Three Castles Path (England)

Bracknell Forest, Hampshire, Windsor & Maidenhead

This route was inspired by the 13th century journeys of King John via the Castle built by him near Odiham. The route takes in Windsor Great Park to Ascot, the Crown Estate south of Bracknell, the Blackwater Valley, the Basingstoke canal, the Whitewater River and the River Itchen from Itchen Abbas to the Great Hall, at The Castle, Winchester.

There are some hilly sections but it is mainly easy walking. Apart from Hartley Wintney and Odiham/North Warnborough, only small villages are passed en route. Intermediate rail links can be made from Ascot, Sandhurst, Crowthorne and Winchfield.

For explorers of the extensive Windsor Great Park, the book by McDowall provides historical and landscape background and describes several walks within the Park.

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2020 - Bracknell Forest Council have confirmed that the railway crossing to the north of Sandhurst (Grid Ref SU 82681 62707) has been closed permanently for safety reasons. The Public Right of Way now follows the bridge around 300m further north. This is a permanent diversion and there is appropriate signage indicating the route of the footpath.

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Details:

Path Type:	Paths Marked on OS mapping
Attributes:	Easy Canal Downland/Wolds Heath River Heritage Monarchy
Start:	SU969769 - Windsor Castle, Windsor & Maidenhead
Finish:	SU478295 - Great Hall, The Castle, Winchester, Hampshire
Web Sites:	Walking Pages - Three Castles Path Annierak - Three Castles Path [blog] Rambles & Brambles - Three Castles Path

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook	Three Castles Path  (Guidepost  - 2016 )
Guidebook	Windsor Great Park : the walker's guide  (The Laird Press (David McDowall)  - 2007 )

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