On Sunday 14th July, six regulars and one visitor from another group assembled at the Ranger's Gate car park in Windsor Great Park for a ten mile walk around the more southern areas of the park. Following Prince Consort's Drive, we passed the Ranger's Lodge, the Isle of Wight Pond and the York Club, before turning off at Sandpit Gate Lodge and heading east.
We stopped to admire the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee monument when a kind passer-by offered to take our photo by the monument. Continuing east, we turned south at Dark Wood to follow Duke's Lane.
Turning off Duke's Lane, passing through Millhill Plantation, crossing a footbridge and following the southern bank of Virginia Water, we reached a road bridge. Crossing this, we passed through heathland before crossing another bridge into the Valley Gardens.
Following the edge of Virginia Water, we reached the 100 foot high Canadian totem pole. Here we stopped for our picnic lunch as there were a couple of benches free next to the pole.
After lunch, we headed north to the Cumberland Obelisk, passing by Obelisk Pond on the way. The next stop was the Savill Garden Kitchen, where we stopped for coffee and cake, also making use of their convenient facilities while we were there.
Heading north-west from the obelisk, we passed Smith's Lawn and Cumberland Lodge before joining the Three Castles Path heading up Snow Hill to the Copper Horse statue. On the way, we saw a few deer, eyeing us with mild disinterest. I expect they are quite used to people by now.
We admired the commanding view from the top of Snow Hill, which give a splendid view of Windsor Castle at the other end of The Long Walk. You could easily see Heathrow airport and just make out some of the London skyscrapers.
Turning to the west, we followed the road leading to the village, where we crossed Queen Anne's Ride. Looking one way we could see the castle and looking the other way, we could just see the Golden Jubilee statue that we'd passed near the start of the walk. We then retraced our steps back to the car park. See our route on Google Maps.
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