The Long Walk Windsor Great Park

Images of Britain: The Long Walk, Windsor Great Park

With 5,000 acres, and free to enter, Windsor Great Park in Windsor, Berkshire was once the hunting grounds for Windsor Castle. The huge open space includes many features including forest, woodland, gardens, ponds and lakes, historic buildings, a deer park and the Long Walk, the straight path, over two and a half miles long, that connects Snow Hill with the castle.

The 2.65-mile long Long Walk. — The 2.65-mile (4.2 km) long Long Walk

The perfectly straight path was first laid out by King Charles II and now connects Windsor Castle to the Copper Horse statue of George III on Snow Hill.

Inspired by the formal gardens of Europe such as Versailles visited during his exile, King Charles II laid out the royal avenue between 1682 and 1685. It was originally planted with thousands of young elm trees in straight double rows.

Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business. — Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business

Statue of George III. — The larger than life size Copper Horse statue of George III

The route provides unobstructed photographic views of Windsor Castle (the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world). At the far southern end on Snow Hill is a striking 1831 equestrian statue of King George III created by Sir Richard Westmacott in bronze and iron.

The monarch is seen in Roman garb (in the style of a Roman emperor with a toga and a laurel wreath ). He is riding a horse without stirups and pointing towards Windsor Castle, his favourite residence. The work was erected during the reign of George III's son George IV. The monumental statue is 26 feet (7.9 meters) high on a stone plinth 27 feet (8.2 meters) high composed of flat stones.