Overview
Owners Carl and Sylvia have shown their huge flare for design and style in creating a very special holiday home for themselves and their guests. A perfect pallet of pastel colours is the backdrop for well-chosen furnishings, fabrics, lighting and art, all combining to give a chic house that wraps you up in warmth and comfort, perfect for families, friends and as a very special romantic retreat.
Cartmel is one of our most popular and sought-after villages and home of the Cartmel Races, the smallest steeplechase racecourse in the country. Located on the peninsula, it lies just six miles south of Lake Windermere, a huddle of the most delightful period architecture it includes the magnificent Norman Priory, an eclectic mix of specialist shops, along with a host of pubs, cafes and restaurants, among which is the UK’s top dining venue, Simon Rogan's two Michelin star L'Enclume.
Pass for Cartmel Races Cartmel has the smallest national hunt race course in England. A popular fun day combining exciting races with a carnival feel. When you have purchased you race day paddock enclosure passes, Carl and Sylvia have secured Run-in-Rail Car Parking Membership, where as an added treat and extra fun, you can drive your car to a reserved spot alongside of the home straight rails in the Paddock Enclosure.
Tucked away in the corner of Cartmel Square, opposite the Norman Arch and the market cross with its old water pump and stone bench, the unassuming exterior of Bank Court belies the interior that lies behind. The house lies to the right of the passageway, as seen on the main exterior image. There are two entrances, one in the passageway and one at the rear, where a few steps lead up to the kitchen door.
The Living Spaces
From the rear entrance you step into the kitchen. A good size, it has all you need to rustle up your favourite meals. Units house a range cooker, all the usual white goods and the delightful luxury of an under-counter wine cooler, and a thoughtful selection of smaller appliances for their guest's benefit, such as bread maker and slow cooker for hearty stews ready and waiting on your return home after a day exploring the National Park.
From the kitchen you go through to the sitting room. As cosy and chic as can be, there are two plump sofas set around the open fire. Soft lighting, pictures and ornament combine to make a room perfect to relax in, tuck up with a book or movie and, in winter months, the glow of a roaring fire adds extra ambience and comfort – perfect.
From the sitting room you come into the stairway hall which you cross through, and down a step or two, into the dining room. Set for six, upholstered chairs are set around the contemporary mango wood table. Richly coloured drapes hang at the bay window which overlooks the square, where with some very clever lighting and ornament the room makes for a grand place to dine with your friends and family, enjoying long suppers and conversation into the wee hours.
Bedrooms and Bathrooms
The stairs lead up to the first floor. Here there are two double bedrooms. The master bedroom overlooks the village square. The bed is a 5ft king size with memory foam mattress, ensuring a restful night's sleep. Beautifully furnished there is an en-suite shower /dressing room with shower, basin and WC.
The second bedroom is also a 5ft king, again with memory foam mattress and with the same attention to quality and furnishing.
The house bathroom also lies on the first floor. A good size, it has a bath with overhead shower, basin and WC. Off the bathroom is a fabulous dressing room with a dressing table, armchair and chaise lounge, perfect to pamper and preen in readiness for a night out at one of the many restaurants in the village.
A steep, narrow tread stairway leads to the attic bedroom. A 5ft king with memory foam mattress sits under a pitched ceiling. Cosy and comfortable, there is a very small en-suite WC with basin tucked in under the eaves.
Finally, from the attic bedroom you duck through to the chillax room. Criss-crossed with huge oak beams there are fabulous Ligne Roset chairs and sofa along with a wide screen TV. Adults will enjoy it and kids will love it.
Out & About
Possibly the most picture-perfect places in the Lake District, Cartmel has grown into a chic little village, wrapped up in the most delightful architecture of traditional lime washed and stone-built houses, shops and pubs.
Centred on the village square, overlooked by the huge Normal Priory, the village is a maze of little lanes and bridges crossing a sweet little river, cruised by fleets of ducks and swans.
For those who like to step out and wine and dine the village has much to offer. Home of the famous Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding, it has moved up the gastronomic scale to become a place of pilgrimage for foodies and celebrities. A clutch of cafes compliments the four excellent pubs, with cherry on the Cartmel Cake, or should I say Pudding, being Simon Rogan's two establishments, Rogan & Company, an easy-going bistro and the famed two Michelin star awarded L'Enclume, voted the 2015 Good Food Guide's No1 UK restaurant.
There are plenty of easy walks from the village. A favourite is to climb high up onto Hampsfell with its panoramic views across the Morecambe Bay, then descend down to Grange Over Sands or explore the tracks running through Eggerslack Woods.
A great day out is to take a Segway off road tour. The offices are by the car park and the reviews so far from our guest make this a must for a bit of fun.
Please note there is a refundable £150 security deposit for this property payable closer to the start of your holiday.