Welcome to Cartmel
Welcome to the official website for the vibrant historic village of Cartmel. This unspoilt village is situated in a quiet valley in one of England’s most outstanding areas of natural beauty.
Take time to visit this medieval village, which was winner of numerous 'Cumbria in Bloom' awards in 2011, and winner of Silver Gilt in the 2012 Britain In Bloom awards.
Offering stunning views of the South Lakeland District fells and countryside, Cartmel has grown up around its famous 12th Century medieval Priory Church. It is a special place where ancient history and tradition mingle effortlessly with the present day.
Although steeped in history, Cartmel is not trapped in time and the village offers today's visitors many modern surprises in the form of fine quality attractions, shops, eateries and places to stay.
Around the village square you will discover a delightful assortment of genuine 16th - 18th century buildings providing, as they have for centuries, friendly inns, well stocked shops and private dwellings.
South Lakeland’s Finest...
Peruse this website to discover the many treasures, activities and attractions on offer when you visit Cartmel. Whenever you decide to visit we guarantee you a warm and friendly welcome.
Take time to explore the surrounding landscape that reaches out to meet the sands of Morecambe Bay on the edge of the Furness Peninsula.
Latest News May 2013...
NEW VISITOR ATTRACTION WILL BE OPENING ITS DOORS SOON...
Old Hall Farm in Bouth will officially opens to the public for their first 2013 summer season on Friday May 24, as Cumbria's newest attraction.
Surrounded by beautiful Lakeland scenery, this traditional 19th century working farm is owned by Alex and Charlotte Sharphouse, who have been working non-stop to realise their dream of sharing their passion for traditional ways of farming with visitors and locals alike.
As you walk around, you will discover genuine historical machinery, and find out about lost and forgotten farming practices - offering a real glimpse of a bygone era.
Charlotte said: "We are a working farm, so visitors can expect every day to be different and somewhat weather dependent. We will be working the shire horses every day, but their farming task will vary. We will also be working vintage tractors and implements, but whatever the weather, visitors can enjoy all kinds of farming activities, such as feeding the many animals including cows, pigs, sheep, a donkey and hens."
Visitors can watch traditional milking demonstrations, feed processing using vintage machinery, and see butter ice cream, cheese and fudge being made in the working Old Hall Farm Dairy, with lots of opportunities to taste the results!
Watch Victorian based life unfold in front of you, with exciting exhibits and activities including rare steam and horse ploughing. And you can relax and enjoy refreshments in the Chicken Shed Tea Room, which serves delicious freshly baked cakes and refreshments. It all combines to offer a unique day out with timeless appeal for the whole family.
Old Hall Farm will be open seven days a week, from May to November 2013. For more information visit the website: www.oldhallfarmbouth.com
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SIMON ROGAN BACKS EDIBLE BRITAIN
The Cartmel in Bloom Group has joined forces with Simon Rogan of L’Enclume to create a dish in celebration of Edible Britain, which is this year’s theme for RHS’ Britain In Bloom Award.
The dish called ‘Spring Offerings’ showcases the very best seasonal vegetables, leaves, herbs and flowers grown at Simon’s Cartmel farm, bringing together different tastes, textures and temperatures. It will be served to diners at L’Enclume’s research and development kitchen – ‘Aulis’ – and at Simon’s newest restaurant – ‘The French’ at The Midland Hotel – in Manchester.
Mr Rogan said: “The dish perfectly represents our food philosophy, drawing on the very best of our own seasonal produce. It’s a real celebration of stunning seasonal ingredients and captures the theme of Edible Britain perfectly.
“Our aim is to grow and forage the most amazing produce, we are working with a quality and variety that you simply cannot buy, to cook the best we must grow the best. Our farm here in Cartmel was built by chefs and is run by chefs, this unique approach gives us ultimate control of our product”
Cartmel Primary school are also getting involved with regular school trips to the farm and hands-on workshops in which pupils create their own grow projects to take back to their vegetable garden at the school.
Yew Tree Barn - The Big Change
Yew Tree Barn at Low Newton has been busy revamping the displays upstairs to downstairs & vice versa!
They've been busy moving masses of stock and have painted, cleaned, titivated before moving everything around for a complete re-display of relocation.
Pamela and Clive Wilson are now delighted to able to greet people as they arrive, and it's easier to pop in for the smaller purchase and much better to browse in the spacious upstairs galleries.
LOWER ALLITHWAITE COMMUNITY PLAN –
The Community Plan group is currently drafting an action plan to address the key issues arising from last year’s survey. The aim is to present this draft to the public at two local drop-in meetings. A full report of the findings from last year’s survey will also be available to view.
The meetings will take place between 10 a.m. and 12.00 noon on Saturday February 23rd at Allithwaite Community Centre and Saturday March 9th at Cartmel Village Hall. (Details for both villages will be available at either meeting.)
At the meetings local residents and traders will be able to study what is being proposed, talk to members of the Community Plan group and feed in their own ideas. Those interested can also volunteer to join one of the action groups which are to be set up to move our work from planning to implementation.
