Ilam Hall and Park near Ashbourne, a National Trust property

Ilam Hall and Park

Local Services:

Local Geography:

The first Ilam Hall was built by the Port family in the 16th century but this was demolished by Jesse Watts Russell to make way for his much grander hall of the 1820s. Most of the hall was demolished in the 1920s before Sir Robert McDougall bought the estate and donated it to the National Trust in 1934. Since then, the main remaining part of the hall has been used as a Youth Hostel and the grounds have been open to the public.

If you want to walk around then start from the tea-room and cross the Italian Gardens heading east towards St Bertram's well, which is just south of the church. This is said to have provided fresh water here since Saxon times. Just further on, St Bertram's bridge is the old bridge across the Manifold, and was the main crossing until the new bridge was built downstream in 1828. Don't cross the river, but turn upstream.

On your right is the site of the bandstand, where bands would play to entertain the hall guests. Upstream of the bridge there are two weirs and just above the second are the 'Boil Holes', where the water from the Manifold and Hamps rivers resurges, having flowed underground for several miles. If you follow the river further upstream, you will find in summer that it contains nothing but a few stagnant pools. Follow the river upstream a little way. On your right, in the woods, lies a grotto where the playwright William Congreave is said to have written his first play, 'The Old Batchelor' in 1689.

The path emerges from the trees and follows their edge, moving away from the river bank. This is 'Paradise Walk', created as a place where the hall guests could take their exercise. The path takes you past 'The Battlestone', a Saxon cross unearthed during the building of the new Ilam village and which is thought to commemorate a battle with the Danes.

At the end of Paradise Walk you reach the river again and can either follow it upstream and return to the hall across the park, or cross the footbridge and take the sometimes steep and slippery path through Hinkley Wood, which is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) on account of its numerous Lime trees. This path returns you to St Bertram's bridge, giving some good views of the Hall en route.

Ilam Hall and Park Photo Gallery - click on the images to enlarge- Click Here for a slide show

0 - Ilam Hall	1 - Ilam Hall	2 - Ilam Church	3 - Ilam - St Bertrand's Bridge
4 - Ilam Hall - Saxon cross	5 - Ilam - houses

Ordnance Survey Grid Reference: SK132500

How to get there

By Road:
Turn left off the A515 heading north from Ashbourne along the road signposted to Thorpe. Pass through Thorpe to the next village, which is Ilam.

By Bus: The 443 and 202 buses from Ashbourne on schooldays go to Ilam. Also the 442 bus from Ashbourne to Buxton goes to Thorpe, which is not too far to walk to Ilam.
When is it open?

Ilam Hall is a Youth Hostel, with a National Trust visitor centre, tea room and shop. Ilam Park is open 24 hours, every day.
What does it cost?

No charge for entry to Ilam Park

Prices and opening times are shown as a guideline only and may vary.

Website: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Ilam Hall and Park near Ashbourne, a National Trust property

Ilam Hall is the remains of the hall built by the Watts Russell family in the 1820s, close to Ashbourne. The Hall and Park now belong to the National Trust

Ilam Hall and Park