In this early part of October, COVID-19 restrictions allowed six of us to meet up, socially distanced, in Windsor Great Park. I arrived at the car park on Sheet Street Road early. So early in fact that the gates were not open and I waited in a layby opposite.
It was still dark when the gates were opened just before 7 am and I followed another member of the Club along the road. We parked in laybys off the one way road that ran parallel to Sheet Street Road. Between the cars and the Great Park is a ditch and a grassed open area and finally a fence. To get into the Park we walked down the fence towards Windsor and then along a lane that had trees on the left and a fence on the right. Then we were on the Long Walk.
The Walk was already busy with dog walkers and joggers. We turned away from the castle and went through a turnstile. This was the first time that I had been on the Long Walk. On both sides of the Walk were lines of trees that lead away from Windsor and towards the statue of King George III.
The Copper Horse
The Long Walk is deceptively long and as the road turned to the left we could see the statue ahead of us on a small hill. Under the Copper Horse I looked back towards Windsor Castle down the Long Walk.
Looking back at the statue I caught some of the rising sun.
From the base I tried to get a closer look at George III.
Another view towards Windsor.
Looking Eastwards this is the view of London.
The deer in the Great Park
We followed the road to the left and met a couple of stags crossing the road.
We turned left and walked towards the bellowing of stags in the woods below us. As we approached through the trees the stag and does ran out into the open space below the trees.
We walked across the open space towards more bellowing and were treated to more does and a stag out in the open.
From behind us another stag emerged from the trees and gave chase to the does and the other stag.
In the open
We followed the deer and then one of the stags turned and started walking back towards us.
We were grateful to be able to shelter behind a solitary tree as the stag eventually passed us by. We now turned towards the Long Walk. Deer were in the trees ahead of us and to our right. Our interest was peaked by geese high up in the trees in a small copse. My 24-1o5 mm only them as specks at the top of the tall trees. As we climb a small rise this tree came into view.
As we neared the Long Walk we had more views of the statue.
Windsor Castle had large white tarpaulins so this view of the Castle down the Long Walk uses the trees to hide the repairs.
And then one more image looking away from Windsor.
It was along walk back to the cars and we stopped to watch hovering birds of prey just over the fence as we walked back along the lane. The car park was now full at way after 10 am.