Description
This charming country house hotel dates back to the 17th century, and is idyllically situated with glorious views over the valley of Dovedale to Thorpe Cloud. The River Dove meanders in the valley below and the atmosphere is one of peace and tranquility. The hotel takes its name from the author of "The Compleat Angler," and great care has been taken to retain the building's character.
Many of the bedrooms have lovely views of the Dovedale valley, and the executive rooms are particularly spacious. The 35 bedrooms are individually designed to incorporate interesting period features; the original farmhouse building features oak beams and traditional décor.
The award winning Haddon Restaurant serves a diverse menu of creative interpretations on traditional dishes, which is enhanced by an excellent selection of fine wines from respected worldwide vineyards.
The Evening Haddon Restaurant Menu offers a magnificent selection of seven starters, seven main courses and seven desserts with supplementary dishes. All of our desserts are homemade and wherever possible are created without additives.
The Izaak Walton Hotel is able to offer fishing on one of the finest Derbyshire Trout Streams, made famous in the “Complete Angler” by Izaak Walton & Charles Cotton, 1676.
The hotel owns the fishing rights on the Staffordshire bank of the river Dove. The fishery is 3 miles from Ilam rock downstream, to the junction with the river Manifold on the right bank.
The more wooded Staffordshire bank provides perfect solitude away from the many visitors and tourists who enjoy walking the Derbyshire bank. The well oxygenated Staffordshire bank ensures there is a good healthy population of fish, including the wild brown trout, that are not easily deceived. The fishing is both challenging and rewarding to both wet and dry fly.
The Fishing Holiday Package: Season March until October
Packed Lunch (extra charge)
Private fishing on 3 miles of the Staffordshire bank of the river Dove
Environment agency licence can be arranged
Tackle can be provided if required (extra charge)
Personal tuition or full ghillie or guide service (extra charge)
Flies, Floatants and Leaders (extra charge)
Further Fishing Information
The Izaak Walton Hotel fishery is from the junction with the river Manifold which is in the field opposite the entrance drive to the hotel, below St Mary’s Bridge. The boundary ends at Ilam rock, which is the pinnacle of rock standing where there is a footbridge across the river – roughly 3 miles upstream from St Mary’s Bridge. The hotel bank is the Staffordshire bank, or the left hand bank looking upstream to Ilam rock. The Izaak Walton Hotel can offer 5 rods a day for the use of hotel residents and syndicate members. Fishing Permits are on sale to hotel residents only and are £20.00 per person per 24 hour period, subject to availability. For those guests staying with us on the Fishing Package the Fishing Permit is included in your package.
An Environment Agency licence is also required in order to fish on the River Dove. This is available online or from your local Post Office. These are one day, two day, week or year licences and are priced reasonably.
The River Dove is a limestone river and this makes it an ideal habitat for many flies of the Ephemeroptera order. The Mayfly hatch is very good in the last week of May and the first week of June. Also the Black Gnat and Hawthorn Fly give good results in Spring.
There are no named pools on stretches of the River Dove, apart from the first pool past the Stepping Stones, named the Nursery Pool. The waters contain a good head of mainly wild brown trout with some up to 14” long. Most anglers practice catch and release, but the occasional brace is allowed.
The Izaak Walton Hotel fishing is split into three beats, each approximately 1 mile long and each with different attributes.
RULES:
• Fishing is at own risk, please take care
• Please be courteous to other anglers
• Fly only – dry, wet or nymph
• Because the Staffordshire bank is more heavily wooded than the Derbyshire bank, wading is required, so thigh or chest waders are a necessary • item. Also a wading stick is considered essential. Being a limestone stream the water clarity is normally very clear, however it can be muddy after heavy rain, so extra care is then required.
• Vehicles can be parked at the hotel car park or Dovedale car park.
• Ensure gate key is returned to the hotel reception
• At the end of the day please make a return on your days fishing
| 
