Crumble Cottages Experience Itineraries

Leave the car behind and take a wander down into the village. Cartmel first appears in the record books in 677AD and the land was originally owned by the monks of Lindisfarne.

• Take a good look around the priory where guided tours are available and there are always plenty of people on hand to answer any questions. It was founded in 1168 and was the only conventional monastery in Lancashire to survive the dissolution and it is crammed with history.
• Wander around Cartmel racecourse – racing officially began here in 1856 and the one-mile course boasts the longest run in in the country (the distance from the final fence to the finish line). There are six race weekends during the year, check here for more details.
• After all that exercise it’s time to relax so take your pick of one of the local cafés and enjoy a locally sourced lunch.
• When you’re ready to stretch your legs again enjoy an amble around the back streets and local shops – see the market cross and fish stones in the village square and the ancient archway of the medieval gatehouse.
• If you fancy a different way of exploring, then check out Lakeland Segway in the village centre, or if antiques are more your thing then try Village Vintage who regularly appear on BBC’s Antiques Road Trip.
• At the end of the day try a visit to Unsworth’s Yard where you’ll find fresh bread, pizza, tapas, one of the finest cheese shops in the country, and locally brewed beer. Every Friday and Saturday throughout the summer months there is free live music from a variety of local artists. Or how about The Royal Oak with its wonderful beer garden alongside the beck, the perfect place to enjoy our long, light, summer evenings.

The South Lakes area is teeming with wildlife from huge spectacular displays, to small and rare delights.

• Take the car to RSPB Leighton Moss (or drive to Grange-over-Sands station and take the train to Silverdale) – members can visit the reserve for free (small charge for non-members). There are plenty of paths to explore as well as 6 impressive hides and the sky tower offering panoramic views of the site. You can round off your visit with lunch in their café which is always well stocked with fresh local goodies.
• On your way back stop off at Foulshaw Moss nature reserve. If you visit between April and September, you’ll be able to spot our local resident osprey pair – but at any time of the year there are interesting walks around this peaceful site, with excellent views of nearby Whitbarrow Scar.
• And the wildlife spotting doesn’t end there, there’s plenty of wildlife to spot from the comfort of your cottage, including deer, badgers, hares, foxes, and a huge variety of birds.

If art and history is your thing then Kendal is a great place to visit. Set your satnav to follow the route via Bowland Bridge to avoid the crowds then ready yourself for a cultural assault on the senses.

• What is now south Cumbria was at the epicentre of the Quaker movement and there are many local landmarks to visit (if you fancy more of a drive check out Foxe’s Pulpit to the east and Swarthmoor Hall in Ulverston). In Kendal you’ll find the Quaker Tapestry that depicts local life over the centuries using a series of unique tapestries.
• You can enjoy lunch at the excellent café at the Quaker Tapestry or seek out one of Kendal’s many independent tea shops, such as Brew Brothers or Comida in the town.
• After lunch pay a visit to Kendal Museum to learn more about local history and spot some very special display signs. Alfred Wainwright was Honorary Curator at the museum for many years so as well as viewing an excellent array of local artefacts – including the remains of a Viking dugout boat – you can also spot exhibit labels handwritten by Wainwright himself.
• Round the day off with a visit to newly refurbished Abbot Hall Art Gallery which has a wide range of interesting artwork covering local artists of note, as well as works by nationally renowned artists. They have a range of special events throughout the year in addition to their permanent exhibitions.
• If you’re still feeling energetic then check out what’s on at Brewery Arts Centre – a local hub for performers which is a hive of activity all year round.

Naturally the Lake District is famous for its soaring fells, but there are plenty of low-level adventures to be had too.

• Fell Foot is a National Trust park just a few miles away, nestled at the southern tip of Windermere. There are short walks around the park and adjacent meadow, or take the opportunity to hire a kayak and explore the Lake District from the middle of its longest lake.
• Enjoy lunch at the café overlooking the lake, then take a wander around the marina before heading off.
• Drive up the road opposite Fell Foot to the car park in the woods near to Gummer’s How, then from there follow the path up the hill for one of the best views in Cumbria. On a clear day you can see north as far as Skiddaw and Blencathra and to the south you’ll be able to spot Blackpool Tower on the horizon.
• Once you’re done, head back to your cottage and either cosy up in front of the log fire, or enjoy a relaxed evening in the garden.

When visiting somewhere new there’s nothing quite like escaping the crowds and finding the quieter spots that are popular with the locals, and these gems fit that bill perfectly.

• Begin with a visit to Barkbooth Lot, one of Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s quietest and most tucked away nature reserve. During April/May it comes alive with thousands of bluebells and on long hot summer days the woodland walk is the perfect place to find cooling shade alongside the beck.
• Take a short detour over to Cartmel Fell Church to learn about the local history and enjoy the rock slide in the old school playground.
• When it’s time for lunch the Hare and Hounds at Bowland Bridge will fit the bill perfectly with its unique take on the classic pub menu all created with locally sourced ingredients.
• Finish the afternoon with a short drive up to nearby Scout Scar where one very short stroll uphill will bring you to a long ridge with far reaching views of the local area. Up here there are some excellent outcrops of limestone pavement as well as lots of juniper bushes to put you in the mood for a G&T in the evening.

Enjoy a day out that had been delighting everyone for over a hundred years. The Victorians used to take a boat over Morecambe Bay from Fleetwood, then hop on a steam train to the southern tip of Windermere, before boarding a steamer and enjoying a cruise all the way up to Ambleside. While boats no longer cross the bay you can still recreate most of that journey.

• It’s a short drive to the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway near Backbarrow where you’ll find an excellent café with lots of local produce and regular steam trains running up to Lakeside.
• From there join Windermere Lake Cruises for a guided trip along England’s longest lake. You can hop off at Bowness, or take the full lake tour that includes stunning views of the Lake District fells and local places of interest such as the gothic towers of Wray Castle.
• And if you still have time at the end of the day then the Lakeland Motor Museum is the perfect place to stop off on your way back to your cottage.

inspired by the many other stunning gardens in the area.

• Head over to Levens Hall where their 10-acre gardens were designed by Monsieur Guillaume Beaumont, gardener to King James II, in the 1690s. Much of the layout remains the same but you can track the history of how the gardens evolved over the centuries and admire their topiary hedges and breathtaking flower beds, before enjoying lunch at their rather lovely café.
• If you come away feeling inspired then there are a couple of superb local nurseries to visit on your way back. Cath’s Garden Plants near Sizergh, and Abi and Tom’s at Witherslack and in Grange-over-Sands are proper local nurseries, crammed full of wonderful and unusual plants, and usually have someone knowledgeable on hand to chat to.

We are lucky to have a number of local shops and reclamation yards full of gorgeous things that you never knew you needed. Before you embark on this particular experience you may want to check how much space you have in your boot…

• We could suggest that you spend the morning at Yew Tree Barn, just a five minute drive away, but there’s so much to explore there that you could easily spend the entire day wandering through their yards and the fantastic hidden corners of their beautiful old barn, fortified with a sumptuous lunch at Harry’s Café.
• If you do manage to drag yourself away then there are a couple of options :
  • Option 1: If you fancy a 30 minute drive then aim for Sedbergh, well known as England’s Book Town, it’s crammed with independent books shops and has the glorious Farfield Mill right on the doorstep – and old woollen mill and local craft collective with a fabulous history and a wonderful café.
  • Option 2: Take a 5 minute drive back into Cartmel village and visit Village Vintage, or check out the old book store nestled in the medieval stone gatehouse. (Note: the book shop isn’t open every day, but it’s well worth popping in if you catch them open).