Crowthorne offers a variety of ways to shape a stay: a forest area with a stated size, a well-preserved hillfort, an elevated climbing activity and listed architecture. You can therefore choose primarily according to whether landscape, archaeological features, activity, or architectural and memorial history will define your trip.
Forest, terrain and archaeological traces
Buckler’s Forest is a 42-hectare area in Crowthorne, equivalent to 103.7 acres. Caesar’s Camp offers a different focus: the well-preserved hillfort follows the contours of the terrain. For travellers interested in historic sites and how they adapt to the landscape, this combination of form and terrain provides a specific point of interest.
Within Caesar’s Camp is an approximately square earthwork, about 40 m wide. It appears to have been part of the defensive line created in 1792 for military training purposes. This possible attribution adds a military-historical context to the hillfort. It is worth distinguishing between the two features: the hillfort follows the contours of the terrain, while the statement about the defensive line refers to the earthwork.
Finding your way around Crowthorne Wood
The Look Out Discovery Centre is on Nine Mile Ride in Crowthorne. Access to Crowthorne Wood is via the car park and visitor centre at the Look Out, away from Nine Mile Ride.
Go Ape in Crowthorne Wood offers the Treetop Challenge, a high ropes course with obstacles high above the ground and thrilling zip lines. Those looking for an active experience rather than an archaeological focus will find a distinctly different option from Caesar’s Camp.
Architectural and memorial history
At Wellington College, the main buildings and front walls are listed Grade II*. At the Church of St John the Baptist, architectural history and remembrance come together: the church was designed by Arthur Blomfield and built between 1873 and 1890. Its churchyard has been used as a burial ground since 1873.
The year 1873 refers here to two different dates: the start of the church’s construction and the start of the churchyard’s use as a burial ground. The Lych Gate provides a distinct memorial focus. It serves as a memorial to those who fell in the First World War and is of national importance. The churchyard attracts many visitors; graves of considerable historical significance also draw additional visitors. The themes at the church site are therefore distinct: architectural history, the burial ground and remembrance each have their own connection.
Which themes will shape your stay?
To help you choose, compare the themes by their character: Buckler’s Forest represents an area with a stated size; Caesar’s Camp, a hillfort that follows the contours of the terrain and includes an earthwork; and the Treetop Challenge, an active climbing experience. Wellington College and the Church of St John the Baptist bring listed-building and memorial history to the fore. You can choose Crowthorne according to which of these different perspectives best suits your planned stay.
Discover more destinations: Winkfield Row, Bracknell, Winkfield, Binfield, Sandhurst.
Return to the main travel overview: Bracknell Forest.
