Walking in the footsteps of King John — Three Castles Path

England is a country steeped in regal history with kings gallivanting all over the place. From visiting hunting lodges to bolstering support in faraway regions, the fortresses and castles dotted all over the landscape are often testament to the myriad journeys the rulers used to make. On the Three Castles Path, it’s King John whose footsteps you follow.

King of England between 1199 and 1216, John travelled around the country extensively and is reputed to have frequently made the journey from Windsor Castle to Winchester Castle. He had Odiham Castle built at the midway point and it’s these three castles that form this delightful hiking trail. He is perhaps most famous for signing the Magna Carta, an agreement that limited royal powers and endowed more to the barons.

At 63 miles (101 km) long, this walking trail takes you from the extraordinary Windsor Castle on the banks of the Thames through outstanding English countryside all the way to the ancient city of Winchester. Along the way, you explore the vast landscapes and vistas of Windsor Great Park, meander through thriving woodlands, cross ancient farmland, enjoy the tranquillity of canal towpaths and, of course, explore castles dating back nearly 1,000 years.

Running in a south westerly direction, the trail is fairly low-lying, with various hilly regions such as the North Wessex and South Downs rising on either side. Each stage is undulating but you rarely find anything steep and some sections are entirely flat. The trail also passes through famous places like Ascot Racecourse and near Sandhurst military academy.

While you stick to more rural areas on this trail, each stage finishes close to a settlement where you can find food and accommodation. Where this requires catching public transport or where options are severely limited, I’ve outlined specific choices in the stage descriptions. Likewise, some stages have good pub lunch stops and others will require a packed lunch.

I’ve planned the trail from Windsor to Winchester but you can just as easily tackle it the other way around. Both points are served by train stations, which are the best way to access the trail regardless of where you begin. There are rail links at or close to some middle sections of the path as well, such as at Winchfield and Sandhurst, should you want to break up the adventure. Alternatively, the towns and villages along the route usually have bus services which can take you to more train stations locally.

Hike the Three Castles Path at any time of year but if you want to get the most out of the English countryside, I recommend heading off between mid-spring and mid-autumn. This is when the hedgerows, woodlands and flowers are at their most exquisite and when birds, butterflies and dragonflies take over the landscape. Comfortable hiking boots, waterproofs and sunscreen are all essential and I highly recommend taking a camera to capture the fantastic sights.