Windsor Great Park riding pass, worth it?

[Haphazardhacker]

I am a happy hacker and love nothing more than boxing up and going for a hack. I am seriously considering getting the pass to ride in Windsor Great Park but just wondered if it is worth the money. I see there are two car parks to use, are these pretty safe? Do they have any facilities?
Also is there plenty of exploring you can do from both car parks and is it straight into the park?
My girl is only a light hack but she still loves going out and about so we’re looking for somewhere lovely to just mooch about with no steep hills to go down. Would the park fit the bill?
Thank you in advance

 

[teapot]

WGP is a heaven, I was at uni up that way and I miss it so much, used to walk from halls to WGP.

You need to consider the park can get busy (despite its size) so if you enjoy dodging tourists, cyclists, kids, buggies, it's one for you, far worse on weekend days obviously. However given the tracks you have right of way as such. See also deer. They close the grassland in the winter months, with just access to the roads and tracks; the actual parkland can be/get notoriously hard (one of the reasons the three day event finally ended, which you can still see some of the fences if you know where to look). There are zero facilities at Ranger's Gate carpark I seem to remember, but it's a good size parking wise. To get into the park you ride from carpark down the tarmac and cross the A332 via a Pegasus crossing, and then through some park gates. I think it would take a while to get bored of exploring the park, it's vast, and undulating but not steep.

The Swinley Park carpark is south west of Ascot racecourse, and not actually part of WGP. More Bracknell Forest and a seperate entity. Far more tress and far fewer views/statues/ponds/totem poles/possible royal spotting opportunities.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Yes yes yes. I have done a few hacks in Windsor via a company and they are glorious. I am local to the area and has always been my plan to get a pass once I have my own transport.

 

[Surbie]

I try to go to any fun ride in the park - it's a glorious place to ride.

 

[Silver Clouds]

I've always wanted to ride there but sadly the fact I'm a four hour journey away rather precludes it! If I lived <1hr away then I would buy a riding pass (I have walked in the park on foot, and as a child lived in the area for a couple of years).

 

[GinaGeo]

Well that looks beautiful!

Unfortunately I'm three hours away - so probably a little excessive to go hacking.

 

[littleshetland]

I had a job at a yard adjacent to WGP back in the 70's so got to ride in it a lot ......yes, definitely worth it - it's fabulous.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

It's been a ruddy nightmare since lockdown 1, every loony and its friend cycling, running and having loose dogs on the riding tracks. Still ongoing now but a little better on weekdays.
Currently you do need a steady non reactive neddy and be prepared to keep stopping or ride through the eejits....

 

[Haphazardhacker]

Thanks everyone, yeah my girl is an ex polo pony and very very chilled. During lockdown our local woods seemed to be “daily exercise” central so used to dealing with idiots. We went for a recce today and parked in the Rangers Gate car park. Looked lovely and perfect how close to the park you are. We spent a good two hours on foot exploring.

 

[Quigleyandme]

My son was there for a week rehearsing for Prince Philip’s funeral and did lots of hacking around the park. He said it was fantastic.