The Cartref Guesthouse, Carlisle, England

When I think of Carlisle — haven’t been but would like to visit that part of Britain— I’m reminded of one of the best World War II memoirs ever written, “Quartered Safe Out Here” by George MacDonald Fraser (author of the Flashman novels and many others) about his service as a private in Burma with the Border Regiment. His portrayals of the tough soldiers from that region he served with are remarkable, including their very distinctive dialect.

If interested in the Regiment do visit the Regimental museum (Cumbria's Museum of Military life) in Carlisle Castle, and the Regimental Chapel in the Cathedral.

It sounds like a little gem! This is an area of England I have yet to visit and I need to remedy that sometime.

I really liked Carlisle. I spent a couple of days here back in 1996 when I was on my madcap drive through England (and also paid it a quick visit last year to catch the train to Birmingham, with help from Stuart). :-) I don't remember the name of the place I stayed way back then, but I do remember booking it at the TIC once I got there. The couple who owned it was expecting, and it was a very attractive red brick house in the the city center. Weird to think that baby will be almost 30 years old next year!

The cathedral is really lovely and the town was quite charming, too. If memory serves me correctly, the cathedral was built in the 12th century. I would happily go back here, although if I went, I would probably use it more as a base for the area around it, rather than Hadrian's Wall. But that's probably because I've seen Hadrian's Wall,

It's not that far from Gretna, and having read just about every Georgette Heyer book that was ever published, I would love to make it to Gretna Green one day. I actually thought about going last year, but ran out of time. I've heard it's very touristy now but I don't care.

What I forgot to mention is that their prices are nominally 15% lower if booked direct, not through booking.com. In fact booking quoted me £50 for a £39 room.
I also didnt say that I also got a nice little hessian bag with ear plugs, tissues, a shower cap and a sewing kit.

I shouldn't do this kind of thing late at night, when tired and emotional.

I also didn't think until later in the afternoon that I could have done the Monday hidden Carlisle walking tour, not that I would have learnt anything but for the tour, which is only £8.

I also had a follow up thank you e mail from the Cartref this morning. I know it was auto generated but still a nice touch.

In late October I have an even more outstanding deal on a Sunday night at the Station Hotel in Carlisle. I've wanted to stay there for many years but normally well outside my price band. But I was tipped off about a Sunday night offer if booked direct of £48.60 Bed and Breakfast which is an unbelievably good price. Another key anniversary date for me as well, so a nice coincidence.

Carlisle Cathedral is quite interesting for its unusual layout, because it is an amalgam of three different buildings. The East end beyond the Quire was a different friary many centuries ago. And strangely, until the inter war years a separate Church, St Mary's, was straight behind the east end of the Cathedral.

When I was preparing for Mardee's visit that was the prompt to finally visit the Cathedral Treasury - which used to be charged but is now free. Quite interesting down there.

Personally I don't think Gretna Green is too commercialised. Gretna and Gretna Green are two distinct settlements, Gretna being quite largely a product of the WW1 munitions factory there - see also the Devil's Porridge Museum. Gretna's other claim to fame is the Quintinshill troop train disaster- the worst ever train crash in the UK. It's worth visiting the memorial sites.
Also you will see several times in the area about the tragic accidental bombing in WW2 of Gretna Masonic hall.
Gretna also has the very useful Gretna outlet village- discount stores.
It is also worth following Hadrian's wall west from Carlisle, there is a lot which is of interest in those last miles apart from Roman stuff.

Personally I don't think Gretna Green is too commercialised.

That's good to know. I would like to go back there and visit the Borders and all of that area. I need to pay a return visit to the Lake District as well as I did not get there in 2024, and only spend 1 night there on my first trip. And your guesthouse sounds nice, too. :-)

I loved reading this info - thank you for sharing. Now I have to ask: what is a "smelly?" I am sure it is a wonderful UK thing.

Now I have to ask: what is a "smelly?" I am sure it is a wonderful UK thing.

“Smellies” are toiletries - bubble bath, shower gel, fancy soap, that kind of thing.

Thank you, Golden Girl! That sounds much more inviting than "amenities."

I am glad that you are able to do things that mean a lot to you again, Stuart, after your scary run in with the NHS earlier in the year. I was concerned that you might be grounded for a long time.

I think I know where Mardee stayed, there are (or were, maybe) three B and B's in the streets between the Bus Station and St Aidan's Church on Warwick Road. I've never stayed in them, having gravitated between the Cartref, the Ibis, the Travelodge, a place in Stanwix which is long closed, and another place on Botchergate which didn't survive the pandemic. At the latter, right up to 2020, I got an attic en suite for £22 a night when I needed to be on the 5.45 early train to London next morning.

The Travelodge (in the old telephone exchange) is handy for bus tours into the Highlands of Scotland, as that is where my preferred company starts from, usually around 6 to 7 am.
And the Ibis is very handy for the station, in the heart of the night time economy (a good and bad thing).

I am back, but still not up to anything like full fitness.

I deliberately de-specified the trip to be a memories only trip. By rights I should have also gone out on a working visit to photograph/record the new Windermere Children memorial at Carlisle Airport but didn't feel up to the walk from Warwick Bridge. So kept it starkly simple and quiet.

The terminal building is open daily with a cafe inside (supposed to be a nice one), just with no current scheduled flights. When we had flights there was free parking and a free bus from the City Centre.