Community Plan group
MAIN FINDINGS FROM CONSULTATION
284 questionnaires were completed. 64% of respondents were aged 51 or over. 69% had lived in the area for at least 11 years. Given the length of the questionnaire some people did not answer all questions.
Clearly there were high levels of satisfaction with living in this area. Time and again respondents commented on the quality of the countryside, its scenery and its peace and quiet. Equally they valued the nature of the community itself and the quality of village life including its relatively crime free nature.
The most frequently voiced hope for the future was that the area and the respondent’s village would stay very much the same. Where change was necessary, it should be for such things as improvements in parking and some small scale provision of affordable homes for local families. The local countryside should be preserved from intrusions such as significant wind farm development and the villages should not become more commercialised than they are. The community needed to remain vibrant with young families continuing to live here.
On the whole respondents appreciated how their village looked and how its buildings were cared for. However, one criticism was pavement clutter, including A boards. Open spaces within the villages were greatly valued - 91% respondents said such spaces were very or fairly important. The surrounding countryside was if anything even more important to people. Nobody ticked the not at all important option, either for open spaces within the villages or more widely.
As regards green issues, although major infrastructure projects were strongly opposed, interest was nevertheless expressed in local renewable energy development: 54% of respondents felt this was very or fairly important. There was quite a strong demand for improved recycling arrangements.
Respondents viewed road traffic (57%), parking (53%) and safety (39%) as serious concerns, which were very much intertwined. These issues particularly affected the centre of the villages but also, to an extent, the wider area. The volume and speed of traffic were a concern and a reduced speed limit, particularly within the villages, was the most supported of the presented options.
Car parking was a significant problem, especially in the centre of the villages, where pedestrians felt particularly vulnerable. It is a daily issue and it applies all year round. Indiscriminate parking was one of the main bugbears. A range of solutions was supported, the most popular being additional parking provision on the edge of the villages.
Housing was a burning issue. It was felt that any housing development should be small scale: 57% were in favour of just 1 to 3 houses, whereas just 9% would support developments of 10 or more. On the other hand, the great majority of respondents showed strong support for affordable housing, 75% regarding this as very or fairly important. 71% of respondents supported the principle of building for local occupancy, particularly for people connected with the parish.
The value of having local businesses was recognised and the importance of attracting visitors was understood. Local events were popular and well supported (67%), ranging from small community based events to the larger scale shows, festivals and race meetings. The vast majority of people felt the number of events should not increase beyond the current level, concerns being expressed by some about noise and, more significantly, road congestion.
Local amenities and services were generally well thought of. However, the gritting of roads and particularly pavements was regarded as unsatisfactory by a majority of respondents: 39% were satisfied against 45% dissatisfied with road gritting; and just 13% were satisfied against 54% dissatisfied with pavement gritting. A narrow majority thought road maintenance satisfactory. Many people were unhappy about dog fouling (32% satisfied with the situation compared with 40% dissatisfied).
Public transport – especially the bus service - was poorly rated to the extent that 18% of respondents said there was nothing which could induce them to use it more often. 70% regarded it as easier to use a car and 25% even thought it easier to walk or cycle than use public transport. Services running at times needed (for example, for getting to work) and with better connections would help.
Provision of faster broadband was supported by 75% of people, 46% seeing this as very important.
There is a general feeling that the needs of particular groups in our community are at least reasonably well cared for, though quite large numbers chose not to offer a judgement. 52% of people were satisfied with how older people are cared for compared with 6% dissatisfied. For families the breakdown was 39% as against 5%, for people with disabilities 26% as against 10% and for younger people 26% as against 17%. A variety of suggestions was offered for improving the picture, including the views of young people from the local primary schools and of a small number from Cartmel Priory School.
The full plan draws out a number of ways in which the responses of Allithwaite and Cartmel residents differed from each other. Obviously some of these differences will want to be reflected in the action plan to be drawn up in the New Year.
Community Plan group
December 2012
Cartmel in Bloom’s herbal fusion
‘Cartmel in Bloom’ is living proof that the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) ‘Britain in Bloom’ campaign is much more than immaculate gardens and pretty floral displays.
Taking on board the theme ‘Edibles’, which the RHS is promoting in 2013, the Group have initiated and will continue to facilitate a scheme of close collaboration between the coveted, 2 Michelin star L’Enclume restaurant and the Cartmel Primary School involving learning and growing herbs by the pupils at Simon Rogan’s Cartmel farm.
Following meetings with Dan Cox, director of Aulis RD the research facility behind L'Enclume , thirty pupils were invited to visit the farm. Initially, they learnt about the activities at the farm and the herbs & vegetables grown there. In the Spring they will be helped to grow their own herbs so that they may use them in their cooking classes.
Sarah Firth, Head teacher of Cartmel Primary explained:
“We have a well established school kitchen garden that has been developed over the past few years with support from both parents and members of the local community. Our staff and children are very keen to be involved in this project which we believe will continue to motivate our children to grow and eat their own herbs and even provide them for use in our school kitchen.
