On Sunday 26th May, Ann and Kathy led a seven mile linear walk from Ascot to Sunningdale via Virginia Water and Cowarth Park. Starting at Ascot railway station, we first took a tunnel under the station, walked along a few roads before taking a woodland path into South Ascot. Next came a footpath through Sunninghill, where the path became a bit overgrown. The brambles and nettles were doing well from recent combination of wet weather and sunshine.
Soon we arrived at the Saxon church of St Micheal's and All Angels, near Ashurst Park, where we stopped to look at an ancient yew tree. Believed to be around 1200 years old, it is held together by an iron girdle. Passing by the extended churchyard, we took a footpath through Silwood Park.
Passing Silwood Lake, we made our way to Virginia Water, on the edge of Windsor Great Park.
Heading into Coworth Park, we passed the Guards Polo Academy grounds, then a horse-drawn carriage passed us before we stopped for lunch at some picnic tables by a pond in the park.
After lunch, we left Coworth Park for Wentworth. Passing some very grand houses on West Drive, we entered Wentworth golf course. Following a public footpath through the golf course, we were guided to a nature reserve. The contrast between the manicured golf course and the wild heath-land was quite dramatic.
We made use of a board-walk that had been constructed in a marshy section of the heath before heading up to drier land and into woodland - mostly tall pine trees.
The woodland ended abruptly as we entered suburban roads on the edge of Sunningdale and Broomhall. There were fairly regular footpath signs attached to lamp posts, etc., to guide us to the A30 and Sunningdale railway station where the walk ended. See our route on Google Maps.
Despite a weather forecast threatening showers, thunder and lightning, all we had was a couple of spells of very light rain and quite a lot of sunshine.
Thanks go to Ann and Kathy for leading this walk.
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