An Exploration of Windsor Great Park Ft Coworth Park, 13.5 miles, strenuous

We begin our exploration by setting off from Sunningdale station passing through a few residential streets. After crossing the A30, we will pass through Coworth Park, one of the UK’s most luxurious country hotels.
After exiting Coworth, we will enter Windsor Great Park through the Virginia Water South Car Park and make our way to the south part of Virginia Water Lake, following it past the Leptis Magna Ruins and to the Pavilion where we will have a coffee stop.
Following refreshment, we will continue following the lake until we reach the Totem Pole, a gift from Canada in 1958. It may be one of the last opportunities to see this as it has reached the end of its natural life and will eventually be lowered to the ground to naturally decay. This mirrors its sister pole in Vancouver.
We will then enter the Valley Gardens, a 250 acre section of the park with a range of azaleas, magnolias and other exotic plants and trees from across the world. We will have an extended explore and make our way to the south of the polo grounds for our lunch stop.
After lunch, we will make our way to the Obelisk Pond and follow the outskirts of Smith’s Lawn on our left. We will then pass Cumberland Lodge and pick up the Three Castles Path to head along Duke’s Lane before picking up a bridleway. This will eventually take us to the Blacknest Gate where we will exit Windsor Great Park and have a pub stop at the Belvedere Arms.
The final stage of our exploration will see us retrace our steps through Coworth Park to return to Sunningdale.

If coming from Reading and using public transport, please get the 9:09 train to London Waterloo, arriving in Sunningdale at 9:41. This also stops at Wokingham at 9:23 and Bracknell at 9:30. If the train is delayed, the start of the walk will also be delayed.
Parking is also available at Sunningdale station where charges apply.