Dan Cox said:
“We will create a special area at the farm where the children can cultivate their own herbs in trays, each labelled with their own name. At the right time, the herbs will be transferred to the school garden for the pupils to take full ownership. Simon Rogan and all of us at L’Enclume love using herbs and it will be our pleasure to organise demos and short talks to the pupils about the benefits and value of herbs. Who knows: One of these youngsters may one day be working with us!”
The intention is for the project to be incorporated in the school blog and a video to be made of the children at work.
David Crabtree, Treasurer of Cartmel in Bloom who facilitates this project said: We all feel very passionately about bringing different groups of the community together and this kind of project not only honours this year’s Britain in Bloom theme of herbs, but also has great educational value for the youngsters of Cartmel.
Notes to the editor: For immediate release
Contact Tiffany Hunt on 07786 112 048 or David Crabtree on 015395 34840
CONGRATULATIONS to Cartmel Coffee, who scooped the Four Cup National Accreditation in the Beverage Standards Association (BSA) annual Awards the Michelin stars of the coffee industry.
Phaedra and Paul Settle, who run Cartmel Coffee, received a certificate from Richard Scorer (left) the representative of the award sponsors, 3M Water Filtration.
Winning the Four Cup National Accreditation means the coffee shop is exceptional in terms of customer service and ambience. Through these Awards, the BSA (www.beveragestandardsassociati on.co.uk) has introduced a UK-wide national grading scheme in beverages from one to five cups, with four meaning exceptional. The general public can access coffee shops in the same way as restaurants by seeing how many coffee cups an outlet has been awarded.
Cartmel Coffee serves the full range of speciality coffees using its own house blend comprising 40% Guatemalan, 40% Indian and 20% Ugandan beans. The Lancaster brand of loose leaf tea is available such as Earl Grey, Egyptian Mint and Ceylon, while hot chocolate in Belgium chocolate melted into the milk. Open from 10am to 5pm seven days a week, Cartmel Coffee serves gluten free and dairy free cakes, as well as gluten free bread and soya milk. Light
snacks are on offer such as bacon and cheese toastie, mushrooms on toast, and maple butter toast, where the maple syrup is churned into the butter.
Paul says 95% of their products come from local suppliers. For
example, the smoked chicken, ham and smoked salon comes from Taste of the Lakes while the chutneys are from Hawkshead Relish.
Be sure to pop in and have a brew next time you're in Cartmel.
Chef Simon Rogan has taken on a Cartmel pub to add to his expanding culinary empire.
The 44-year-old star of BBC’s Great British Menu will add the village’s Pig and Whistle pub to his double Michelin-starred L’Enclume and Rogan & Co restaurants.
He is set to relaunch the venue, owned by Robinsons Brewery, this weekend after refurbishment.
Mr Rogan said: “Having 30 years’ experience and two other hospitality businesses within the village means we have a good hold on things generally.
“We are aware of the trends, peaks and troughs that come within this industry and especially within this area. We also know the locals and have socialised with them at length during our time here in Cartmel.
“They want a presence and a personality in their pubs, and this is exactly what we will give them at the Pig and Whistle.
“The first thing our guests ask us when they check into our accommodation at L’Enclume is, ‘Where can we go for a good drink?’ In the past we have always recommended other people’s pubs, now we can recommend our own.”
The Pig and Whistle has been Mr Rogan’s local pub since he and partner Penny Tapsell moved to the village 10 years ago.
He added: “It’s one of four pubs in the village. It has lots of charm, it’s small and quaint and when it came up for grabs we felt we had to have it.
“And best of all, it’s just a stone’s throw away from our own front door.”
Mr Rogan, already has future plans for the venue, including new carpets, curtains and furniture, a new bar area, and a possible conservatory.
Nick Devenish is the new incumbent at Cartmel Priory. he has settled well into village life. Service Times: Until further notice weekday services are; Holy Communion at 07.30am on Tuesdays and 10.15 on Thursdays with Evening Prayer at 18.00 on Fridays.
Guild of Cartmel Traders
This website and other promotional activites are funded by an enthusiastic group of Cartmel businesses, who work together in partnership. Businesses within a 3 mile radius of Cartmel can email the Secretary, Sandy Kitching, for details of the new Guild of Cartmel Traders.
The New Guild of Cartmel Traders Committee, elected in November 2010
Chairman, Colin Burke
Vice Chairman, Richard English, Cavendish Arms - 015395 36240
Treasurer, Charlotte White, Cartmel Village Shop - 015395 36280
Secretary, Sandy Kitching, Early Bird Design - 015395 36110
Tim Leader, The Scouts - 015395 33270
Martin Gott, Cartmel Cheeses - 015395 32845
Jonathan Garratt, Cartmel Racecourse - 015395 36340
Andrew Walmsley, The Larch Tree - 015395 36275
Steve Chamberlain, Chamberlains’ Gifts - 015395 33252
