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Best Surrey Spring Walks

Bright skies and blossoming flowers make for beautiful walks in Spring. Here are our favourite five Spring walks near The Runnymede on Thames.

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1. National Trust circular walk, Ankerwycke

Our location in historic Runnymede offers an abundance of walking opportunities. The National Trust has a suggested 0.6 mile walking trail that takes in some of this local history. It starts from the other side of the river, in the Ankerwycke car park. The trail passes through an orchard and some meadows until reaching the River Thames. After walking alongside the river for a short distance, you continue further inland again until you reach the amazing remains of the Benedictine St Mary’s Priory and the ancient Ankerwycke yew tree – the National Trust’s oldest tree.

Full details of the circular Ankerwycke walk

The National Trust runs occasional guided walks in the local area too – check the National Trust website.

2. The Long Walk, Windsor Great Park

Historic Windsor Great Park is only 4.5 miles from The Runnymede on Thames and occupies an incredible 4,800 acres and is home to an ancient forest, horticultural installations and a number of important monuments. The Long Walk is a pristine, tree-lined avenue that perfectly frames Windsor Castle at one end. An ideal walk for keen photographers, it’s best to start at Cambridge Gate and finish 2.5 miles later at the top of Snow Hill. Along the way, spot herds of deer and enjoy views of the castle and London.

Windsor Great Park walks

3. Thames Path

An impressive 184 miles long from start to finish, the Thames Path is perfect for a Spring walk. From The Runnymede on Thames, follow the path right to walk through areas of woodland and over bridges to reach Staines-upon-Thames and Staines Bridge. The latter is a Roman crossing along the Devil’s Highway on the way to Londinium. Walking in the other direction along the Thames Path takes you through the Runnymede Pleasure Grounds, around an impressive bend in the river up towards the various Magna Carta monuments.

Thames Path

4. South Harefield Walk, Colne Valley Regional Park

This 25,000-acre park is around 13 miles from The Runnymede on Thames and has a changing landscape of farmland, woodland, lakes and canals. There is an abundance of self-guided walks that are easy to follow. One of our favourites is the South Harefield Walk. Along this walk, you’ll pass Black Jack’s Mill, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book and is used as a filming location for programmes such as Dr Who. The walk also takes in the Grand Union Canal, which impressively links London and Birmingham.

South Harefield Walk

Colne Valley National Park also runs guided walks – check the Colne Valley National Park website.

5. Virginia Water Lake

This lake is located at the southern end of Windsor Great Park, just three miles from The Runnymede on Thames. Surrounded by gardens and greenery, the complete circuit of the lake is about 4.5 miles long. Stop off at the Pavilion for a coffee after taking in landscapes ranging from waterfalls to ancient monuments, including part of an ancient temple from Leptis Magna in Roman Libya. This is an area that continues to surprise visitors; there’s also a 100-foot totem pole to view in all its glory.

Virginia Park Lake

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