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Enter the National Trust’s Ankerwycke parkland. Go through a kissing gate with the River Thames ahead and admire the views of Runnymede and the site where King John sealed the Magna Carta. The path bears right emerging on to an open field. Continue ahead to a hedge-lined path—do not cross the stile in the left-hand corner of the field—and follow this to the ruins of the 12th-century St Mary’s Priory, formerly home to a community of Benedictine nuns.
Just beyond, on the right, is the Ankerwycke yew, reputedly more than 2,000 years old and designated by the Tree Council as one of 50 great British trees.
Continue for about 100 yards to a National Trust marker post and follow the arrow left to a kissing gate. Enter the field and then cross a wooden bridge ahead. Follow the path through this large field, aiming for houses in the distance. On the way, look left at the RAF memorial.
Leave by the gate and cross the lane to follow the footpath sign to the right of the houses on Mede Close. Aiming for the spire of St Andrew’s, pass through four gates. Leave the churchyard on your right and turn right at the main road. Pass The George Inn on your left and the intricate trellis-work on The Grange, opposite.
Turn left on to The Green passing the playground, cricket pitch, tennis court and bowls club, over the charming pond by the windmill—now a private house—and come out at The Perseverance to your right. It has a Sunday roast, as well as specials, plenty of wines by the glass and comfy furniture. If the mussels, with cream, wine and garlic, the three-bean and cheddar bake, or the range of burgers do not tempt you, then continue to the Baptist Church.
Opposite, go through a squeeze stile on a signed path and follow this, with occasional lake views, to the weatherboard barns by Tithe Farm. Turn right when the lane reaches the road and Wraysbury station is ahead.
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