Ascwin one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 80.00% of reviewers

I walked this route from Windsor to Ascot and thoroughly enjoyed it.

There is a section of this route which is always closed during the winter but it is easy to detour around via the roads. To divert from Windsor to Ascot at Snow Hill turn right along a footpath or bridleway. Turn left when you meet the road and go through the deer fence and immediately left. Turn left at the next junction and then left at the next horse path to rejoin the route by Ox Pond. If you are going from Ascot to Windsor then just turn left where the route is closed and then take every first right until you end up at Snow Hill.

From Ox Pond the route is on tarmac all the way through Windsor Great Park. At Ascot Gate I missed the footpath and just went up Watersplash Lane which is perfectly pleasant. Beware of traffic in Windsor Great Park, most drivers are very respectful of other users of the park but it pays to take care.

The route into Ascot was along roads but as far as I was concerned there were good pavements and easy crossing points all the way into Ascot.

There are public loos in Ascot and loads of coffee places for refreshments.

There are two parallel footpaths connecting Winkfield Road and Cheapside Road. I took the first one I came to, through the trees. It was a bit muddy and there were quite a few roots and downed branches. Taking the path through the grass may avoid these issues, however both paths go through the same gate at the end, which is quite narrow. I believe this could be avoided if you continued down London Road until Cheapside, but I don’t know the condition of that detour.
There is a bench by the side of the road before you get into the Crown Estate- there isn’t another bench until well into Windsor Great Park! I was looking for somewhere to eat lunch and had to wait for quite awhile.
The path in the Crown Estate is paved until the left turn, at which point it turns into a muddy/gravelly path with more exposed roots. There is a large gate to open halfway down the path (see photo).
To get from the Crown Estate into Windsor Great Park there is a busy road to cross with no lights or pedestrian crossing.
Once in the park the roads are smooth and paved, but shared with buses, cars, horses, and cyclists so keep an eye out. The park is also quite hilly.
The path from the Ox Pond to the statue was closed due to poor ground conditions, so I had to detour and find a different way. I had my OS map with me so it was easy enough, but there are no signposts in the park. I'm not sure if the path closure is permanent or temporary, so just be aware.
The gates into the Deer Park (to get to the statue/Long Walk) are not wheelchair accessible, but there is a number provided for the warden to provide access through the vehicle gates.
Overall this was a fun walk, not difficult although my knees got a bit tired of walking on pavement for so long.

Ascot to Windsor (Ascwin 1) review.

This Slow Way follows the ‘Three Castles Path’ National Trail through Windsor Great Park.

There is a short urban walk from Ascot rail station, with plenty of amenities on the High Street.

A footpath (Photo 1) ends at the entrance to Windsor Great Park.

The walk through the park is mainly on wide, well-maintained paths (Photos 2 & 3).

There is a grassy section on Snow Hill (Photo 4 of George III statue). There was good view of The Long Walk with Windsor Castle in the distance (Photo 5).

The long walk into Windsor was literally straightforward!.

I was able to walk along the whole route in the middle of April. The only extra comment I would add to my first one is that there is a high metal gate on the approach from the Cumberland Lodge to the Copper horse statue of George III which seems to be locked at first glance. However, I could push the gate for pedestrians easily and to move up to the statue.

As I walked this route in mid January and started from Ascot, I couldn't follow it further than to Cumberland Lodge. The footpath leading up to the Copper Horse Statues of King George III was closed due to "poor ground condition" and even another access to the Deer Park was closed to all traffic including pedestrians. Another time of year may be more appropriate to walk the route exactly. Otherwise, the route is probably the only feasible one given that there is no right of way through so many areas of the Crown Estate between Ascot and Windsor. The footpaths are mostly wide, flat and easy to follow. Only the stretch before Sunninghill Road was somewhat muddy.

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