Cartmel Peninsula is a
peninsula in
Cumbria in
England. It juts in a southerly direction into
Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay is a large estuary in northwest England, just to the south of the Lake District National Park. It is the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand in the United Kingdom, covering a total area of . In 1974, the second largest ...
, bordered by the estuaries of the
River Leven to the west and the
River Winster
The River Winster is a river in the English county of Cumbria. The Winster was the boundary between the ancient counties of Lancashire and Westmorland. It has a relatively small catchment area; other streams flow parallel to it on either side.
...
to the east. It is, along with the
Furness Peninsula, (from which it is separated by the
River Leven) one of the two areas of that formed ''
Lancashire North of the Sands'', and the better known 'Furness' is often used to describe both peninsulae together. To its north, the peninsula's borders are usually given as the banks of
Windermere
Windermere (sometimes tautologically called Windermere Lake to distinguish it from the nearby town of Windermere) is the largest natural lake in England. More than 11 miles (18 km) in length, and almost 1 mile (1.5 km) at its wides ...
and the border with the historic county of
Westmorland between the Lake and the head of the Winster.
Historically, the area was controlled by the monks of
Cartmel Priory
Cartmel Priory church serves as the parish church of Cartmel, Cumbria, England (formerly in Lancashire).
Priory
The priory was founded in 1190 by William Marshal, created 1st Earl of Pembroke, intended for a community of the Augustinian Canons ...
. Following its dissolution, much of the local land fell into the ownership of the Preston family at
Holker Hall
Holker Hall (pronounced Hooker by some) is a privately owned country house located about 2 km to the southwest of the village of Cartmel in the ceremonial county of Cumbria and historic county of Lancashire, England. It is "the grandest ...
. Through marriage Holker became part of the estate of the
Cavendish Family
The Cavendish (or de Cavendish) family ( ) is a British noble family, of Anglo-Norman origins (though with an Anglo-Saxon name, originally from a place-name in Suffolk). They rose to their highest prominence as Duke of Devonshire and Duke of New ...
, and today is the home of
Lord Cavendish. As well as the estate around Holker, the Cavendish family still owns much of the land of the Peninsula.
The Cartmel Peninsula is largely rural dominated by
limestone outcrops and the overlooking
Cumbrian mountains
The Lake District, also known as the Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous for its lakes, forests, and mountains (or ''fells''), and its associations with William Wordswort ...
. There is some agriculture, with
saltmarsh lamb raised on the sands of
Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay is a large estuary in northwest England, just to the south of the Lake District National Park. It is the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand in the United Kingdom, covering a total area of . In 1974, the second largest ...
that surround the peninsula, but this is limited by the challenging landscape. The modern peninsula is a popular tourist destination, and together with Furness, Cartmel has been marketed as part of the ''Lake District Peninsulas'', though the
Lake District National Park only covers the northern portion of the peninsula. Cartmel's only town is
Grange-over-Sands
Grange-over-Sands is a town and civil parish located on the north side of Morecambe Bay in Cumbria, England, a few miles south of the Lake District National Park. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 4,042, increasing at the 2011 ...
, a
Victorian seaside resort. Grange's growth was a result of the
Furness Railway, which runs along the peninsula's southern edge, with stations at
Grange
Grange may refer to:
Buildings
* Grange House, Scotland, built in 1564, and demolished in 1906
* Grange Estate, Pennsylvania, built in 1682
* Monastic grange, a farming estate belonging to a monastery
Geography Australia
* Grange, South Austr ...
,
Cark and Cartmel and
Kents Bank
Kents Bank is a small village in Cumbria, England, so named for its proximity to the River Kent estuary.
Part of the historic County Palatine of Lancashire, it is located south-west of Grange-over-Sands.
History
Kents Bank takes its name fr ...
.
Cartmel's name is known internationally as a '
foodie
A foodie is a person who has an ardent or refined interest in food, and who eats food not only out of hunger but also as a hobby. The related terms " gastronome" and "gourmet" define roughly the same thing, i.e. a person who enjoys food for p ...
