Cartmel

The quaint village of Cartmel is famous for its 12th Century Priory with its beautiful stained glass windows and ancient choir stalls. The village also houses a variety of interesting shops and traditional pubs around its main square. Twice a year, at spring and summer bank holidays, Cartmel hosts its famous and highly popular steeple chase meetings attracting visitors from across the country. This truly is a village you will adore for the beauty of the buildings and warmth of the people.

Cartmel is a unique village set in the heart of the lake District countryside, just 4 miles from the Southern tip of Lake Windermere and set against the beautiful natural backdrop of this area. Cartmel is considered by many to be the most attractive village in South Lakeland. The 12th century Priory being one of the most well known historic attractions here and of course the village itself with its attractive buildings and friendly locals.

The Priory with its diagonal set tower was saved from destruction when Henry Vlll dissolved the monasteries and today it is still the village church. The l4th century gatehouse and the handsome buildings around the market square and in the narrow streets nearby, surround this central feature of the village. The Priory lies between two rivers and is a definite must for visitors to the area.

Cartmel has changed little over the centuries and offers all the amenities of village life with a post office, grocer and several gift shops. There are also four pubs and two restaurants in the Good Food Guide in the village which are popular with locals and visitors.

A visit to Cartmel is not complete without buying one of Cartmel's unique Sticky Toffee Puddings. Famous the world over, these divine indulgences would make ideal gifts if you can bear to part with them. Cartmel is also synonymous with racing. It is best known for its race course, just a few yards from the village square where meetings are held in May and August, it is also home to the village cricket team.

The area is renowned for its mild climate, unique in the UK. The reason for this is the warmth generated by the Gulf stream washing over Morecambe Bay and Grange-over-Sands which has a higher temperature in Spring than any other place in the North of England.