Cartmel Peninsula facts for kids
The Cartmel Peninsula is a beautiful piece of land in Cumbria, England. It sticks out into Morecambe Bay, with rivers on either side: the River Leven to the west and the River Winster to the east. It's known for its stunning views and tasty food!
The Cartmel Peninsula is one of two areas that used to be called 'Lancashire North of the Sands'. The other area is the Furness Peninsula, separated by the River Leven. Sometimes, people use 'Furness' to talk about both areas together. To the north, the peninsula reaches Windermere and the border with Westmorland.
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A Look Back at Cartmel's History
Monks and Big Estates
Long ago, the Cartmel Priory monks looked after this area. After a while, much of the land went to the Preston family, who lived at Holker Hall. Later, through marriage, Holker Hall became part of the Cavendish Family's property. Today, Lord Cavendish lives there. The Cavendish family still owns a lot of land on the peninsula.
What Cartmel Looks Like
Nature and Farming
The Cartmel Peninsula is mostly countryside. It has many limestone rocks and is overlooked by the Cumbrian mountains. Some farming happens here, especially raising saltmarsh lamb. These lambs graze on the salty sands of Morecambe Bay. However, the landscape can be tricky for farming.
A Place for Visitors
Today, the Cartmel Peninsula is a popular spot for tourists. It's often promoted with Furness as part of the Lake District Peninsulas. Even though the Lake District National Park only covers the northern part of the peninsula, many people visit for its beauty.
Grange-over-Sands
The only town on the peninsula is Grange-over-Sands. This town became popular in the Victorian era as a seaside resort. Its growth was helped by the Furness Railway. This railway runs along the southern edge of the peninsula. It has stations at Grange, Cark and Cartmel, and Kents Bank.
Cartmel's Famous Food
Cartmel is known around the world for its food. It's a real 'foodie' destination!
Top Restaurants
The peninsula is home to L'Enclume, a restaurant with two Michelin stars. This means it's considered one of the best places to eat. The Good Food Guide even named it the best restaurant in the UK for several years.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Cartmel is also famous for its delicious sticky toffee pudding. This sweet treat is made in the village shop and is sold all over the world.
Places to See on the Peninsula
Here are some of the villages and interesting spots you can find on the Cartmel Peninsula:
- Allithwaite, Ayside
- Cartmel, Cartmel Priory, Cartmel Racecourse, Cark
- Flookburgh
- Grange-over-Sands
- High Newton, Holker Hall
- Lindale, Low Newton, Cumbria
- Newby Bridge
- Ravenstown
