Virginia Water is one of the easiest long walks in Surrey to like. The lake sits at the southern edge of Windsor Great Park, the path is mostly flat, and the sights are spaced so that the walk never feels like a trudge. Here is how the circuit works, what is worth stopping for, and what to know before you park.
How far is the circuit?
You will see two figures. Popular route guides put the loop at about 4.5 miles: Komoot gives 4.5 miles (7.3 km) in around 1 hour 50 minutes, and Baldhiker says about two hours. AllTrails lists its Virginia Water Circular at 6.9 km (4.3 miles) and rates it easy. The Crown Estate, which manages the park, measures a full circuit at 8.44 km (5.25 miles). The difference comes down to exactly which route you take and where you cross, so allow two to two and a half hours with stops and you will be comfortable either way.
Baldhiker describes the path as suitable for all abilities, including pushchairs and wheelchairs. It is shared with dogs, cyclists and runners, so keep an ear out on busy weekends.
A lake made by design
The lake is artificial. It was made between 1748 and 1752 for William, Duke of Cumberland, by Henry Flitcroft, and the work was continued by the Duke's brother Henry Frederick. The Crown Estate describes the lake as about 3.21 km (2 miles) long and originally a Royal pleasure ground. The dam collapsed in 1768, and Parks & Gardens UK records that repairs were not made until the 1780s, under George III.
What to look for
The Cascade
The Crown Estate describes the Cascade as a 30 ft (9.1 m) waterfall, and says to follow the signs round the lake from the Virginia Water Pavilion. It is a much shorter stroll than the full loop, so it works on its own if you only have an hour. Parks & Gardens UK says it is built of rocks arranged to look natural above the brook, and dates it to the late 18th century, remodelled in the early 19th and again in the mid 20th. A bridge by Wyatville from the 1820s crosses the brook below. The flow depends on water levels, so it tends to look best after heavy rain.
The Leptis Magna ruins
This is the showpiece. The Crown Estate says the folly was created in 1826 from columns, pedestals and slabs recovered from the Roman city of Leptis Magna, in present-day Libya. They were a gift to the Prince Regent, later George IV. The ruins were restored in 2009 and are fenced off because they are old and delicate, so you look rather than climb. Geograph notes they are Grade II* listed, under the name Temple of Augustus, though that name is not used on site. The journal Libyan Studies describes the site as one of the largest assemblages of Roman architectural fragments in the country.
The totem pole
The 100 ft (30 m) totem pole in the Valley Gardens area was a gift to Queen Elizabeth II from the Government of British Columbia, marking the centenary of the colony in 1858. It was carved by Chief Mungo Martin from a 600-year-old tree and installed in June 1958. The Crown Estate has said it reached the end of its natural lifespan and was to be lowered and left to decay, with the lowering expected in 2024. Treat it as a piece of history rather than a sight to plan around, and check the Crown Estate website before you set off if it matters to you.
The Valley Gardens
The Valley Gardens are a mile (1.7 km) from the Virginia Water car park. Great British Gardens says the rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias and camellias peak from mid April to mid June, so spring is the time for a detour. The Savill Garden is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the Pavilion and charges admission.
Parking and getting in
Entry to the public areas of Windsor Great Park is free, apart from the Savill Garden and the Adventure Play park. Parking is the cost. There are two car parks, Virginia Water (the Pavilion, satnav GU25 4QF) and Virginia Water South (SL5 7SB), both off London Road, the A30. Virginia Water South has an 8 ft height restriction. The Crown Estate tariff is:
Up to 1 hour: £3.20
1 to 2 hours: £6.40
2 to 3 hours: £9.90
3 to 4 hours: £13
4 hours or more: £16
Motorcycles and cyclists park free, and Blue Badge holders park free by displaying the badge and scanning it at the exit barrier. Payment is by debit or credit card only, and there is no overnight parking. Tariffs change, so check the Crown Estate parking page before you go. The lay-bys outside the car park are not run by the Crown Estate, and visitors report they have been replaced by pay bays or double yellow lines, so do not count on them.
Walkers can also reach the wider park on foot from Windsor town centre along the Long Walk, though that is a very different day out from the lake.
Food, toilets and picnics
Virginia Water Café is at the Pavilion, the main entrance, with indoor and outdoor seating. TripAdvisor describes Italian-inspired hot and cold dishes, and a visitor review says it is dog friendly. Opening hours vary through the year, so check the Crown Estate site. The Crown Estate also lists a gift shop and toilets at the car park, and there are facilities at the Valley Gardens on the north side of the lake. Picnics are encouraged, with Obelisk Pond and the lake both mentioned.
Before you go
Allow about two to two and a half hours for the full loop.
Go for the Cascade and the ruins alone if time is short.
Expect benches to be limited in places; a visitor review noted few places to sit.
Check the Crown Estate site for path closures and works.
The lake and the village are in Surrey, though the Crown Estate's postal address is Windsor. For the official detail, see the Crown Estate page on Virginia Water and its parking information.
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