The Royal Hotel, Dockray

Name: The Royal Hotel, Dockray
Address: Dockray, Ullswater, Penrith, CA110JY, GB
Telephone: +441768482356
Price range: $
Rating: 4.9

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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 r

estaurant 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.

07/09/2026

September...that funny in-between month. Not quite summer. Not quite autumn.☀️🍂

One minute you're sitting outside wondering if summer might hang around a little longer.

The next, you're looking at the menu thinking a homemade pie and gravy sounds like an excellent idea.

Luckily, we've got both moods covered.

From baked Scottish salmon, stuffed Portobello mushroom and pulled Helvellyn lamb, to beer-battered cod, the Royal Burger and homemade pie of the day.

Come hungry. Decide when you get here.

📍 The Royal, Dockray | 1.5 miles from Ullswater

04/09/2026

This Sunday (6th Sept) sees competitors take on one of the UK’s most iconic triathlons – and they’ll be coming right past the Royal Dockray Hotel at around 8.30–9am!

Even more exciting for us, our very own Jo – Ali’s wife – is taking part! 🙌

The Helvellyn Triathlon is certainly not for the faint-hearted: a 1-mile swim in Ullswater, before climbing through Matterdale End and passing through Troutbeck and Threlkeld, 38-mile bike ride over Kirkstone Pass and 9-mile fell run to the summit of Helvellyn. What a challenge!

So, if you’re nearby, please come along, grab some breakfast and help us make plenty of noise as Jo and the other competitors pass through Dockray.

🥓 Bacon sarnies & coffee: 8.30–9.30am
☕ Coffee & cake: available all morning
👏 Cheering and encouragement: compulsory!

And once all that spectating has worked up an appetite, we’ll be serving Sunday lunch until 2.30pm – the perfect excuse to make a day of it.

Good luck Jo – and to everyone taking part. We’ll be cheering you all on! ❤️

03/09/2026

💛🚴 10 MONTHS TO GO! 🚴💛

The Royal has turned Tour de France yellow as we start the countdown to one of the biggest sporting events ever to come to Cumbria!

On 3 July 2027, the Tour de France will set off from Keswick, bringing the eyes of the cycling world to our very special corner of the Lake District.

We’re already getting excited about the atmosphere and buzz it’s going to bring to the area, and with just 10 months to go, the countdown is officially ON! 💛

🏨 Planning to come and experience it for yourself? Don’t leave your accommodation until the last minute! If you’d like to stay with us at The Royal, we’d recommend getting booked in early as it’s going to be a very busy weekend across the Lakes.

Who’s planning to be here? 🚴💛

01/09/2026

🍻 SAVE THE DATE – WE’RE BACK FOR 2027! 🍻

After a fantastic event at our inaugural beer festival in June, we’re delighted to announce that our second Charity Beer Festival will take place on Friday 18th & Saturday 19th June 2027! 🎉

Expect great beer, brilliant company and plenty of fun – all while raising money for fantastic local causes. ❤️

📅 18 & 19 June 2027
🍺 Charity Beer Festival

Get the dates in your diary and watch this space!

31/08/2026

105 miles. 6,800 metres of ascent. 14 checkpoints. And one very welcome cheese and pickle sandwich at The Royal. 🏃‍♂️⛰️

Ali has finally had time to reflect on completing the incredible Lakeland 100; from running through the fells by headtorch and reaching The Royal at dawn, to the emotion of seeing his family in Ambleside and finally crossing that finish line in Coniston.

But what stayed with him most wasn’t the miles or the climbing. It was the people, volunteers, encouragement and incredible sense of community that makes this event so special.

And would he do it again?

He said no at the finish.

Now it’s maybe. Probably. OK then… yes. 😂

Read Ali’s full story here https://tinyurl.com/tw33m2yu
Lakeland 100: More than just a race

28/08/2026

🐑🐕 A proper Lakeland tradition – Patterdale Dog Day - Saturday 29th August

2026 marks the 120th Patterdale Dog Day, one of the few remaining genuinely traditional country shows, held in one of England’s most beautiful locations with the Helvellyn massif providing a spectacular backdrop.

Expect sheepdog trials, foxhounds, sheep, terriers, sticks and crooks and plenty of fell running – including a children's fell race, and Arnison Crag Horseshoe fell race.

But we have to admit, one event particularly caught our eye…👨‍🍳 5pm: Men Only Cookery Competition. We feel this deserves spectators in its own right!

This is a lovely opportunity to experience a proper local event and support a tradition that is very much part of life in the valley. And after a day of sheepdogs, fell running and competitive male baking, you know where we are for a drink and something to eat!

🐕 Patterdale Dog Day
🐑 A proper Lakeland day out

27/08/2026

🐰 Here's the lucky winner of our Peter Rabbit competition, looking very pleased with their new friend! 💙

We're sure Peter Rabbit will love his new home and they'll have lots of adventures together.

25/08/2026

🌿 BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND AT THE ROYAL HOTEL, DOCKRAY 🍻

Making plans? We’re open all weekend and there’s plenty waiting for you at The Royal Hotel!

🍴 Delicious food, including our Sunday lunch menu
🍺 Great range of drinks including many local tipples
⛰️ Amazing Lake District views
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Plenty to keep the kids entertained
🥾 Beautiful walks right on our doorstep
💦 Just a stone’s throw from Ullswater and Aira Force

Whether you’re joining us after a day exploring, bringing the family out for lunch or simply fancy a drink with a view, come and spend part (or all!) of your Bank Holiday with us. 💚

Great food, good company and the Lake District on your doorstep – what more could you want?

23/08/2026

£3,080 raised for five fantastic local causes! 🎉

Following our inaugural Gowbarrow Fell Race and Beer and Music Festival in June, we’re absolutely delighted to announce that together we raised over £3,000 for local charities and community organisations.

That means £616 each for:

🏔️ Patterdale Mountain Rescue
🚁 Great North Air Ambulance
💚 Eden Valley Hospice
🏫 Patterdale School
🌱 Another Way

What started as an idea to bring people together and celebrate everything we love about this area – our landscape, community, local beer, music and brilliant people – turned into a fantastic weekend, and we couldn’t have done it without everyone who took part.

A huge thank you to the runners who tackled our first Gowbarrow Fell Race, the breweries and musicians who supported us, everyone who helped behind the scenes and, of course, every single person who came along, donated and joined in.

We hoped we could create something that would make a difference locally as well as being a great weekend – and £3,080 going directly back into our community makes us incredibly proud.

And we’re doing it all again!

📅 Save the date: 18 & 19 June 2027

We’d love to see you there.

Ali and the Royal Dockray Hotel team

22/08/2026

📅 SAVE THE DATE – Ullswater breakfast talk

Saturday 5th September | 8am

Join us for our next Ullswater breakfast talk with Diana Parums of Bassenthwaite Lake Station as she shares the fascinating story of how an iconic film prop found its way to the Lake District and became the centrepiece of one of Cumbria’s most imaginative visitor attractions

As always, we’ll have breakfast rolls and tea/coffee for just £4.

Pop the date in your diary.

Address

Dockray, Ullswater
Penrith
CA110JY

Telephone

+441768482356

Website

http://royaldockray.co.uk/

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