Valley Gardens and Windsor Great Park walk
A forest garden: Azaleas, camellias, magnolias, daffodils, heather. Optionally: Windsor Great Park - Saville Gardens, a deer park, Windsor castle viewpoint.
Length |
4 miles (6.6km). Add 2.3 miles to walk around Virginia Water lake Add 6 miles for a loop of the deer park (5 miles if parking in Old Windsor) |
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Toughness | 3 out of 10 (hilly) |
Features |
This is a walk around Valley Gardens (free), part of Windsor Great Park, which has a vast collection of rhododendrons and azaleas, which flower spectacularly in May or June, and a heather garden which flowers during the winter. The gardens are laid out over a series of low hills, with valleys running north to Virginia Water, an artificial lake. The suggested car park is at Virginia Water - its a mile or so to a large Totem Pole at the start of Valley Gardens. This walk may be undertaken all year round and it is relatively mud-free in winter. However, the best time to try it is in mid-May, when the azaleas are in full bloom, and the rhododendrons are coming into flower. Autumn is good for the deer rutting (in the deer park) in October, and the maple's leaf fall Access: The car park path to Valley Gardens is level with a good path. Valley Gardens itself has a fairly level lake side path (you'd need a powered buggy, or an able assistant), but most of the gardens are undulating. See disabled access. |
Virginia Water |
Virginia Water is an artificial lake with a forested shoreline. It's long an narrow in an east-west orientation. To the north is Valley Gardens. To the east is the suggested car park. There is a path all the way around it. It starts at the car park, heads to the Totem Pole, goes through Valley Gardens, crosses a bridge, and returns along the southern shore. |
Savill Gardens |
Valley Gardens are to the west of the Totem Pole, but to the north, paths lead through the forest to Obelisk Pond and the Cumberland Obelisk. Just beyond it is Savill Gardens, a small botanical garden. Entrance is not free, but includes parking which is otherwise very expensive. There is another park car park here, and a cafe in it's landmark building (you don't have to pay to enter) |
Deer Park |
Further to the north, is the Rhododendron Ride, Cow Pond, a deer park and the "Copper Horse Statue", on a rise overlooking the "Long Walk" to Windsor castle, and the Long Walk itself. Note: The Long Walk - the tree lined path from the Copper Horse Statue to Windsor Castle looks very pretty - it is however, very, very long, and gets samey after a while. |
Windsor Great Park |
The gardens form part of Windsor Great Park. Together with the adjacent Home Park, leading to Windsor castle, it is managed by the Crown Estate (rather than the government's Royal Parks agency). Large areas of the park are private (e.g. Prince Andrew's home, Polo Grounds, All Saints Chapel, Frogmore Cottage, a Royal Mausoleum). There was a plan by the Crown Estate to enclose Valley Gardens, and charge for entry. They backed down, but the £12 car parking charge is their way around this. |
Walk Option |
We have a full walk in this area #cw1.49 Sunningdale (station) - Virginia Water - Valley and Savill Gardens - deer park - then either Long Walk to Windsor (station), or Runnymede and along the River Thames to Staines (station) |
Eat |
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Nearby |
RunnymedeThe Magna Carta was signed at Runnymede Meadows (Wikipedia, National Trust ) where there are several memorials. There is a smaller site on the east bank of the Thames (also NT: Magna Carta Island and the Ankerwycke Yew) - no nearby bridge or path on the opposite bank - you have to drive Windsor and its CastleA historic town and castle 4km north of the Copper Horse Statue |
Travel |
There are several car parks in Windsor Great Park, which all charge an eye watering £12 (1 hour: £3, 2 hours: £6, 3 hours £9). Entrance to Savill Gardens in £13.50, but you get your parking refunded.
[2022] The on-street parking is now charged at the same rate 11am-5pm (so free outside these times)
Free parking is now a good walk away due to narrow roads with yellow lines, private roads, and residents parking zones.
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Links |
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Profile | |
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Help Us! |
After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks! You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are: |
By Car |
Start Virginia Water Car Park Map Directions |
Amazon | |
Help |
National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234 |
Version |
Aug-22 Andrew |
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