Hotel Review
Location:
The Devonshire Arms is located on the scenic Chatsworth Estate owned by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, in the picturesque village of Pilsley, Derbyshire. The hotel is easily accessible by car being just 16 miles from the M1 motorway and a 40 minute drive from Sheffield. The nearest rail station is Chesterfield with connecting bus services to Pilsley.
Arrival and check-in:
It was mid-afternoon when we arrived at the inn and with a good sized car park to the side and rear, we had no issues finding a parking space. There’s a dedicated reception desk to one side of the bar where we were greeted by Victoria, the receptionist on duty. Check-in was speedy and we were soon being shown to our room in the farmhouse located just a few steps away through the garden.
The Room:
The Devonshire Arms has 13 rooms arranged between the main inn and the farmhouse. All rooms are gorgeous with period features with the six located in the beautifully renovated farmhouse having four poster beds.
We had been booked into Hilltop located on the first floor of the farmhouse and on opening the door I couldn’t believe how stunning it was. Taking pride of place was a huge four poster bed adorned with sumptuous drapes. It really felt as if we were sleeping in the stately home of Chatsworth House itself when I spotted the oak steps beside the bed to reach the deep mattress.
The rooms have all been individually designed by the Duchess of Devonshire herself and filled with antiques. A deep filled sofa was positioned at the foot of the bed and with two large windows overlooking the idyllic village with its characterful sandstone cottages, it was absolutely delightful.
On a corner table we found a Nespresso maker, kettle, teas, coffee, hot chocolate, bottled water and an entire box of Chatsworth chocolate and hazelnut cookies. The coffee mugs depicted Chatsworth House and everything was very tasteful. Small pods of milk were provided but better still, a small note advised that fresh milk had been placed in the farmhouse fridge for guests use so I popped downstairs to fill our milk jug before putting the kettle on.
The room boasted a large en-suite with a walk-in shower, separate bath tub, fragrant Chatsworth toiletries and fluffy dressing gowns. We slept like logs between the luxurious Egyptian cotton bed linen staring up at the extravagant drapes above our heads as we woke the next morning.
Dining:
Dinner: Meals are served in the inn with two cosy dining rooms to each side of the bar. We’d reserved a table for 7.00 p.m. and after being shown to a cosy corner we studied the menu whilst sipping glasses of wine. Produce is sourced locally wherever possible with much of it from the Chatsworth Estate.
For starters, I opted for scallops and calamari with a squid ink sauce which tasted very fresh and flavoursome. Across the table Mr. C. also chose fish, selecting the cured salmon with couscous and a Thai curry sauce. An unusual combination, but one he informed me that worked very well. Moving on to mains, I plumped for the Chatsworth Farm lamb rump with spring greens which was served pink as it should be, succulent and very tender. Meanwhile, my husband’s braised brisket served with a Bourguignon sauce also looked very tempting. Both our mains were beautifully plated and highly recommended.
A little rest was then needed before ordering desserts as I had my eyes set on the Courtyard Dairy cheeseboard with celery butter, crackers, frozen grapes and quince jelly. With five varieties of cheese arriving on the platter I wasn’t sure how I’d get through them all but being a cheese lover I eventually managed it savouring every last crumb of delicious cheese.
Breakfast: This is also served in the cosy bar with items selected from the menu. We both started the day with bowls of granola, fresh fruit, honey and yoghurt before moving onto our expertly prepared cooked dishes of smashed avocado and scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. We rounded off our breakfast with slices of thick toast served with lashings of butter and thick cut orange marmalade and after draining our large cafetière of coffee, we were ready to face the day ahead.
The Facilities:
The inn is the focal point of the village and popular with locals and guests alike. Pets are welcome in the bar and the majority of the guest rooms. The cosy bar serves a range of ales, wine and spirits all of which are competitively priced with bar snacks and meals available throughout the day.
There’s also an attractive beer garden to the rear of the pub in which to enjoy refreshments during warm weather.
Adjacent to the beer garden is the kitchen garden into which you can wander to take a look at the various herbs and vegetables growing for use by the Devonshire’s chefs.
A huge bonus of staying at the Devonshire Arms is that all guests are given complimentary passes to Chatsworth House and its extensive gardens for the duration of their stay. Exploring the grandeur of Chatsworth is an absolute must on any visit to the area and with standard tickets costing in excess of £31 each this is a real saving when taken into consideration with the room rates.
Out and About:
Below are my suggestions of some lovely places to visit whilst staying at the Devonshire Inn.
Chatsworth Estate Farm Shop
Visit this wonderful farm shop just five minutes walk from the inn and take an opportunity to stock up on its extensive range of seasonal fresh produce, cheese, chutneys and bakery items. Housed in the estate’s former shire horse stud farm both the farm shop and the 300 year old inn are firm advocates of local produce. Many of the dishes on the menu at the Devonshire feature ingredients which have come from the shop.
Chatsworth House
Just a five minute drive from the inn stands the majestic Chatsworth House. A visit to Chatsworth is a must for all visitors. The house is home to the Duke & Duchess of Devonshire and has been passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family. Visitors are able to explore over 25 rooms including the Painted Hall, State Rooms, Sculpture Gallery and the extensive grounds.
Bakewell
Visit the charming small town of Bakewell, which is the only town wholly in the national park. This historic small market town is lovely with its characterful stone cottages and old buildings. The River Wye winds its way through the town beneath the Gothic five arch stone bridge. Monday is market day so if your visit extends over a weekend enjoy a wander around the stalls then call into the Original Bakewell Pudding Shop for a pot of tea and a Bakewell pudding or a slice of Bakewell tart.
Buxton
I suggest also visiting the spa town of Buxton. This elegant town has been welcoming visitors since Roman times due to the healing properties of its thermal spa waters. It’s also the highest market town in England standing 300 metres above sea level in the High Peak. Much of the town’s Georgian architecture is linked to the 5th Duke of Devonshire who carried out ambitious plans to make Buxton a spa town to rival that of Bath in the 18th century. Admire Buxton Crescent and the nearby Pump Room which was built for the 7th Duke of Devonshire in 1894. It was last used to take the waters in the 1970’s and today visitors can freely fill up their water bottles from the spring outside its doors.
Castleton
Another delightful place is Castleton which is one of the most beautiful villages of the White Peak. The Castleton area is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) famous for its large deposits of Blue John stone. This semi-precious mineral is a rare form of fluorite characterised by bands of purple, blue or yellow and is unique to this part of the Peak District and can be viewed from a visit to one of its four cave systems.
Heage Windmill
A fascinating historic windmill offering guided tours. The windmill is open at weekends and Bank Holiday Mondays from April until the end of October. Join one of the 40 minute guided tours to learn the history of the windmill, and discover how stoneground flour is traditionally milled.
The Heights of Abraham
Situated at Matlock Bath, enjoy an alpine cable car ride across the Derwent Valley up to the hilltop estate. Tickets include guided tours of two caverns, nature walks, woodland trails, and exhibitions.
Overall:
Staying at the Devonshire Arms was an absolute joy with its immaculately appointed room, antique furnishings and delicious food. Whether it’s for a romantic weekend, countryside getaway or a meet up with friends, the characterful Devonshire Inn fits the bill perfectly.
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