Countryside

The Royal Borough features some beautiful countryside with more than 1,000 acres of National Trust land in the north and 4,800 acres of Crown Estate, not to mention the River Thames running through the heart of the region.

While you’re out and about, please don’t forget the Countryside Code:
🌱 Respect everyone
🌱 Protect the environment (including taking litter home and bagging/binning dog poo)
🌱 Enjoy the outdoors!

If you enjoy spending time in the fresh air, here are some suggestions for walking, cycling, riding and a thoroughly good day out in the Windsor, Maidenhead and Ascot area.

Biking at Swinley Forest

Windsor Great Park and Swinley Forest

Windsor Great Park is the only Royal Park managed by the Crown Estate.

Once part of a vast Norman hunting forest it was enclosed in the late 13th century. Covering 2,020 hectares of parkland, it includes a mix of formal avenues, gardens, woodland, open grassland and a Deer Park.

The Great Park and its forest are renowned for its scattering of great ancient oaks, which all add to the magnificent history of the Great Park.

There is so much to see and do here: walking and running; cycling and rollerblading; dog walking; fishing; horse riding; flying model aircraft and picnicking. Visit the Windsor Great Park website for more detailed information on where you can enjoy these activities, a selection of popular walking routes, seasonal highlights, car parking and to download a map.

Nearby Swinley Forest (about 20 minutes' drive from Windsor Great Park) is the place to go if you prefer off-road cycling. Here you'll discover steep gradients, big air jumps and fast-paced trail cycling within the 2500-acre forest.

The Long Walk, Windsor Great Park

Virginia Water

Nearby is Virginia Water, said to be named after Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen and created by the Duke of Cumberland, son of George II.

The woodlands surrounding the lake have been continuously planted since the middle of the 18th century. The Frost Farm Plantation (at the south-western end of the lake) is also a designated SSI (Site of Special Interest), thanks to its maturity and biodiversity.

There are reminders of the past wherever you look. The lake was once a place of pageantry and spectacle and home to a Chinese junk and fishing temples built on the shore.

Take a trip to the south bank and discover an ornamental cascade from the 18th century, and the Leptis Magna Ruins, a 'Roman temple' built from columns and lintels brought from the ancient city of Leptis Magna in the early 19th century.

One of the area's more recent additions is a towering 100-foot high Totem Pole, a gift to Queen Elizabeth II from the government of British Columbia.

On the northern banks of the lake are The Valley Gardens and to the north of these is Smiths Lawn, home to the Guards Polo Club. Polo matches can be enjoyed most days from April to September.

Windsor Great Park Totem Pole

National Trust Runnymede

It was at Runnymede in 1215 that King John sealed the Magna Carta. The American Bar Association erected a memorial in 1957 to commemorate the foundation of the American Constitution in the Magna Carta, this can be seen on the hillside overlooking the water meadows.

Nearby, on an acre of ground given to the USA by Queen Elizabeth II, is a memorial erected in 1965 to the memory of the assassinated President John F. Kennedy.

Maidenhead

The river at Maidenhead is one of the many attractions of the town and wider area. A walk along the riverside offers amazing views of the Thames and great walks towards the villages of Cookham, Marlow and Bray. Explore the river’s towpaths and walkways on foot, or take to the water on a passenger cruiser or in a self-drive launch. There is a landing stage for visiting the National Trust's Cliveden estate where restoration work in the gardens has returned them to their former glory.

National Trust Cliveden

At National Trust Cliveden, the formal gardens of the estate soon give way to secluded glades, tree-lined avenues and picturesque riverside with miles of woodland walks to discover.

The woods that line the steep cliffs above the thames were famous long before the house and its gardens. There are miles of woodland paths to explore and stunning views back to the gardens and over the surrounding Berkshire countryside. Visit Cliveden’s website for downloadable walking trails for all abilities which take you around some of the top spots on the estate, from the formal gardens to the depths of the woodlands.

Children enjoying the spring daffodils at National Trust Cliveden

Windsor and Maidenhead parks and open spaces

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is full of pockets of green space – parks and open areas in a range of different sizes but all perfect for a spot of relaxation or a bit of exercise.

The parks and open spaces in Windsor and Maidenhead are there for your enjoyment. Many have features such as picnic facilities, play equipment, statues, fountains and water features. Others have a fascinating history, for example Baths Island in Windsor was the site of the town’s swimming baths back in the 19th century. You’ll find areas that are a haven for flora and fauna. Check out Ockwells Park in Maidenhead: its paths and nature trail allow you to explore the area of woodland, meadow and copses which are now a Local Nature Reserve.

Find out more about parks and open spaces in Windsor and Maidenhead including interactive maps with more information and directions.

The River Thames

Throughout history people have tended to live on or near great rivers. This is true of the River Thames and as it flows in to the west of The Royal Borough it matures and widens on its route to London. There is something particularly appealing about the River Thames on the stretch from Hurley to Runnymede as it is perhaps the most historic, offering easy strolls along the Thames Path and the chance to visit many attractions. Read more about the Royal Borough's Thames Trail and discover more about the National Trail Thames Path.

Public Rights of Way

If you enjoy exploring the borough it’s likely you’ve used the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead's extensive public rights of way network. But do you know how many footpaths and bridleways we have, and how we maintain them? Watch the video to find out more.

The Royal Borough publishes a variety of leaflets and booklets relating to rights of way, ranging from general information to specific promoted routes and walks around the network.

The leaflets and booklets published by the council are available for download; you can also request a paper copy of any of these leaflets (where available) by contacting the public rights of way team.

You can plan your visit by using our handy online neighbourhood map, which shows all public rights of way in the borough. Visit https://mol.rbwm.gov.uk/mol/map/