A Country House Hotel steeped in history near Ashbourne, Derbyshire with wonderful views and in a great location for exploring the surrounding Peak District National Park and beyond. The Izaak Walton has welcomed notable writers, poets, and artists since Georgian Regency and Victorian times.

Situated between the picturesque villages of Ilam and Thorpe in the Derbyshire Peaks and near the foot of Thorpe Cloud, the Izaak Walton Hotel is a 3 star 17th Century Country House Hotel offering wooden beams, open fires, comfortable bedrooms and views of outstanding natural beauty.

Named after the Staffordshire born author of “The Compleat Angler” who fished the local waters of the River Dove, our privately owned and operated hotel is an idyllic setting with modern facilities offering a unique combination of warm hospitality, tranquillity and tradition, whilst maintaining high standards of service.

We have 38 well-appointed ensuite bedrooms, the majority of which have wonderful views over the hotel gardens and the outstanding surrounding countryside.

Our Haddon Restaurant is open for breakfast and large groups with breath-taking views of the Dovedale Valley.

The Poet Laureate Alfred Tennyson visited Dovedale frequently and features in our guestbook. Lord Byron said of Dovedale “There are things in Derbyshire as noble as in Greece or Switzerland” - John Ruskin declared the valley “An alluring first lesson in all that is beautiful” - and J W Turner immortalised Ilam Rock in watercolour in 1794.

The importance of Dovedale as a socially noteworthy historic holiday spot features in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” in conversation between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy, and is again mentioned in Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre”. In more recent times the hotel hosted senior members of the royal family and celebrity guests of The Duke of Rutland when participating in the charity event “It’s a Royal Knockout” at neighbouring Alton Towers.

Originally part of the Duke of Rutland’s estate, the hotel still provides guests with equipment and exclusive permits for fishing the neighbouring waters of the privately owned stretch of river - renowned for Trout, Grayling, Carp, Perch, Pike, Bream, and many more. The hotel also has an access route direct to the famous Dovedale Stepping Stones from within its grounds. Our proximity to Alton Towers, Wild Park Paintball - Shooting & Archery & Quad Biking, The Tissington Trail, and Carsington Water Watersports, ensure plenty of activities for an active stay, as well as some of England’s Finest Stately Homes and Gardens within easy reach.

We look forward to welcoming you for an ideally positioned getaway.