Walking in Windsor Great Park With Information (early October 2012)

The Wonderyears Ramblers took to the Windsor Great Park for another of our walks, a favoured place.  This time it was decided we to walk around the lake.  The lake is man-made and dates back to 1753, it forms a drainage system for the park.  The area was boggy until William, Duke of Cumberland the third son of George 11,  tranformed the area; he also involved the then Deputy Ranger, Thomas Sandy and his brother Paul.  The work was continued by Henry, brother of George 111.  George 111 favoured Windsor Castle with it's park above being in London, he was affectionately known as 'Farmer George'.  The lake is one hundred and thirty acres in area, the length is slighly over two miles and on a third of a mile wide at it's widest point.  The walk we made was four and a half miles, using one of the bridges; though the cicumference is about seven miles.  It was, when formed, one of the largest artificial lakes in England.   The first photo I took of the lake is the first view you see when coming into the park at the Wheatsheaf entrance.  The second and third from the landing stage across to 'Botany Bay', those of you who saw the Robin Hood film featuring Russell Crowe might recognise the scene, though at the time the steps led to a castle and there was a landing stage.  At one time boats would have been seen on the lake but it was later deemed dangerous by Edward V111, due to 'vegetable ooze' at the bottom of the lake.

If you turn around you will see the ruins which are from Lepcis Magna in Tripoli.  They were a gift to George 1V when he was Prince Regent.  The ruins are thought to be about 2000 years old and have recently been renovated, they seem to be some ancient temple.

Further round the lake is The Cascade, or Waterfall.  The stones were brought from Bagshot Heath.   By the side of the Cascade immense stones are arranged to form a cavern, I've only just learnt about it and it's probably not available to the public due to it being dangerous, even climbing up by the side of the cascade is deemed dangerous; though people do and they walk along the top.  The stream runs eventually into the Thames at Chertsey. 
We concluded our walk with a coffee in the Wheatsheaf.  Although the sun hadn't been out we'd enjoyed our afternoon.