Cartmel day trip from Windermere
Cartmel is a beautiful historic village hosting a medieval priory and a cluster of great pubs and restaurants. It is home to Britain's smallest racecourse. Cartmel is a 15 minute drive from Pinewood Cottage.
Cartmel Priory
The priory was founded around 1190 by William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, for Augustinian canons, and it is still the parish church. It is open to visitors on mornings and afternoons from Monday to Saturday.
When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in 1536, the commissioners were ordered to pull the buildings down, but the villagers petitioned to keep the church, saying it was their only place of worship, and the Crown agreed.
Inside, look for the large 15th-century east window and the 25 carved wooden misericords dating from 1440, which include a Green Man. Outside, the tower has an unusual upper stage turned at an angle to the base, which is believed to be unique in England. The medieval Priory Gatehouse, built in the 1330s, is now owned by the National Trust.
Sticky toffee pudding, pubs and a long lunch
Cartmel Village Shop on The Square is where the famous Cartmel sticky toffee pudding was first sold, back in 1984, and it has been drawing people ever since.
There is a good choice of places to eat around the square. The Royal Oak has a beer garden, the King's Arms is an 18th-century inn, and the Cavendish Arms is a coaching inn about 450 years old. The Pig and Whistle sits a little outside the centre on Aynsome Road.
Cartmel is also a popular destination for foodies. Simon Rogan's L'Enclume has held three Michelin stars since 2022, and he also has Rogan & Co on The Square. Book well ahead.
Race days
Cartmel Racecourse holds around nine National Hunt meetings a year, between the Whit bank holiday weekend in late May and the August bank holiday. Cartmel races offer a great day out for all the family.
Check the calendar before visiting Cartmel, as traffic can be very heavy during race weekends. cartmel-racecourse.co.uk