' destination. It is home to
L'Enclume
L'Enclume (, French for "the anvil") is a restaurant opened in 2002 in Cartmel, Cumbria, England, run by chef Simon Rogan and his partner Penny Tapsell. L'Enclume received a rating of 10 out of 10 five times in the ''Good Food Guide'' and nam ...
, a
Michelin two-star restaurant named the best in the UK by the
Good Food Guide
''The Good Food Guide'' has been reviewing the best restaurants, pubs and cafés in Great Britain since 1951.
In October 2021, Adam Hyman purchased ''The Good Food Guide'' for an undisclosed sum from Waitrose & Partners. The ''Guide'' is being r ...
between 2013 and 2017, and to Cartmel
sticky toffee pudding
Sticky toffee pudding, also known as sticky date pudding in Australia and New Zealand, is a British dessert consisting of a moist sponge cake, made with finely chopped dates (optional), covered in a toffee sauce and often served with a vanilla ...
, produced in the village shop and sold globally.
The following settlements and sites can be found on the peninsula:
*
Allithwaite
Allithwaite is a small village in Cumbria, England, located roughly west of Grange-over-Sands. Most of its residents commute to local areas of Ulverston, Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal or Lancaster to work. Historically in Lancashire, Allithwaite ...
,
Ayside
Ayside is a hamlet on the A590 road, in the South Lakeland district, in the county of Cumbria
Cumbria ( ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in North West England, bordering Scotland. The county and Cumbria County Council, it ...
*
Cartmel
Cartmel is a village in Cumbria, England, northwest of Grange-over-Sands close to the River Eea. The village takes its name from the Cartmel Peninsula, and was historically known as Kirkby in Cartmel. The village is the location of the 12t ...
,
Cartmel Priory
Cartmel Priory church serves as the parish church of Cartmel, Cumbria, England (formerly in Lancashire).
Priory
The priory was founded in 1190 by William Marshal, created 1st Earl of Pembroke, intended for a community of the Augustinian Canons ...
,
Cartmel Racecourse
Cartmel Racecourse is a small national hunt racecourse in the village of Cartmel, now in the ceremonial county of Cumbria, historically in Lancashire. Nine racedays are held each year, starting on the Whit Holiday weekend at the end of May and e ...
,
Cark
Cark (sometimes Cark in Cartmel) is a village in Cumbria, England. It lies on the B5278 road to Haverthwaite (and to the A590 road) and is ½ mile north of Flookburgh, 2 miles southwest of Cartmel and 3 miles west of Grange-over-Sands.
It is ...
*
Flookburgh
Flookburgh is an ancient village on the Cartmel peninsula in Cumbria, England, until 1974 part of Lancashire. Being close to Morecambe Bay, cockle and shrimp fishing plays a big part in village life.
Flookburgh is sometimes thought to derive ...
*
Grange-over-Sands
Grange-over-Sands is a town and civil parish located on the north side of Morecambe Bay in Cumbria, England, a few miles south of the Lake District National Park. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 4,042, increasing at the 2011 ...
*
High Newton,
Holker Hall
Holker Hall (pronounced Hooker by some) is a privately owned country house located about 2 km to the southwest of the village of Cartmel in the ceremonial county of Cumbria and historic county of Lancashire, England. It is "the grandest ...
*
Lindale,
Low Newton, Cumbria
Low Newton (originally Nether Newton) is a hamlet in the South Lakeland District, in the county of Cumbria, England and in the Lake District also commonly known as The Lakes. It was on the A590 road until along with its neighbour High Newton a ...
*
Newby Bridge
*
Ravenstown
References
{{coord, 54, 13, 27, N, 2, 57, 49, W, region:GB-CMA_type:landmark_source:kolossus-dewiki, display=title
Landforms of Cumbria
Peninsulas of England