Cartmel Racecourse — Attraction in Lower Allithwaite

Beautiful place. One of very few horse racing tracks that you can bring in your own food and drink (yes, including alcohol.) Bring a camping chair and setup base as if you were camping or having a picnic. Lots for kids to do with plenty of places for food and drink. Update July 25. We headed back to Cartmel for the same meeting as the review above. This time we booked Course tickets (the track is essentially cut in two with the finishing line running through the middle) check google out for a map. Course and Paddock. This was the first time on the side of the track for 3 years and I have got to say it’s better than the paddock side (and CHEAPER!) Again bring a picnic, beers, camping chairs and setup base in such a beautiful part of the lakes. This area of the track is best for family’s due to the funfair. You can book funfair tickets with a discount via the Cartmel website or pay on the day. We are already planning our trip to Cartmel next year and we will be booking COURSE tickets again, I advise you to do the same. Top tip - bring a brolly! When the sun is shining it gets very hot and well we all know rain is possible at anytime of the year in the UK. There is very little protection from the rain or sun due to there being very little infrastructure on site. I’ve visited 20+ race tracks in the UK and this is without doubt now my FAVOURITE....

Good racecourse and horse racing events - particularly for those who are more casual attendees to races and fancy a low key dress code and family friendly atmosphere.

That being said, avoid the Carmel Fairground tickets offer that you can buy ahead of race day - £15 of tickets for £10 which say is 'normally enough for 6 rides'. They provide 3 £2 tickets and 3 £3 tickets - however all rides are £5+ and tickets and cash cannot be combined and change is not given so it's a bit of a scam really - you're lucky to get 2 rides out of each book so it's just not worth it. Rides also broke down regularly and when they broke down mid way through a ride the ride operator refused to give any refund at all.

Complained to Cartmel about the situation and despite being onsite they first claimed to be unaware of the pricing structure - despite someone with a Cartmel race staff pass and a badge saying 'Customer Service Manager's walking past us at the fairground.

Cartmel refused to give a refund and advised us to write in, send the tickets in the post and they'd consider a refund. As the tickets were the actual evidence of the misrepresentation of the '6 rides' promise, we advised we would contact Trading Standards instead.

The next day Cartmel reluctantly agreed to refund the £10 paid for one of the two ticket books bought...

Wonderful Day at the Races.. Have to say Cartmel gets this right Every detail from my perspective thought out .we paid the extra which wasn't a great deal more for all areas so had Great viewing points for all aspects of racing Made my day more Special getting closer to the Horses .. Food and Drink great variety and good value for money and lots of them ..nice Stalls if you wanted to Shop ..Fun fair for other entertainment..loved the private tents idea..and car places back into you spot open your boot .. Loved the fact to you can bring your own picnic ..and your dog ..brilliant Lots of Places to put your bet on Multiple screens set up in all areas to watch the racing but there wasn't any area I didn't get near to watch a race .. Every Marshall and Official super friendly and helpful they couldn't do enough .. All in all a fabulous experience A wonderful Relaxed and exciting day ..in this Stunning setting Well Done Cartmel More than 5 Stars from Me You...