9k Run Runnymede: Scenic Loop from Windsor Great Park

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 8.7km scenic loop through the heart of Windsor Great Park offers a flat, fast, and remarkably tranquil running experience. Starting at the iconic Savill Garden, the route takes you on an almost entirely paved journey (95%) through the lush Valley Gardens. With a gentle ascent of only 23m, this course is perfect for runners looking to maintain a steady tempo or those wanting to enjoy the sights of Wick Pond and the expansive Virginia Water without the distraction of difficult climbs. The path winds past Johnson’s Pond and through Cumberland Gate, providing a varied landscape of botanical collections and ancient woodlands that change beautifully with the seasons.

Runnymede and Windsor Great Park are steeped in over 1,000 years of British history, serving as a private hunting ground for kings before becoming the public treasure it is today. Running this loop connects you to the site where the Magna Carta was sealed in 1215, just a stone's throw from the park boundaries. As you pass Virginia Water, you’ll encounter the striking 18th-century "Leptis Magna" Roman ruins—re-erected fragments brought from Libya—and the towering 100-foot Totem Pole gifted by British Columbia. It’s a landscape where royal heritage meets horticultural excellence, making every kilometer feel like a run through a living museum.