The Izaak Walton Hotel - Ashbourne

The Izaak Walton Hotel

The Izaak Walton Hotel is a charming and historic hotel located in the heart of the stunning Dove Dale in Dovedale, Ashbourne DE6 2AY, United Kingdom. This idyllic retreat offers a perfect blend of traditional warmth and modern comfort, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a peaceful getaway or a memorable dining experience.

Specialties:

• Hotel – The Izaak Walton Hotel boasts well-appointed rooms and suites, each designed to provide a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Guests can enjoy a variety of amenities, including free Wi-Fi, plush bedding, and en-suite bathrooms.
• Restaurant – The on-site restaurant serves delectable British cuisine, showcasing the finest locally-sourced ingredients. With picturesque views of the river and surrounding countryside, dining at the Izaak Walton Hotel is an unforgettable experience.

Location and Atmosphere: Nestled in the beautiful Dove Dale, the hotel provides easy access to numerous outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and birdwatching. The charming village of Dovedale is just a short stroll away, offering a variety of shops and local attractions.

Contact Information:

• Phone: 1335350981
• Website: izaakwaltonhotel.com

Reviews and Opinions: The Izaak Walton Hotel has received an impressive 522 reviews on Google My Business, with an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. Guests consistently praise the hotel's stunning location, exceptional service, and delectable cuisine.

👍 Reviews of The Izaak Walton Hotel

Adrian W.

Well fellow travellers let break it down honestly:||The surrounding areas are stunning with multiple hikes locally or a gentle walk down to the stepping stones. ||We arrived and got parked (plenty of space) ||The outside look a bit past it’s best but given the time of year that ok, as we entered the hotel things to a downward turn very fast. ||We met the man on reception (dressing in tweed). Not a smile, not a nice to see you, did you have a safe journey….. just an entitled look and couldn’t give monkeys formalities requests, clearly doesn’t understand what hospitality is his lacklustre attitude. ||If he’s the owner he’s playing fast and loose with the reputation of this once iconic hotel.||He may also want to ask someone to help with refurbing as the current attempt in the bar is confusing mix of kitsch modern toot and poor reworking of the reason for the hotels name. ||The upstairs wall decor is also chosen weirdly. ||Our room was much as it seemed in the picture, clean by an obviously proud housekeeping team.||although the heating didn’t seem to come on, the bathroom fan didn’t work and the cctv camera hopefully not pointing directly into our room was a bit disconcerting. ||No shower possible (no water) then again in the morning barely tepid after 2 mins (attempt abandoned) ||Breakfast was a series of unfortunate disasters - the was a frozen bread, the poor cereal and yoghurt choice, the stewed coffee was just the opening gambit. ||Broiled aenimic bacon, the wierd looking sausages tinned mashed tomatoes and hash browns only surpassed by the 6 mushroom and black burnt eggs on offer.||The multiple 2 rosette awards on display definitely don’t match this, nor whilst on the subject does the joke of dinner menu. Seriously take them down its a complete misrepresentation of the offering. ||If the owner wants to reach out and have a constructive conversation on quick wins and some|Free advice (from someone with 40yrs in the trade front and back of house) then do.||However if it’s yourself from reception I doubt you care enough to do even than. Unlike the rest of the team I interacted with ||Fellow traveller beware.

alexandra P.

The hotel is situated in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, with fantastic views and beautiful walks from the hotel. Terrible experience with the man on reception ( George, I believe). He lacked the very basic of customer service skills and was quite obviously in the wrong job. On our first night there was a mix up with the food, George couldn’t tell us what he had brought to our table and proceeded to slam the plates down and muttered that he couldn’t deal with it! We went down for breakfast on the first day and the breakfast room was in darkness. We asked a cleaner what time breakfast was served until and she shouted round to George on reception. He said that it was until 9:30 am and this was 9:34am. Then I remembered that he had given us a piece of paper with breakfast times on and it clearly stated 10am on the weekends. I confronted him about it, and he was just rude. Thankfully, the other staff at the hotel were fantastic and super helpful. Seb, who went out of his way to help us, is a real asset to the hotel. Richard and Caz also had a lovely manner about them, and couldn’t do enough for us. The food was fantastic and the chef even brought a sausage for our dog, Charlie. Would stay again, if George decides to retire.

Corrinne D.

Overnight stay in a dog friendly room. The room was spacious , the bed firm & very comfortable . Easy access to outdoor space , no having to traipse through the whole hotel in order to exercise the dog.|Plentiful toast , cereals , yoghurt , juice , tea & coffee at breakfast . My husband had the full English & I had the eggs benedict ,both were excellent .|The location itself is stunning , hills & fields for miles and the river just a few mins walk away .|Each & every member of staff went out of their way to be helpful. |This was our second stay , we will be returning again .

Nicola W.

My daughter and I had a lovely stay at the Izaak Walton and this was a return trip. The setting is beautiful and perfect for walking in Dovedale and exploring Ilam. Although there was a delay in our food order being put through on the first evening, all the food we had during our stay was beautifully cooked. Breakfast in the restaurant overlooking Thorpe Cloud is just one of the best breakfast locations!

Dream115748

A truly beautiful location. Good sized rooms with comfy beds. The food, breakfast, lunch and dinner, is really tasty with high quality ingredients. There is plenty of free parking but no EV charging points. The nearest fastish chargers are in Ashbourne.||The only problem is that it all felt a bit Faulty Towers!

David T.

Arrived after 7pm and reception was closed. Found night manager (?) who sadly needs a personality update. Then had to return to the car to put a parking ticket in it. Why ? The hotel us in the back if beyond ! Room, and hotel, is tired, out dated and desperately in need of some cleaning and decoration. £149 for my room is a disgrace. |Food was minimal. Burgers, fish and chips, sausage and mashed potatoes etc Tasted okay but don’t come if you’re wanting a gastronomic experience for your eyes or tummy.|Will I return, no. Will I recommend, no. Value for money, absolutely not.

John R.

I had a one-night mid-week stay for walking & cycling. I've never stayed at the Izaak Walton before, but I knew of it.||The staff were friendly & helpful.||The food was good - evening meal & breakfast.||The room was pleasant & the view stunning.||||I'd read some 1 star reviews the day before my stay, but wasn't put off because of the overwhelming number of 4 & 5 star reviews.||||Is it a tired hotel? Yes - undoubtedly. The decor is stuck in the past - but so what! It's catering for walkers in muddy boots, damp clothes & rucksacks. The owners could spend a fortune on it, but they'd still have the same customer base. ||||Any problems? After a long walk, the shower was a bit lacklustre, but there was tons of hot water - so I had a bath instead. Great! Problem solved.||||Would I go back? YES - DEFINITELY!

Ray M.

5/5

The most wonderful staff and great food. The hotel is typical of these older hotels which could really do with massive expenditure that would be unrealistic without huge price rises. For example single glazing and low shower flow. But these are minor inconveniences compared to the good points and the location is wonderful. Park the car and go walking in glorious countryside. We will definitely be going again.