Other UK Bowland Bridge
Damson Dene Hotel
Independent pet-friendly review by Four Legged Guests · updated May 2026 · paw rating built from 6 verified guest reviews mentioning pets
Bring your dog if
- You're happy with a standard hotel-room stay where the property explicitly welcomes dogs
- You're basing yourself in Bowland Bridge / the Other UK and want a pet-friendly anchor for day trips
- The wider guest experience is strong — Agoda guests rate this 8.9/10 overall
Worth knowing
- Pet fee and any size restrictions aren't published — confirm directly with the property before booking
- Shared corridors and common areas mean nervous or vocal dogs may find it harder to settle
How this review was built Evidence, sources, refresh cadence
- Evidence: 6 pet-mention guest reviews sourced from Agoda — guests who explicitly mentioned travelling with a dog. Each review is screened for pet-relevance, then judged for sentiment to compute the paw rating.
- Not a personal visit. We don't stay at every hotel we cover — we summarise patterns from real guest reviews, paraphrased and never quoted verbatim. Full standard on our editorial policy page.
- Wider context: The property has 59 Agoda guest reviews overall, averaging 8.9/10 — the paw rating reflects only the pet-mentioning subset.
- Last refreshed: May 2026. Policies and pricing drift; we re-check on a rolling basis. Confirm specifics with the property at the moment you book.
- How the paw rating works: Full detail on the methodology page, including the three verification gates and known limitations.
Pet policy at a glance
- A pet fee may apply — Agoda flags this property as charging extra for pets. Contact the hotel for the current amount.
- Dogs are specifically listed as allowed (not all pet-friendly hotels include cats — check directly if travelling with a non-canine pet).
Pet-friendly summary
Paw rating: 4.5/5. The Damson Dene is a country hotel in the Lake District foothills near Bowland Bridge, and confirmed pet reviews show a hotel that has settled comfortably into being properly dog-friendly without making a fuss about it.
The most useful detail across guest reports is the access policy: dogs are reported as welcome throughout the hotel except the leisure club and the restaurant. That's a sensible split — there's still a cosy reception lounge with an open fire where guests can sit with their dog, and the bar overlooks the grounds, so owners aren't confined to their rooms. Several guests mention the open fireplace and homely feel as a particular plus after a wet Lakes walk.
Location is a strong fit for dog owners. The hotel sits in open countryside between Windermere and Kendal, which means walks straight from the grounds and easy access to quieter Lakeland fells — described by guests as "great location for dogs", including one couple travelling with two. The grounds themselves are reported as attractive and usable for a quick lead walk before bed.
Hotel-side disclosures back up the friendly tone of the reviews: Agoda flags that dogs are specifically allowed and that a pet fee may apply (the amount isn't published, so confirm at booking). The hotel itself is honestly described by recent guests as a little dated in places — fine if you're after a relaxed country-hotel feel, less ideal if you're expecting polished boutique finishes. Best suited to one or two dogs of any size that enjoy country walks and don't need to come into the dining room.
Highlights from pet-mentioning reviews
What reviewers travelling with dogs consistently noted about staying here.
- Dogs welcome throughout except leisure club and restaurant
- Cosy reception lounge with open fire
- Lakeland walks from the grounds
- Pet fee disclosed but amount unpublished
- Country-hotel feel, dated in parts
About this hotel
The Damson Dene Hotel is a 3-star country hotel in Bowland Bridge, on the southern edge of the Lake District. The property combines a traditional bar and restaurant with a leisure club (pool, sauna, steam room) and sits in attractive open grounds between Windermere and Kendal.
Hotel facts
Photos
Location
Crosthwaite, Bowland Bridge, LA8 8JE