Afternoon Walk & Picnic (Savill Garden & Virginia Water)

This event combines a visit to the stunning Savill Garden with a leisurely 6 mile afternoon walk around the spectacular Virginia Water Lake.

Savill Garden was created in the 1930s and is an enclosed part of Windsor Great Park. It has been described as “one of Britain’s great ornamental gardens”. In fact, it contains several interlocking gardens within its 35 acres including: The Hidden Gardens; The Glades; Spring Wood; Autumn Wood; The Summer Wood; The Rose Garden; and The New Zealand Garden. http://www.windsorgreatpark.co.uk/en/experiences/the-savill-garden

Virginia Water is a beautiful, scenic lake which lies on the southern edge of Windsor Great Park. It was created in the 18th century, and may be named after Elizabeth I, the virgin queen. More recently the lake has been used for filming of Harry Potter scenes, and the 2014 film “Into the Woods” that starred Meryl Streep and James Corden.

Itinerary

We shall start by exploring Savill Garden which is a hidden gem within the heart of Windsor Great Park. There is an entrance fee of £10.50 and your garden ticket also provides free car-parking. 

After a picnic in the grounds of Savill Garden, our 6 mile circular walk around Virginia Water includes various sights such as the Totem Pole which was carved in Canada from a single 600-year old log and erected in 1958 to mark 100 years since British Columbia was established.  It shows men, animals and mythical creatures. Further round the picturesque lake we shall reach the stones and ruins of Libya’s Leptis Magna. These stones were originally given as a present to the Prince Regent in 1816, and were originally housed in the British Museum before being assembled here. Another point of interest is the 10m-high Virginia Water Cascade. This was built by the  architect Thomas Sandby in the 1780s.