Cycling at Virginia Water

I honestly can’t remember the last time we were at Windsor Great Park, we’ve been long overdue a visit that’s for sure! With nearly 5,000 acres to explore and a royal history spanning a thousand years, there’s no shortage of things to do.

There are historical monuments, ancient forests and horticultural displays aplenty. What’s more, William the Conqueror adopted the landscape as his hunting ground, Queen Victoria used the shores of Virginia Water for entertaining and the Duke of Edinburgh is a current Ranger. In 2018, thousands of people lined the Long Walk to await the carriage procession of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The Long Walk is a three-mile tree-lined avenue which begins at the George IV gateway at Windsor Castle and ends at the Copper Horse statue. The Deer Park has around 500 red deer that roam the park enclosure and remain fairly close as they’re used to the company. The Savill Garden was created in the 1930’s and consists of beautiful gardens and woodland. It’s a tranquil place with stunning displays from around the world. There are 35 acres of interconnected gardens including the Hidden Gardens, Spring Wood, the Summer Gardens, the New Zealand Garden, Summer Wood, The Glades, Autumn Wood and the Winter Beds. The 250 acre Valley Gardens were created by Sir Eric Savill and Hope Finlay. There are windy tracks with blooms from around the globe.

We opted to take a walk around Virginia Water Lake as POD had her new bike to try out. It’s a brilliant destination for cycling as the trail around the lake is around 5 kilometres so great for blowing away a few cobwebs too. We met up with a couple of friends so the kids could cycle and climb trees while we all walked. POD is coming on leaps and bounds with her cycling but not enough for us to warrant purchasing a bike each. We normally hire them as it’s cheaper – for now anyway!

Virginia Water Lake was originally created as a Royal pleasure ground but these days it’s ideal for families cycling or walking – I’m sure it’s a great spot for running too. Although it was a chilly day when we visited, it’s a really beautiful spot with wildlife to see en route. The area is steeped in history too what with its monuments, the cascade waterfall and some really super views. One of the favourite sights is of course the 100 foot Totem Pole with its mystical characters.

Virginia Water is very popular all year round, with its glittering waters and abundance of wildlife. The ornamental Cascade waterfall is always a favourite feature – while children love the towering 100-foot Totem Pole, being fascinated by the ten mystical totem characters. I suspect we’ll be back again very soon.