Kim Brough
07 September 2022
Cartmel is a delightful village in the south of Cumbria, just outside the Lake District National Park.
Famous for its restaurants, racecourse, priory and - most importantly - its sticky toffee pudding, it’s an idyllic place for a pleasant ramble to the coast or in the surrounding sylvan countryside.
Discover some of the best walks in the Lake District in this guide to local hiking trails.
Cartmel to Grange-over-Sands
Distance: 14 miles
Difficulty: Hard
Cartmel is close to the beautiful coast of Morecambe Bay and this Grange-over-Sands to Cartmel walk will take in plenty of sandy beaches and seaside views.
Though the traditional starting point is at Grange-over-Sands itself (less than a 10-minute drive away), you can easily begin walking from Cartmel. It’s a circular route, after all, so you’ll always end up back where you started! Alternatively, if the full 14 miles is too far for you, you can just do as much as you like before heading back to the village.
From Cartmel Priory, head west out of the village along the footpath that will take you into Cark and on towards Lenibrick Point on the coast. From here, you can saunter along close to the sea until you reach Lakeland Leisure Park. There’s a bit of on-road walking here as you zig-zag towards Allithwaite and join the coast again on the outskirts of Grange.
Grange is a great place to take a break and pick up some refreshments. You can admire the pretty Victorian promenade as you continue your walk before you turn inland again into Eggerslack Wood. Enjoy the peace and quiet here before scaling Hampsfell and admiring the view back down into Cartmel.
Hampsfell
Distance: 3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Hampsfell is a small hill (222m) to the north-east of Cartmel. It’s a popular walking route thanks to the relatively easy climb, lovely views at the top, and the unusual Hampsfell Hospice at its peak.
From the village, head past Pit Farm and start ascending. Once you get to the saddle between two peaks, turn left up the taller of these and make a beeline for Hampsfell Hospice. This unusual building was built by a previous vicar of Cartmel as a shelter for walkers.
Dip your head inside if it’s pouring down or blowing a gale, or climb the steps to the top where you’ll find a viewfinder to help you identify the surrounding mountains. You can also look over Morecambe Bay when you face the other way.
From the summit, take the path almost due west until you meet the road that leads you back into Cartmel. Note that there is no footpath here until you’re back in the village.
Eggerslack Wood
Distance: Varies
Difficulty: Easy
Eggerslack Woods, between Cartmel and Grange-over-Sands, was once coppiced to create bobbins and provide wood for charcoal burning. Now it’s mostly owned by the Forestry Commission and is a beautifully tranquil spot for a calm and gentle walk.
There are plenty of woodland walks to choose from in Eggerslack Wood, including some longer-distance routes that go up Hampsfell, or onto Grange-over-Sands. Why not park up on Hampsfell Road and just take a wander?
Cartmel Racecourse
Distance: Varies
Difficulty: Moderate
There are several good walks from Cartmel Racecourse depending on how far you want to go and how much time you have before dinner. You can cut through the famous course, but make sure that there aren’t any events on at the time!
From Cartmel Racecourse, head north-west to Park Wood. You can wind your way through and onwards on a gently ascending route, and turn back whenever you feel ready. Or, if you’re up for a longer route, continue north towards the deer park at Speel Bank Farm. This puts you on a lovely circular trail that summits Howbarrow and boasts views over the estuary before returning to the centre of the village.
Holker Hall Gardens
Distance: Varies
Difficulty: Easy
A short drive outside of Cartmel is the beautiful stately home of Holker Hall. Its gardens, covering around 23 acres, are a fabulous spot for a walk, with both formal and informal elements to make for an interesting stroll.
Whether you’re a keen gardener or a casual admirer, you’ll find plenty to capture your attention. Take in the colours of the rhododendrons in spring, hear the wind whispering through the meadow grasses in summer, or find a shady spot under the impressive 17th-century Great Lime.
Holker Hall Gardens are the ideal spot for a gentle and easy walk near Cartmel.
The Cistercian Way
Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
The Cumbrian Cistercian Way is a 25-mile route that finishes at Cartmel Priory. The pilgrimage was taken by Cistercian monks from Piel Island and features a number of religious sites including Piel Castle (Christianity), Conishead Priory (Buddhism) and Swarthmoor Hall (Quakerism).
Of course, you can do the entire walk (which includes a short ferry crossing and a train ride) but, for staying close to Cartmel, we recommend the stretch from Cark to Cartmel Priory, which is just under 2 miles one-way. You can catch a bus between each end, or walk there and back again for a slightly longer walk.
Either way, from Cartmel Priory, head out of the village and through the racecourse (make sure there are no events on!). From here, the route is easy to follow mostly along farm tracks and quiet lanes amidst rolling fields. In Cark, there are a couple of pubs for refreshing yourself.
Cottages in Cartmel
Cartmel and the surrounding region offers a relaxed and tranquil escape close to the sea and Lake District, without the crowds you can find in other areas.
Browse our holiday cottages for your perfect Cartmel stay.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.