Cartmel village, Cumbria
South Lakeside village centred around a 12th Century Priory
(Photos/words © urban75, 1st Sept, 2008)

A pleasant walk from Cark & Cartmel railway station, the charming village of Cartmel can aso be reached by a bus from Grange Over Sands railway stations (note: this only runs Mon-Sat with the last bus around tea time).

The small village is dominated by Cartmel Priory, and contains some delightful old buildings, inns and restaurants.



We were visiting the village for a friend's wedding and stayed at the Cavendish Arms.

The 450 year old coaching inn has developed seriously wonky door and window frames over te years which can cause some confusion if you're coming back after a session on the Cumberland Ale.



Fantastic old Raleigh bicycles metal sign.



Old stone building by a bridge crossing the River Eea.



A view of the village 'square' showing Cartmel Village Shop which has become known as the "home of sticky toffee pudding", a delightful, calorie-packing pudding that we enjoyed several times during our stay. Well, we were on holiday.





Ticket offices at Cartmel Racecourse, a small racecourse holding meetings on the May and August Bank Holidays.

The racecourse is small and crossed by public rights of way, but it still manages to have four furlong run-in, the longest in Britain.





Cottages around Cartmel.



More views of the village square.







House dating back to 1658.





Another view of The Cavendish Arms.



Picturesque Post Office.



Scene by the Post Office.





Now a National Trust property, Cartmel Priory Gatehouse is all that remains of the Augustinian Cartmel Priory, which dates from about 1330.



The building was fortified after raids by Robert the Bruce and served as a grammar school from 1624 to 1790, became a museum in 1923 before being donated to the National Trust in 1946.
National Trust page



House facing the village square.



Kings Arms pub with Cartmel Priory in the background.





It might look old fashioned from the outside, but it's not all stale Hovis and baked beans inside: the Cartmel Village Shop has a huge selection of mouthwatering cheeses, locally baked bread, fresh vegetables, beers and wines.



Village scene.



Road sign by the bus stop.



View from the bus stop. It sure beats what I can see from the 35 bus stop in Brixton.







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