Pedal to the Park

About

Pedal to the Park is a special event, from Windsor Cycle Hub (WCH), to show you and your family how to cycle to the Great Park from Windsor.

WCH will have a team to welcome you at Stag Meadow (by the football club) from 10:30am. They’ll check your bikes and send you up the car-free cycle path to Ranger’s Gate.

Let’s be honest, there’s a hill – so gears or a tow bar are a must. But it’s fine to stop and walk – there’ll be a Treasure Hunt to keep kids motivated. There’s a great place to pause under the trees for a drink and rest.

WCH’s volunteers (in their distinctive orange gilets) will be stationed along the route to encourage you and lead the way. At Ranger’s Gate, there’s another hill up to the Village – just follow the signs and the volunteers. If you’re coming in from another gate, then simply follow the signs to The Village Shop.

WCH and friends will be on the Village Green where you can have a rest and, if you’re one of the first 50 riders, a free banana. The Post Office will be open for drinks, snacks and, importantly, the loo. But don’t forget to bring a picnic with you, and drinks for the ride up. Also, it’s England, so best bring some rain jackets.

On the green (from 11am-3pm), there will be a variety of stalls with different sorts of bike (including kids’ bikes to try), skills challenges for smaller children, safety checks and security tips – including free Bike Register marking.

There will be 2 clearly marked cycle routes, an easy one around the Village and a longer hillier version that takes in the Royal School and Queen’s jubilee statue. Again, WCH’s orange-clad volunteers will be out along the routes to help. They may offer some fully guided rides too.

Windsor Great Park is an excellent place to cycle, WCH wants to show you how simple it is to get there and what it has to offer. It’s practically traffic free, has lovely smooth roads and is a beautiful place throughout the year.

Finding it is easy: from the middle of Windsor just follow the blue and red no.4 signs from Vansittart Road, they take you all the way to Stag Meadow via Bulkeley Avenue etc.

The Great Park provides plenty of information on its website about where to cycle and parking. It’s really important to only cycle where permitted, this is clearly shown on the Great Park’s map and park signage. You can download the map from the Great Park website. Save it on your phone or print a copy and keep it in your saddle bag.

To whet your appetite, please take a few minutes to watch this video about Windsor Great Park and what it has to offer. You might even spot some of WCH’s volunteers in it.

If you can’t make this special event, don’t forget that Windsor Great Park will still be there, and these tips should help a future visit. Meanwhile, Windsor Cycle Hub meet every Saturday from 11am at The Swan community pub in Mill Lane, Clewer.

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