The Royal Hotel, Dockray

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The Royal Hotel, Dockray Expect a warm welcome to our family run Lakeland Inn, with bar, restaurant and delightful bedrooms.
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The Royal at Dockray is a family run Traditional Country Hotel offering the best of Cumbrian Hospitality. The Hotel nestles peacefully amongst the Lake District Fells and is situated about one mile from the shores of Ullswater and Aira Force. The Helvellyn and High Street Mountain rangers are right on the doorstep which makes the Royal Hotel an ideal and comfortablebase for walkers. Our renowned restaurant serves a range of traditional Cumbrian dishes alongside many more innovative and modern choices. All our food is freshly prepared to the highest standards by our Head Chef, using only fresh, locally produced ingredients. Whether it be 6 people or 40 people we can accommodate you, we will endeavour to cater for your individual requirements. Our Accommodation consists of 10 unique and comfortable en-suite bedrooms with many of them blessed with magnificent views of the surrounding hills. We offer single, double and twin rooms and also family rooms. All our rooms are equipped with tea and coffee making facilities and televisions.

Local farm. Local family. Proper provenance.At The Royal, we're incredibly proud to know where the majority of the food ...
16/10/2026

Local farm. Local family. Proper provenance.

At The Royal, we're incredibly proud to know where the majority of the food on our menu comes from. And when it comes to our beef, it doesn't get much more local than this.

Meet Claire, Sam and their family at The Farming Beaumonts Gowbarrow Farm, just down the road from us. They're one of the local farming families who work incredibly hard, caring for their cattle and the land around them, whatever the weather throws their way.

We know that talking about beef means talking about the animals too, and we appreciate that not everyone chooses to eat meat. But for those who do, we think it's important to know where it comes from, how the animals have been reared and the people behind the food on your plate.

Buying locally isn't just about food miles. It's about supporting families like Claire and Sam's, understanding the work that goes into farming and keeping our local food traditions alive.

Well, this was a bit special! 🤩Pan-roasted Cumbrian rump of lamb, served with crushed new potatoes, Savoy cabbage, roast...
14/10/2026

Well, this was a bit special! 🤩

Pan-roasted Cumbrian rump of lamb, served with crushed new potatoes, Savoy cabbage, roasted carrot, butternut squash puree and a red w**e and truffle jus 😋

One of last Friday's specials, straight from our kitchen - just so you know, we have a special dish on every day of the week.

🥧 The wait is nearly over… PIE NIGHT IS BACK!We're very excited to announce that Pie Night returns to The Royal every Tu...
13/10/2026

🥧 The wait is nearly over… PIE NIGHT IS BACK!

We're very excited to announce that Pie Night returns to The Royal every Tuesday from 3 November! 🎉

That's just three weeks to go until Tuesday evenings are dedicated to proper, hearty pies. Just the thing for those chilly autumn nights.

And here's the best bit…🥧 A delicious pie and a pint or medium glass of w**e for just £21! 🍺🍷

So get Tuesday 3 November in your diary, round up your fellow pie lovers and start looking forward to a good old-fashioned pie night at the pub. Because let's face it, there's not much that can't be improved with a decent pie. 🥧

Question - what’s your favourite pie?

Provenance. Local people. And a story worth telling.We know venison can be a subject that divides opinion, but at The Ro...
09/10/2026

Provenance. Local people. And a story worth telling.

We know venison can be a subject that divides opinion, but at The Royal, we believe it's important to be open about where our food comes from and we're incredibly proud that we can trace the provenance of the majority of the ingredients on our menu, and our venison is no exception.

Joe from Cumbria Wild Game is based at Matterdale End, just down the road from us - it's about as local as it gets. Joe is a professional deer manager, and we source our venison directly from his licensed game larder.

Venison is naturally lean, rich in protein and widely regarded as one of the more sustainable meat choices in Britain, particularly when it comes from responsibly managed wild deer populations. And there's an important story behind that. Deer management plays a role in protecting woodland, encouraging natural regeneration and maintaining a healthy balance in our countryside.

We appreciate that not everyone chooses to eat meat, but for those who do, we think knowing where it comes from, who's responsible for it and how it reaches your plate really matters.

Thanks to Joe for the great pictures.

New menu. New favourite? 👀Chicken breast and haggis stack and all the good stuff that makes you rather glad summer salad...
09/10/2026

New menu. New favourite? 👀

Chicken breast and haggis stack and all the good stuff that makes you rather glad summer salads have had their moment. 😋

Proper, hearty food with no unnecessary fuss.

