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Cartmel

One of the most beautiful villages in the Lake District, Cartmel has a picturesque market square which is surrounded by some of the finest old world architecture in the area. Charming houses, inns and shops overlook the ancient streets which wind their way through the village.

If you are a lover of the great outdoors, make the most of the streamside walks, the hump-backed bridges and cobbled streets of Cartmel, and the many attractions close by, including the racecourse.

Famous for its 12th Century Priory, with its stunning stained glass windows and ancient choir stalls, Cartmel is the perfect place to visit if you want to escape the busy shores of Lake Windermere.

Cartmel Priory is an imposing building which presides over the village of Cartmel, and was built by Augustinian canons between 1190 and 1220. Most of the Priory was destroyed during The Dissolution of the Monasteries, but the building still remains as a Parish church.

A range of styles in the priory include the impressive arches of the nave, and the beautiful Renaissance screens.

In 1536-37 Cartmel Priory was surrendered and the canons dispersed. Although the Priory Church was saved through the efforts of parishioners,  the domestic buildings were pulled down completely, except for the Gatehouse, and a few small buildings which have since disappeared.

Situated just off the quaint main village square, is the Cartmel Priory Gatehouse, which is now a Heritage Centre exhibiting the history of the local village and the monastery. If you are looking for traditional pubs and shops, Cartmel will not disappoint. Cartmel Village Shop is famous for its sticky toffee pudding, and the race course hosts popular steeple chase meetings during May, July and August. The Holker Garden Festival is also well worth a visit, which is held at Holker Hall every Spring Bank Holiday.

Although Cartmel retains much of its original charm, it has evolved into a lively village with several gift shops, a post office, a grocers and some great pubs and restaurants around the village square. Four of the pubs and two restaurants in the village are listed in the Good Food Guide, and one restaurant, L´enclume,  boasts a Michelin Star, which attracts visitors from all over the region.

If you plan to tour around the Lake District, it is worth taking a trip to nearby Holker Hall, historic Kendal, the Beatrix Potter Attraction, Morecambe Bay, Lake Windermere and the homes of William Wordsworth and John Ruskin.

Surprisingly for the Lake District, the region around Cartmel is known for its mild climate which is generated by the Gulf Stream over Morecambe Bay, and nearby Grange-over-Sands.  The area around Cartmel is said to have a higher temperature in Spring than any other place in the north of England.

If you are looking for outdoor adventure, horse riding, cycling, fishing and water sports are all on the agenda, and you can find a host of attractions in the immediate vicinity of Cartmel. If you want to travel further afield, Windermere, Kendal, Grasmere and Ullswater are easily accessible by car.

Whether you choose to relax or take part in a range of activities on holiday, there is are a wealth of things to see and do in Cartmel and a wide range of accommodation to choose from. Whatever type of accommodation you are looking for in the Lake District, including holiday cottages, guest houses, boutique hotels or b & b´s, you will be spoilt for choice. If you are looking for a romantic weekend away, there is no better place than Cartmel in the Lake District, which is surrounded by stunning countryside, and offers visitors a real taste of England at its best.

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