River to Runnymede and Royalty - from Windsor

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Lowland and Hill Walks
Jul 08
2023

18 people attending

2 places left

Your price
£12.50
Event difficulty background shape EventDifficulty
Easy Moderate Very Hard
Distance is 21.9 km (13.6 miles); total ascent is 184m (603ft); relief is mostly flat with one short ascent at Cooper’s Hill; surfaces are dirt, gravel, grass and tarmac, with some busy roads to cross.

The start time has moved back to 11am due to changes to the train times. Please try to arrive early, particularly if driving to allow time to find parking.

FURTHER UPDATE: IF COMING FROM LONDON, THERE IS NOW A BUS REPLACEMENT SERVICE STAINES TO WINDSOR & ETON RIVERSIDE. I’VE MESSAGED ATTENDEES, UPDATED THE EVENT PAGE AND PUT IN COMMENTS AT THE END.
 

This is a circular walk starting and finishing at Windsor and Eton Riverside Station, following the River Thames to Runnymede, where we will visit the monuments commemorating the Magna Carta and uphill at Cooper’s Hill to the AIr Forces Memorial Chapel. We’ll then follow the roads to Windsor Great Park, and enjoy the Park via the statue of George III and the Long Walk back into Windsor with optional pub stop at the end of the walk.

This route does not include Windsor Castle, but does include the Runnymede Monuments (free entry). 

The sights:

Thames Path: The path is 185 miles from source to Woolwich, and we’ll enjoy the stretch out of Windsor along the serpentine river passing Home Park (home of royalty, esteemed or otherwise), the village of Datchet and on to Runnymede.

Runnymede: The sealing of the Magna Carta in 1215 and the birthplace of democracy are marked by a number of monuments, which we will visit. These monuments include modern art at the Jurors, which include scenes commerating the fight for freedom and equal rights (including Harvey Milk), American memorials to JFK and the rule of law, and modern art at Writ in Water. More detail here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/runnymede-and-ankerwycke

Air Forces Memorial: Atop Cooper’s Hill, the Memorial commemorates 20,000 men and women lost during the Second World War, and has a viewing platform which affords wide views over Surrey, the River Thames, past Heathrow and to London.

Windsor Great Park: The Crown Estate at Windsor stretches for 15,800 acres. We will visit the Great Park, perhaps spotting the resident deer and stopping at the equestrian Copper Horse statue erected in 1831 to King George III as a Roman Emperor. This marks one end of the Long Walk, created in 1682-5, and leads us to Windsor Castle  almost 2.5 miles away. The Walk has been the setting of many royal events, most recently the carriage ride route for the wedding of Harry and Meghan (that fairytale seems a long long time ago), and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

The route - please click the link https://explore.osmaps.com/route/16784027/windsor-thames-path-and-runny… to see the route at the Ordnance Survey website

The start of the walk is at Windsor and Eton Riverside station, and we will almost immediately follow the Thames Path out of Windsor, passing Home Park and along the Thames. We’ll cross the river twice over busy bridges and pass Datchet at the riverside.

A late lunch will be at Runnymede, where there is a small tea room. After time to visit the monuments, we’ll climb through the woods at Cooper’s Hill to the Air Forces Memorial, also stopping for a visit. We will follow pavements and woodland paths to Bishopsgate, to enter Windsor Great Park.

The views open up to Windsor and the north, and the going is easy over parkland and park roads with little traffic to Snow Hill. After stopping at King George III’s monument, it is a “straight” route of 2.5 miles along the Long Walk to Windsor.

We’ll pass Windsor town where there will be an optional pub stop at the end of the walk just before the station or you may wish to explore the town.

New Members

New members are very welcome. Please message me if you have any questions or concerns before the day. Whilst we are a very open and welcoming group, if you wish, we may be able to organise an existing member to buddy up with you before or on the day. Do also feel free to arrive early as I’m always around much earlier than the start time. 

Dogs

I love having dogs on my walks. There are busy roads to cross, and extensive pavements along busy roads, so your dog will need to be on a lead. Your dog must be on lead in the Park where there are deer. The interior of the Air Forces Memorial does NOT allow dogs, so you will need to wait in the grounds for around 20 minutes when the rest of the group explore.

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(All images were taken by Alex Young in 2019-2023.)