Just one of the new dishes now on the menu at The Royal.

Who’s giving this one a go?

We recently shared some half-term family days out, and a few more local events have now been announced:🚑 Patterdale Moun...
08/10/2026

We recently shared some half-term family days out, and a few more local events have now been announced:

🚑 Patterdale Mountain Rescue Open Day - Saturday 24 October
🎃 Pumpkin picking at Greystoke Castle - throughout October
👻 Kids’ Halloween Party Greystoke Castle Cumbria - Friday 30 October
🕷️ Spooky Bug Hunt near Penrith - Friday 30 October
🏃 Lakeland Trails Helvellyn - Saturday 31 October
🥾 Ullswater Way & Challenge - also Saturday 31 October, including a route through Dockray and over Gowbarrow

🍻 And we’ll be joining in with a very Cumbrian combination of our special Royal Hot Dog made with proper Cumberland sausage, local b**rs and a couple of family-friendly quizzes along the way.

We’ve rounded up the latest ideas on our website (please check details with organiser as things can change!)👉 https://tinyurl.com/mrxet4mm

Vegetarian Week. Or, as we prefer to call it, an excellent excuse to talk about dinner. 🌱Our new autumn menu has landed ...
06/10/2026

Vegetarian Week. Or, as we prefer to call it, an excellent excuse to talk about dinner. 🌱

Our new autumn menu has landed and there are a few dishes on there that definitely aren’t just for the vegetarians.

🍄 Wild mushroom & spinach rigatoni
🎃 Butternut squash hotpot
🌶️ Spiced chickpea burger

Along with plenty of other choices from the new menu.

Because a good vegetarian dish shouldn’t feel like the option you settle for when everyone else is having something more exciting.

We've even sneaked a lovely review in here.😂

Pop in, grab a table and give the new menu a try.

Weekend plans? We’d suggest something along these lines…🥾 A walk around Ullswater🍂 A bit of autumn colour🍺 A pint of som...
02/10/2026

Weekend plans? We’d suggest something along these lines…

🥾 A walk around Ullswater
🍂 A bit of autumn colour
🍺 A pint of something local
🍽️ Something good to eat
🔥 Then absolutely no intention of doing very much afterwards

We can help with the last three...whether you’ve been up a fell, round Aira Force or simply made it as far as the bar, we’ll have the food on, the local b**rs pouring and a warm seat waiting. Muddy boots and paws 🐾always welcome.

And the weather is looking fairly kind to us too as Saturday should bring some bright/sunny spells, with Sunday maybe a bit cloudier (obvs check the forecast!)

Visitlakedistrict.com

🍂 There’s plenty going on around Ullswater this October half term.🌌 Dark skies at Whinlatter🚀 Cosmic Cumbria at Rheged👻 ...
01/10/2026

🍂 There’s plenty going on around Ullswater this October half term.

🌌 Dark skies at Whinlatter
🚀 Cosmic Cumbria at Rheged
👻 Spooky stories at Dove Cottage
🎭 Family theatre in Keswick
🎨 Halloween crafts for rainy days
🌲 And, of course, plenty of places to get outside and enjoy autumn in the Lakes

We’ve pulled together some of our favourite things to do within easy reach of The Royal. Perfect for planning ahead, and for those inevitable “what shall we do today?” moments. Autumn is a beautiful time here, and from The Royal you’re within easy reach of Aira Force, Ullswater itself, Keswick, Helvellyn and plenty of lower-level family walks.

And the humble Hot Dog is getting a Cumbrian twist at The Royal for half term - made with proper Cumberland sausage and served with onions and mustard 😋😋😋Perfect with a local b**r on the side.

👉 Read our October Half-Term 2026 guide on our website https://tinyurl.com/myny679u Please check information with event organiser.

Some images courtesy of: visitlakedistrict.com

“If in any sort of doubt, just go and visit.”We couldn't really ask for a better recommendation than that. 😊Good food, a...
28/09/2026

“If in any sort of doubt, just go and visit.”

We couldn't really ask for a better recommendation than that. 😊

Good food, a well-stocked bar, comfortable rooms, beautiful surroundings and - most importantly to us - a team who genuinely want you to enjoy being here.

Whether you pop in for a drink, stay for a meal or, as suggested, stay overnight, we'll be very happy to see you.

Thank you for such a wonderful review, and for giving our rooms, service and location 5/5 across the board. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

P.S. We can confirm the coffee is very good. ☕😂

Address

Dockray, Ullswater
Penrith
CA110JY

Telephone

+441768482356

Website

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