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Virginia Water Lake Walk

4.35 miles (7 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Enjoy a waterside walk around the beautiful Virginia Water in Windsor. The lake is located within the wonderful Windsor Great Park and is surrounded by woodland and gardens. A well defined walking path runs around the lake taking you to a number of interesting sites. You'll pass the 18th century ornamental cascade and the Leptis Magna Ruins - a Roman style temple built from columns and lintels brought from the ancient city of Leptis Magna in the early 19th Century. There is also a striking 100-foot high Totem Pole and the Virginia Water Pavilion built from wood from Windsor Great Forest.
Right next to the lake are the stunning Valley Gardens. Here you'll find 250 acres of landscaped gardens and woodlands to explore using a series of well defined walking trails. You could also head further into Windsor Great Park to extend your walk.

Virginia Water Lake OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Virginia Water Lake Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

Head to the Virginia Water Pavilion for some refreshments after your walk. You can enjoy hot dogs with delicious Royal Farms sausages, tasty bacon sandwiches, burgers, pastries, ice creams and selection of snacks. There's a nice timber decking area where you can enjoy your meal with fine views across the lake. There's also a number of kiosks dotted around where you can pick up a quick snack, ice cream or drink.

Dog Walking

The lake, the surrounding park and woods are a great place for a dog walk. At the Pavilion cafe you will also find some handy water bowls.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

A few miles south of the lake there's some more good trails to be found on Chobham Common. The expansive common is the largest National Nature Reserve in the south east of England. As such there's a plethora of interesting plants and wildlife to look out for in the area. The nearby Chobham village is also worth visiting. There's a quintessential English scene here with a pretty village green and cricket pitch. The White Hart pub overlooking the green is a nice place for a meal on a summer day.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Virginia Water - geograph.org.uk - 185

This Totem Pole is located on the extreme western edge of the square in Virginia Water.

Lakeshore at Virginia Water - geograph.org.uk - 1803199

Lakeshore at Virginia Water. By the Fishing Temple viewpoint on the southern shore of this elongated artificial pond in Windsor Great Park.

Boathouse on Virginia Water - geograph.org.uk - 1803182

 Boathouse on Virginia Water. View across the water in Windsor Great Park towards Temple Bungalow.

The Obelisk, Virginia Water - geograph.org.uk - 705897

The Cumberland Obelisk was erected by King George II in memory of his son Prince William, the Duke of Cumberland. Prince William had been the park ranger and had been instrumental in creating Virginia Water from the original marsh.

Reeds on Virginia Water - geograph.org.uk - 1803513

Reeds and birches in the spring evening sunshine

The Cascade, Virginia Water - geograph.org.uk - 1803466

The Cascade waterfall by the lake. Scenic point where Virginia Brook flows out of Virginia Water in Windsor Great Park. The falls were constructed in the 18 century, reputedly using stones taken from the site of a Saxon settlement on Bagshot Heath.

Corinthian Columns, Virginia Water - geograph.org.uk - 1803311

 Corinthian Columns. These stones once stood in the Roman city of Leptis Magna which was sited near Tripoli (Libya). The stones were taken and re-erected here in a romantic landscape

Roman Ruins, Virginia Water - geograph.org.uk - 1803256

Roman Ruins. The Romantic Landscape - using Roman stones from the ruined city of Leptis Magna in Libya.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Virginia Water Lake.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Virginia Water Lake.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)