Situated in the heart of the Derbyshire countryside, in the idyllic hamlet of Pilsley, the Devonshire Arms makes for the ideal place to base yourself for a weekend away. Owned by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire who reside nearby in Chatsworth House, this 18th century country pub is a home away from home while exploring the surrounding Peak District and picture postcard villages.
The Devonshire Arms in Pilsley is over 300 years old and this country pub will truly make you feel welcome. I’ve been coming here myself for years. Whenever I am in the area to visit Chatsworth House I always have to pop in for lunch. The food is always spot on, a hearty feast of traditional favourites excellently cooked and presented. So much so that they have just been awarded their fourth AA star. On this visit I particularly enjoyed tucking in to a beautifully cooked piece of pork belly, served on a bed of mash and cabbage.
Aside from the fantastic food, the Inn offers thirteen boutique bedrooms for visitors to stay in. There are seven in the Devonshire Arms itself and six in the farmhouse next door. During my recent visit I was lucky enough to be in one of the farmhouse rooms. Luxuriously stylish in a neutral colour palette mixed with tartan and complete with a grandiosely high four poster bed that required steps to climb into! And yet, the room still felt very intimate. Perfect for a romantic weekend away.
The Devonshire Arms really is perfectly positioned, with a multitude of places to explore right on its doorstep. Just a stones throw away is the ever popular Chatsworth Farm Shop, an award winning shop selling a fantastic selection of local produce. Whenever I venture in here I always leave with more than I bargained for, everything just looks so delicious! Just a couple of minutes drive away is Chatsworth House itself, one of the most popular sights to visit on a trip to Derbyshire. I’d even go so far as to say it is unmissable during a visit up this way.
In fact, if you visit over the next couple of months you will be able to see Chatsworth House in a way not many get the opportunity to. In an exclusive arrangement, guests of the Devonshire Hotels and Restaurants collection staying on the Chatsworth Estate, now have a limited availability opportunity to go behind the scenes at Chatsworth House. You can have the chance to be led on a specialist private tour to discover the ‘Secrets and Surprises’ of this great house and learn more of the work and projects taking place such as restoring gold leaf or cleaning one of a kind silk tapestries. These guided tours are exclusively available to guests booking a two-night stay at The Cavendish at Baslow, The Devonshire Arms at Beeley, The Devonshire Arms in Pilsley, or any of the self-catering cottages on the Chatsworth Estate until the 12th of March 2020. To book your two night ‘Secrets and Surprises’ stay at The Devonshire Arms Pilsley please call 01246 565405 or visit their website here.
Whilst visiting The Devonshire Arms in Pilsley you will also be able to explore the other two Chatsworth Estate villages, Edensor and Beeley. Both very much worth a wander around. And if it is attractive villages you are after, Bakewell and Ashford-in-the-Water are just a short drive away too, as are some fantastic cycling trails such as the Monsal trail. There truly is so much to see in this part of Derbyshire that I can’t recommend it enough.
Like It? Pin It!
Thank you to The Devonshire Arms in Pilsley for inviting me to stay. Although I was kindly gifted this stay, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission to help with the running of this website, at no extra cost to you. Please read my Disclaimer Page for more information. Thank you for your support!