The Long Walk at Windsor
Visible from the State Entrance of Windsor Castle, the 'Long Walk' is a 2.64-mile tree-lined avenue created during the reign of Charles II. It is part of Windsor Great Park as it lies outside the Castle boundary, and views of the Castle or the Copper Horse at either end of the avenue are among the most recognisable views in Windsor.
The Long Walk was originally lined with elm trees which were renewed at appropriate times, but following the encroachment of Dutch Elm disease in Britain in the 1980s, the avenue was replanted with a combination oak, horse chestnut and London plane trees, which form a particularly special sight in spring and autumn as they come into leaf and turn to autumnal colours, at different times.
Although the start of the Long Walk lies close to the Castle and within the private area of the Home Park, visitors can access the Long Walk from George IV Gate close to the south front of the Castle.
George IV celebrated his father’s love of Windsor and the Great Park, by commissioning a large sculpture of George III on horseback, known locally as the Copper Horse, which stands at the opposite end of the Long Walk on a rise called Snow Hill. Weighing 4 tons, the bronze statue depicts George III on horseback pointing towards his favourite home, Windsor Castle. Despite bearing the inscription: ‘King George to George III, best of fathers’, George IV died before the sculpture was completed. It was erected at the end of the Long Walk in 1831 during the reign of William IV. It has long been called ‘The Copper Horse’, though Queen Victoria did not approve of this name, telling a guest off who referred to it in this way: ‘You mean’, she said coldly, ‘the equestrian statue of our Grandfather’.
You can also read about the East Terrace Garden at Windsor Castle.
