48 Hours in Cartmel

Being a city dweller and living in London, I often feel like there’s no need to ever leave the city because we have everything here. However, as much as I love the London, life in the city comes with a sense of tiredness. You’re often doing so much that it’s so easy to get burnt out. After a while the noise, business and the sheer volume of people around you can be overwhelming and sometimes you just need a break. You need a holiday. And never had it occurred to me that you can holiday within UK – until now. 

Last weekend my fiancé and I took an impulsive train journey to the Lake District with Hide & Sleep. We decided we to do something spontaneous and made the decision to go on the Friday evening. On the Saturday morning we got a train out of London and on our way to the town of Cartmel seeking an adventure. 

Travel 

The journey to Cartmel was pretty simple. We took a train from Euston to Preston and then changed at Preston to Grange-Over-Sands. The journey took around 3 hours and it passed very quickly, just make sure you pack some snacks! You can also drive to Cartmel if you fancy which would take around the same amount of time.

Wharton House Mews

When we arrived at Wharton House Mews, all I could say for the first five minutes was “wow”, repeatedly. 

As we approached the property, we stepped into a spacious courtyard with the main property in front of us and the guest house to the left. I imagine the courtyard would be perfect for cheese and wine on a warm evening or an ideal setting to perch with some Pimms on a Summer’s day.

When we entered the main property, we were greeted by a large entrance with space to put up coats and wellies. We then followed the stairs up to the loft – the main living space. 

The loft itself was very spacious with incredible decor. The cottage was immaculately maintained and everything was well presented. 

From the outside Wharton House Mews blended in perfectly with the surrounding cottages in the cobbled streets of quaint Cartmel. However as we stepped inside, the property was sleek and modern, a complete contrast to the classic exterior.

Upon arrival we had treats from Hide & Sleep (including some Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding – yum!) and a helpful guide of what to see and do in Cartmel. 

Living and Kitchen Area 

The open plan kitchen and lounge area was absolutely breathtaking. Although there is a modern feel to the place, the property maintains its cottage roots with high ceilings with beams and lots of light. 

The kitchen is fully equipped with everything you could possibly need, from twin ovens to a wine cooler. It would be the perfect space to have a big group dinner however as it was just Zac and I – all we needed was to heat up our sticky toffee pudding in the oven and put our feet up in front of the TV with a cuppa. 

The living room had a giant bean bag which Zac flung himself onto from the moment we arrived and was so large that it literally consumed him. He was so comfortable he didn’t move for a good hour! The TV in the living area was a wall mounted Smart TV with Sky and a brilliant sound system which made for great movie watching before bed later that night.  

Bedroom

The Bedroom was very welcoming, with warm lighting and soft decor it was the perfect place to take a deep breath and just rest. The super king sized bed was unbelievably comfortable which made it difficult to leave in the morning! There were plugs on the side of the bed for phone charging and a dressing table which I used to apply my makeup in the morning.  The room also has a wall mounted flat screen TV to watch a bit of late night telly. 

The room has an adjoining walk in wardrobe which is always every girl’s dream. I used this to hang up our clothes during our trip. There was enough room for my clothes, Zac’s and more clothes if we were to stay for any longer.

Bathroom 

The bathroom could be accessed through the bedroom or through a door in the hallway. The bathroom had a very luxurious feel. There is a choice of a stand alone tub or a shower cubicle. I was so in love with the bath I kept telling Zac that I wanted one of my own when we got home! 

 

Guest House – The Jail 

Across the courtyard from the main property we found the “Jail” which is the guest house of the property. As we walked in we found a bathroom with a wet room on the ground floor of the building. As we walked up the stairs we found a plush four poster bed and mounted flat screen TV. The Jail seemed to be the perfect place to house guests if you’re taking a group trip up to Cartmel. 

Things to do in Cartmel

Cartmel was a truly charming village and for such a small town, it has so much to offer. The village has not one, but two Michelin star restaurants. So if you’re looking for a dining experience on your weekend away, I would recommend L’Enclume (2 Michelin stars) and Rogan & Co. (1 Michelin star) as I heard nothing but great things about both restaurants from the people we met along our stay. 

For dinner, we went for something a little more relaxed and headed to the Cavendish Arms, which is a hotel with a lovely restaurant and bar. Our dinner was absolutely delicious. The menu at the Cavendish Arms was seasonal and locally sourced so the quality of the ingredients was amazing, and the portion sizes were enough to fill you up, but not so much that you felt uncomfortable. Just perfect!

Our favourite breakfast spot during our stay was Cartmel Coffee, the perfect classic coffee spot to start the day.

A quick note that Cartmel is also the home of Sticky Toffee Pudding – great news for anyone who, like me, has a sweet tooth! You’ll find it on most menus around the village. 

There are many things to see and do in Cartmel, however we chose to treat the weekend as more of a restful retreat. The majority of our stay was spent lounging in the cottage and taking time to unwind. On the Sunday however we did go on a little walk around the area. Luckily, Wharton House Mews provided an assortment of wellies, socks and gloves to choose from in the entrance area so we dressed the part and went on a little adventure. 

The cottage was situated in the centre of Cartmel so it wasn’t too difficult to walk around. The village boasts beautiful sights such as a 12th Century priory, lots of charming shops (we found a very cute vintage shop!) and pretty walks by the stream.

Overall

We absolutely loved our stay at Wharton House Mews with Hide & Sleep and it was somewhat difficult to tear ourselves away from our new home-away-from-home. It doesn’t take long to settle into Wharton House Mews and feel at home.

We left Cartmel feeling well-rested and we agreed that 48 hours wasn’t enough, we agreed that our next country escape should be at least 5-7 days so we can do all we want at a very slow pace. 

My experience at Wharton House Mews has completely opened my mind to the idea of holidaying within the country and seeing more of what England has to offer outside of the main cities. Next time I go to book our next break, I’ll definitely see what I can find within the country before I consider hopping on a plane. 

You may also like

Leave a Reply