Best walks to or from Ascot

Ascot Station to Virginia Water Station

A stroll through parkland and woodland and with a wide sandy horse track through the trees and a lakeside path. One section is on pavement beside a busy road near the A30. Can be very muddy with large puddles after rain. Windsor Great Park (Virginia Water) is open dawn until dusk; check current opening times. Cycles are not allowed on the horse trail.

11km.

Can be muddy.

Lunch: There is a café with seating near Blacknest Gate.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Ascot Station to Egham Station

Good views and gnarly trees. A walk of three parts: roadside walking with good pavements out of Ascot, then a wide undulating path across Windsor Great Park (mostly tarmacked lanes, beloved by cyclists and horse riders, passing many ancient trees) and finally roadside walking into Egham. A muddy section in the park can be bypassed on tarmac. A long 13 percent hill and heavy gates.

11km.

A long 13 percent hill, heavy gates and an uneven pavement under leaf mould. The park gates are locked between dusk and dawn. A couple of busy roads to cross in both Ascot and Egham.

Lunch stop: the Fox & Hounds.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Maidenhead Station to Ascot Station

Mostly quiet residential streets, narrow lanes and field footpaths and with some stretches on roads that lack a pavement. Largely under tree cover.

17km.

Braziers Lane has no pavement and only a narrow road edge; make yourself visible to drivers, and reflective clothing helps in poor light.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Ascot Station to Windsor and Eton Central Station

good view of The Long Walk with Windsor Castle in the distance. A route mainly following the Three Castles Path through Windsor Great Park, with a short urban walk at Ascot, footpaths and bridleways that can be muddy with exposed roots, wide and smooth tarmac roads through the park itself. The park is quite hilly. Follows the Three Castles Path. The path near the George III statue is often closed during winter, with an easy road detour available. Public toilets and coffee places in Ascot.

Easy: 11km, gentle ascents.

Getting from the Crown Estate into Windsor Great Park involves a busy road crossing with no lights or pedestrian crossing. A footpath near the George III statue is sometimes closed in winter due to poor ground conditions, requiring a detour; park roads are shared with cars, buses, horses and cyclists.

Lunch: Few benches and no facilities within Windsor Great Park; amenities at Ascot.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Bracknell Station to Ascot Station

A fairly direct route mostly on paved roads and pavements, with some nicer paths and byways (notably Sandy Lane and the highlight) avoiding roadside walking. Mostly shaded by trees. The Bracknell end is noisier with road traffic; Ascot roads are mostly quiet. Marked 'Ramblers Route' on quiet roads and byways. The Chestnuts footpath includes chestnut trees and ends at Edmunds Green with wood sculptures; the route passes through the Lexicon shopping centre in Bracknell.

7km.

One potentially less safe crossing where walkers get from Sandy Lane to Long Hill Road, with poor visibility and traffic from three directions. The A329 roundabout stretch near the Ascot end is unpleasant due to traffic but unavoidable.

Lunch: A convenience store on a parade along Fernbank Road.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route