cartmel racecourse
Course: Cartmel Racecourse - Season Opener
🎫 Ticket & value: £28 Paddock Enclosure
👀 Track view: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🍔 Food: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🍺 Guinness: ⭐️⭐️
⭕️ Parade Ring: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🏇 Runners and riders: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎉 Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️ Overall Experience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
👍🏻 Best for: Food 🍔 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cartmel Racecourse’s Season Opener provides a wonderfully unique and charming racing experience, blending countryside charm with grassroots racing passion. We opted for the Paddock Enclosure with car parking, and it made for an idyllic and memorable day out. The ability to drive in, park next to the track, and set up a picnic or even a gazebo was a truly lovely feature — a rare freedom at a UK racecourse and a huge part of what makes Cartmel feel so special.
The location itself is as picturesque as they come — a stunning village nestled just south of the Lake District, within walking distance of Cartmel’s quaint streets, two Michelin-starred restaurants, and a top-class pub scene. It’s accessible too, with a train to Grange-over-Sands followed by a quick 3-mile taxi ride. That said, entry to the Paddock car park can take some time due to the narrow, one-way country lanes, so arriving early is recommended.
Cartmel’s car park is located right in the centre of the racecourse, offering fantastic views and a relaxed, festival-like atmosphere. Families parked up next to the rails, laying out blankets, food, and drinks, creating a friendly and communal vibe. The freedom to bring your own booze and food adds a level of hospitality and comfort that you rarely find at a racecourse. Some groups went all out with gazebos and party tents, which you can tailor for small groups or scale up for bigger gatherings.
As for the Track View, watching the racing is a delight at Cartmel Racecourse. You can get right up to the rail just about anywhere and enjoy close-up views of the action, which is brilliant. The nature of the course means you can’t see the entire race from one spot — the track winds and undulates through the trees and around the central parking area — but that’s part of the charm. There’s access across the course, and you can walk the full length from the starting point to the winning post.
The Food options on the racecourse exceeded expectations. The £10 pepperoni pizza, cooked in a proper oven, was genuinely superb — full of flavour and great value. The £22 BBQ box was another standout: juicy ribs, crisp coleslaw, and chips in a generous portion. The tacos (£10) were a real surprise — inventive, fresh, and packed with flavour, with toppings like hot honey, crispy onions, and crumbled feta. It’s rare to see such high-quality, creative food at a race meeting and it really elevated the experience.
Unfortunately, the Guinness was a bit of a let-down in theory, served at £6 and in a can due to the racecourse not having Guinness on draught. But the bar staff were friendly and understanding, and, to be fair, it was the right temperature and tasted decent considering the circumstances. While not the draught perfection you might hope for, it didn’t spoil the day and was still rather enjoyable.
The parade ring is quite small and tucked in front of the owners’ tent, but it’s easily accessible from the track. There’s no traditional pre-parade ring as such, meaning the horses warm up by walking along the track itself. However, the setup allows you to get close to the horses, with a lovely stable area and proper washing-down facilities that reflect the down-to-earth nature of the track. The winners’ enclosure is compact but functional.
The racing itself featured a strong cast of northern racing regulars, with jockeys like Sean and James Bowen, Danny McMenamin, Charlotte Jones (a local favourite), and Brian Hughes on show. Trainers included the likes of Rebecca Menzies, George Bewley, and Micky Hammond, with races ranging from Class 5 to Class 3 handicaps. It was competitive, spirited racing that suited the course’s intimate and local feel.
The atmosphere was fantastic — warm, welcoming, and full of proper racing fans. There was a real buzz until the rain started to fall, which was a shame, but it didn’t dampen the overall mood too much. The crowd was friendly, engaged, and clearly full of seasoned racegoers who appreciate the unique experience Cartmel offers.
In all, Cartmel is a truly special racecourse — it doesn’t try to be flashy or modern, but instead leans into its rural charm, creating a unique, laid-back racing day that’s hard to beat. From the trackside picnics and exceptional food to the brilliant viewing access and community feel, it’s a course that offers something genuinely different. If you’re looking for a great day’s racing with real character, Cartmel is an absolute must-visit.
