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Route Martindale - Patterdale County Cumbria Difficulty Moderate Distance 15km (9.5 miles) Typical time Four hours OS grid reference NY434184, Explorer OL 5 The English Lakes NE Area Starting point The parking spot by the church near Howton

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Blister rating: 3/5 View rating: 4/5

Why I love this walk

I like a walk that is round. I don’t like dragging straight up, for that’s for fell runners, only to come straight down again, for that’s for masochists. A sort of circle is best, slowly up a valley, round a highish bit to the other side, then back to where we began, preferably with a bit of lake view thrown in.

My fave walk has all that— and also something else that is very hard to find anywhere. It was Wordsworth who first pointed out that the Lake District has all of Nature’s treasures — only in miniature. Twee valleys, pretty lakes, lush pastures, tumbling waterfalls,wild crags, scary mountains, dramatic snow-clad peaks.

OK, so the mountains are nothing like the Himalayas, and our lakes are mere puddles compared with the Great Lakes of North America, but it’s all there, in one small plot, all God’s wonders.

The route

1 Park at the little church near Howtown. From the church, continue along the little twisting road into Bore Dale. As you go up the valley, it starts off easy, like a Beatrix Potter watercolour, all smooth and yummy. But as you go up, the fields and farmhouses run out and it gets wilder — but not scary.

2 At the head of the valley, go through the Hause, or pass. Once over the top, bear right for Patterdale. The paths tend to disappear on the top, but head right till you start to come down, and pick up a path under the flanks of Place Fell down to Patterdale.

3 Follow the lake along a totally amazing path which twists and turns, following the shape of the lake.

4 At Sandwick, turn right, up the little road, and back to your car.

Things to see: Everything that the Lake District has to offer — quaint villages, crags, waterfalls, lakes and pastures.

Pub rating: 2/5

Pub: White Lion, Patterdale
The only pub in Patterdale was where Wordsworth supposedly heard the news of Nelson’s victory and death at Trafalgar. Steaks and breakfasts are renowned.

Where to stay

The Mill Hotel
The Mill Hotel dates back to 1685 and has a wild and pretty garden running down to the old mill race. It has won awards for its food.

George and Dragon
An 18th-century coaching inn with a traditional feel, all the food is sourced from the estate, with seasonal game regularly on the specials board.

Crown and Mitre Inn
This warming inn, where the 1987 film Withnail and I was filmed, has eight rooms and plenty of beer and hearty food.

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