Otter Bank and Patton walk with John Edmondson

The quiet pastoral area of Patton lies a few miles northeast of Kendal. This walk contours about 150 feet above the River Mint, goes through lovely countryside and offers good views of Whinfell Beacon, the Howgills and from above Kendal. Start from the old roadway beside the A6 at Otter Bank (grid reference SD 531 971, postcode LA8 9AP, what3words: ///servants.decimals.income)

Distance: 5 miles with 500 feet of ascent

Time: 2.5 hours

Terrain: Footpaths (numerous stiles) and quiet roads.

Map: OS Explorer OL7

1. Walk up Dry Lane a few yards and turn right by a metal gate onto the footpath signed Garnett Folds. Walk above a walled bank and through a gateway. Keep ahead to go through two gates with steps in between. Turn left and go over a fence stile at the bottom of a slope. Turn right along the field to the right of Edge Bank farmhouse, through a gate and down the farm lane to a road.

Turn left and after 140 yards right before the white house of Garnett Folds onto the footpath signed Mealbank. Go down steps towards a greenhouse, over a wall stile on the right then left to cross a culverted beck and go through a gateway at the bottom of a bank.

Near the ruin of Littlemire turn left between stone gate stoops and follow an old sunken lane beside a hedge on the right to a stile beside a gate. Turn right onto the road and after 150 yards pass Broadthorn Cottage. Keep ahead to descend a signed footpath (that may have water running along it).

2. Go through a gate and turn left past the front of Hipshow Farm houses. After passing the houses turn left then right to go above the back of a barn on the right. Walk up a shallow valley to the far corner of the field and turn left onto a road. After 150 yards turn right to Patton Field Farm and left through a metal field gate near the farmyard entrance.

Walk parallel to the wall on the right, through a gateway and ahead to a wall stile then along the line of trees on the left. Cross a fence stile and then a ladder stile to Old Field End Farm. Go through a small gate behind a parking area, alongside the fence then through a small paddock with conifer trees on the right. Follow the grassy lane to Field End Farm. Turn right past the white cottages then left through a gate onto a stony track.

Continue ahead along a wall on the right and go through a metal gate on the right. Continue ahead alongside the fence on the left to a metal kissing gate. Turn left along the hedged lane towards Shaw End mansion.

3. Before reaching the mansion turn left through a kissing gate, then through a field gate and up to the left past High Barn. Cross the road onto a path at Biglands (signed Black Moss Tarn) and follow the Dales Way path past the tarn then over a hill below power lines.

Pass in front of the white New House Farm then walk along the Public Way to merge with a lane at the entrance to Goodham Scales. Walk along the lane for 200 yards then turn right (signed Public Bridleway) beside a hedge on the left. At the road turn left and follow it back to where the walk began, along the way enjoying views over Kendal and Burneside.