The Long Walk, Windsor

The tree-lined 2.64 miles (4.25 km) avenue known as The Long Walk was originally a path from Windsor Castle to Snow Hill. The high ground is said to have been the location where Henry VIII waited to hear the news that his second wife, Anne Boleyn, had been executed. Following the Restoration in 1660, Charles II had double rows of Elm trees planted along the entire length of the path. The king was inspired to develop Windsor Castle and the surrounding parkland after he lived at the Palace of Versailles during his exile from Britain when it was the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell. The creation of The Long Walk was one of his first improvement plans.

In 1710 Queen Anne had the path through the center of the trees replaced by a road so coaches could use the route to enter and leave Windsor Castle.