lakeland with the added bonus that if you time your trip right you can visit the ice cream factory at Holme Farm, just east of Grange.
Address
Greenbank Farm, Aynsome Lane, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7STGrange-over-Sands
Enjoy a unique experience and the first of it's kind in the UK and possibly the World!
For horse lovers of any age, spend time with one of our beautiful Friesian horses and share a self-catering stable for the night!
Address
Grange, LA11 6LJThis gently undulating ride is surprisingly quiet bearing in mind its location within the boundaries of the Lake District National Park. A loop of the Winster valley beneath the wooded slopes of Whitbarrow Scar sets the scene for this ride
Address
Grange Fell Road, Grange-Over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6AHTelephone
01539312290Grange-Over-Sands
A wonderful six-bedroom end-terrace house situated in the picturesque Edwardian town of Grange-over-Sands with partial views over the Morecambe Bay Estuary. The location is near to the popular Cartmel Village and within easy reach of Coniston and…
Address
Station Square, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6EJTelephone
015395 33666Grange-over-Sands
The four-star Grange Hotel is ideally located on the southern fringe of the English Lakes, on the curve of Morecambe Bay. One of the premier Lake District hotels, we offer warm hospitality, excellent service, stylish and elegant grandeur.
A Day’s Walk is a unique online food and drink shop and delivery service for self-catering holiday accommodation guests where all produce comes from local Lake District producers, farmers and businesses.
Address
Greenbank Farm, Aynsome Lane, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7STGrange-over-Sands
Home of The Black Horses Friesian Experience, farm location with stunning views over South Lakeland village of Cartmel - foodie heaven! Known for Horse Racing, Michelin Star restaurants and its famous Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Address
Old Park Wood Holiday Park, Cark in Cartmel, Grange over Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7PPGrange over Sands
A prestigious location, acres of tranquil, rural countryside and the very heart of the Lake District on its doorstep; Old Park Wood is an unrivalled private holiday park offering residents their very own luxurious, Cumbrian retreat.
Address
Lakeside YMCA - Land Based Activities, Lakeside YMCA, Lakeside, Newby Bridge, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA117QFTelephone
07827815800Newby Bridge, Ulverston
THE LAP is a 47 mile trail ultra marathon around Lake Windermere, open to both runners and walkers.
A way-marked route with generous cut-offs; it makes a great introduction to longer races or a fast, low level option for experienced racers.…
Address
Grange over Sands, Grange-over-SandsTelephone
0871 200 22 33Grange-over-Sands
Buses to and through Grange-over-Sands:
530 Kendal - Grange - Cartmel.
532 Grange - Kents Bank - Flookburgh - Cark - Cartmel.
X6 Barrow - Grange - Kendal.Address
Black Horses Ltd, Greenbank Farm, Aynsome Lane, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7STTelephone
+44 (0)15395 33781Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands
An exciting opportunity for Friesian lovers to get hands on experience of what it's like to ride and / or drive top quality Friesians in one of the most scenic parts of the country.
Address
Cartmel Village Car Park, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6QBTelephone
01539 261000Grange-over-Sands
Lakeland Segway is the best place to Segway in the Lakes. Offering guided Segway tours around the beautiful grounds that surround Cartmel Racecourse and The Holker Estate.
Address
Field Broughton, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6HRTelephone
015395 36587Grange-over-Sands
Greaves Farm Caravan Park is small, family run park in beautiful countryside on the fringe of the Lake District within easy reach of Lake Windermere, the historic village of Cartmel and Grange over Sands and many places of interest. An ideal…
Address
Predator Experience, Barn Close, Ayside, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6HYAyside, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands
Amazing interactive bird of prey experiences for all ages. Choose either the woodland and parkland by lake Windermere or the thrill of the Lakeland fells. Eagles, hawks, falcons and owls. Gift vouchers are available.
Address
Field Broughton, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6HRTelephone
015395 36587Grange-over-Sands
Greaves Farm Caravan Park is family run park in beautiful countryside on the fringe of the Lake District within easy reach of Lake Windermere, the historic village of Cartmel and Grange over Sands and many places of interest. An ideal location for…
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Address
22 The Esplanade, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7HHTelephone
033 033 00033Grange-over-Sands
Wycombe Holiday Flats are known for their comfort, facilities, situation, panoramic views and good value. Grange-over-Sands' mild climate and relative dryness make it an ideal venue for Lakeland holidays throughout the year.
Address
Beckside, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7SPTelephone
015395 36043Grange-over-Sands
Wall Nook is located in lovely countryside just over a mile from the charming, foodie village of Cartmel.
Address
Cartmel Racecourse, Cartmel Racecourse, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6QFTelephone
01539536340Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands
Horse racing outdoor events
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