Mute Swan
After getting to know Windsor Great Park over the last year, I'd been keen to visit the beautiful lake of Virginia Water. With Heather horse riding in the park tonight, and with the weather looking good, I took the chance to explore.
Virginia Water is part of the The Royal Landscape (map here), one thousand acres of landscaped gardens at the south end of Windsor Great Park comprising Savill Garden (paid entry), Valley Gardens and Virginia Water, the latter being the most informal area. Dammed in 1753, the lake was the largest man-made water body in England until large reservoirs began to be created. The surrounding woodland was planted when the lake was created and is now a mature habitat, with the areas to the south and west part of the Windsor Forest and Great Park SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), mainly for the veteran trees.
Looking south along the eastern side of Virgina Water
I decided to try the Virginia Water entrance, off the A30 near Wentworth, as it's the shortest walk to the lake itself. With the car park shutting for the evening as I arrived - the park itself is open from dawn until dusk - I parked in a layby approximately 200m north of the entrance. Even at nearly 7pm, the area around the park entrance was quite busy, but after a few minutes walk it appeared that most groups weren't venturing much beyond the first viewpoint over the lake. The light was beautiful - I was enjoying concentrating on the photography rather than the birds for once - and promised a lovely sunset.
Looking north on Virginia Water's most easterly arm, towards Wick Pond
Sweet Chestnut
After reaching as far as Wick Pond, I walked in the easterly fringes of the Valley Gardens. This 250 acre area is a beautifully landscaped and planted woodland garden, with extensive shrub beds and grassy clearings amongst the trees, where flowers carpet the forest floor. It's an enjoyable walk and a fine area to photograph.
Valley Gardens, The Royal Landscape, Windsor Great Park
With the sun starting to set behind the trees, I quickly headed back to the viewpoint near the Virgina Water car park, from where you can look west down the entire length of the lake: perfect for sunset shots! The area was pretty deserted now so I had only the odd walker to share a stunning sundown with.
Whilst concentrating hard on the camera and the beautiful scene unfolding before me, an equally beautiful Mute Swan crept up on me to investigate my camera bag - allowing me to take the portrait at the top of the post at extremely close quarters! Finding no food and scared by the rather large camera lens, he made a sharpish exit and swam away...allowing me to catch a shot of him bathed in the sunlight.
Mute Swan
An enjoyable couple of hours - and no doubt just the first visit of many.
