Long Walk? I should say so!

It's been a lovely Christmas, and a very peaceful New Year.

I started a post about resolutions for 2007, but kept slipping into negativity (same old, same old...), so I left it for a while. Now I'm starting again, but this time I'll tell you about what I did today as it's not unrelated, resolution-wise.

So, it's my last day on holiday and I've been more or less housebound since Boxing Day. Thomas went back to school today and I didn't need to pick him up until late because it's Wednesday, when he goes to after school club. A whole day of 'freedom'! In need of fresh air and exercise, I decided that a good brisk walk was just the ticket. And I've been intending to walk The Long Walk in Windsor for ages. Hurrah!

Obviously, a nice long walk needs to be accompanied by some good music (rather than all them pesky nature sounds...) but I'd left my iPod at Mum's, so I had to pop over there after dropping Thomas off at school. Mum decided to come too - hurrah again! - so we poo-pooed the prospect of rain, laughed at the grey skies and set off Windsor-wards.

We got off to an excellent start - we found Windsor. We even managed to find the right car park in Windsor Great Park! Setting off across the road in roughly the right direction, deftly avoiding the horse poop, tramping up our first hill of the day, we eventually found the huge statue of George III sitting on a horse, pretending to be a Roman (George, not the horse) and pointing towards Slough. Unfortunately, Mum lost her glasses somewhere along the way. We retraced our steps, but to no avail. I think a squirrel must have nabbed them when we turned our backs.

The oak trees in the park were incredibly dramatic against the steely skies - my research tells me that some of them were planted in the early 12th Century. Incredible! (There is a warning sign at the entrance to the park warning of the potential of 'shedding' branches, so we didn't hang about underneath the trees for too long!)

Standing at the base of the imposing statue we were at the peak of Snow Hill and had a fabulous view for miles, including the two and a half mile Long Walk, straight ahead of us to Windsor Castle's front door.

About halfway down we noticed some strange brown shapes off to the right - we couldn't figure out what they were, but decided they were some kind of dying marsh plant (you had to be there...). As we got closer and drew level, we realised that they were actually hundreds of deer, and as we walked past them they all stopped and stared at us. Every single one. It was unnerving, so we edged away slowly so's not to start a stampede. As soon as we'd passed, they went about their business.

We stopped in Windsor town centre for a lovely lunch, then set off to return to the car. Unfortunately, our legs had apparently turned to lead and walking was hard work. Must have been something in the coffee! That's the problem with a 'there and back again' type walk, of course. You set out enjoying the walk for its own sake. Then, when you've reached the furthest point and have to turn around, it's just a long walk back to the car. Reminding ourselves that this was doing us good, we pressed on, taking the more direct along the road. However, with no pavement, we trudged through the long, boggy grass, only discovering the nice even path when we were 500 yards from the car park.

Looking at the Ordnance Survey map, it showed that The Long Walk is the end (or maybe the beginning) of The Three Castles Path. Mum and I decided that we'd make it a goal to walk as much of this path as we can - after all, we've done the first (or last) bit!

(I've just done a bit of Googling, and it seems that there are a number of Three Castles Paths in the UK, but this one does indeed start at Windsor and goes for 60 miles to Winchester, via Odiham.)

So, that was my day. Now I'm barely able to stand up and getting out of bed in the morning is sure to be tricky!