Virginia Water - spring colours!! Windsor Great Park and Castle, 19km

This is a beautiful and peaceful hike through Virginia Water and Windsor Great Park to Windsor. Virginia Water is at the southern edge of Windsor Great Park. It was originally conceived as a Royal pleasure ground and its 2 mile long lake is a tranquil haven and very popular.

The Cascade is a 30ft high waterfall close to the tree-lined shores of the lake and is fed directly by it. The Leptis Magna Ruins is close by and showcases columns and pedestals from the ancient Roman city of Leptis Magna. The stones were in the British Museum for a while before finding a home in the park. Interestingly, some of the Harry Potter movies were filmed along the shores of Virginia Water.

On the northern shores of the lake, you will find delightful woods and trails. The Valley Gardens here cover 250 acres of undulating valleys with all kinds of flowers - every season offers a surprise. We should hopefully see the gardens in bloom with a riot of colours that will take your breath away!

As we leave Virginia Water, we make our way into the heart of Windsor Great Park, which has hosted royalty for centuries. It is a beautiful and ancient Royal Park with a landscape of forests, grasslands, lakes and gardens. The Park is home to a large population of ancient oak trees and its 5,000 acres of parkland includes a Deer Park - it is a great place to see deer in their natural environment.

Soak up the iconic view of the Long Walk from the famous Copper Horse statue of King George III – this tree-lined avenue stretches almost 2.5 miles to ancient Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. We will walk this path to Windsor, where you will be able to see magnificent Windsor Castle in all its grandeur. The hike ends at Windsor Promenade along the banks of the river Thames (close to two train stations).

Cost: £4 organiser fee payable on RSVP

Start time: 9:45am

Start location: Virginia Water station. My mobile: 07951673142.

End location: Windsor Promenade SL4 1QT (along the banks of the River Thames and close to Windsor Eton Bridge). This is a convenient location as Windsor and Eton Central station and Windsor and Eton Riverside station are both around a 5-6 minute walk away so you can choose whichever one is suitable for your return journey.

Length: 19km

Ascent: 223m

Time: approx 7 hrs. It’s not possible to guarantee what time we'll finish as it depends on the weather, pace of the group and our breaks along the way.

Pace & Difficulty: a reasonable and moderate pace; we will not be zooming along in a mad rush. The aim is to enjoy the park and lake and have a fun, friendly day. You need to be reasonably fit; there is a moderate level of ascent and the hike is a bit on the long side but nothing overly strenuous - it's suitable for beginners.

Transport: The 8:33am direct train from London Waterloo reaches Virginia Water station at 9:42am. Check the trains before travel. You could coordinate with other participants and buy a group saver ticket.

Transport (car share): I'll be driving from Ealing, West London and have space for 3 passengers. Contact me directly if you'd like to car share.

What to bring:
Check the weather and bring appropriate gear. A comfortable backpack, waterproof jacket, sufficient food, snacks, and water along with suitable socks and footwear (waterproof hiking boots) are some essentials. Walkways and trails can be steep, muddy, and slippery and boots with ankle support will be useful, as well as hiking poles. Gaitors are handy when its muddy and wet. Carrying waterproof socks in your backpack is a good idea in case your boots get wet from the inside. Don't wear inappropriate clothing such as jeans and sneakers. Remember to carry any medication you may require. If it’s sunny, don’t forget a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen!

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER / TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
By participating, you confirm you have read, understood and accepted the below, including the full Terms and Conditions
I am NOT a qualified hike leader or first aider.
Hiking, walking, and hill walking carry the risk of personal injury and death. Participants must be aware of, and accept, the risks. Participants are responsible for their own safety and actions and agree not to hold me responsible or liable for any injury (or death), damage or losses incurred either directly or indirectly from their participation in group events. This group is for people 18 years old and over.