Crowthorne: Nature, History and Hotels

A stay in Crowthorne can focus on a range of interests: landscape, archaeological context, architectural and memorial history, or an active challenge. If you are looking for a hotel, it helps to first decide which of these themes you want to shape your trip.

Landscape and orientation

Buckler's Forest is a 42-hectare site in Crowthorne; that is equivalent to 103.7 acres. As site details may change, it is advisable to check the latest information when planning.

Crowthorne Wood is accessed via the car park and visitor centre at the Look Out, off Nine Mile Ride. The Look Out Discovery Centre is on Nine Mile Ride in Crowthorne.

The information answers different planning questions: the area figure refers to Buckler's Forest, while the access information refers to Crowthorne Wood. The Discovery Centre, located on Nine Mile Ride, is a separate point of reference. When noting down your destinations, it helps to match each name with the relevant information.

Archaeology at Caesar's Camp

Caesar's Camp is a well-preserved hillfort whose layout follows the contours of the land. Within the hillfort is an approximately square earthwork about 40 m wide. It appears to have been part of a defensive line created in 1792 for military training purposes.

For archaeological context, it is worth looking at two scales: the contours of the land describe the shape of the hillfort, while the earthwork is a single feature within it. Its connection to the defensive line is a possibility; the line itself was created for military training. At Caesar's Camp, the overall form and a specific, approximately square feature can therefore be considered side by side.

Architectural history and remembrance

The Church of St John the Baptist was designed by Arthur Blomfield and built between 1873 and 1890. Its lych gate is of national significance as a memorial to those who fell in the First World War. The churchyard, which has been used as a burial ground since 1873, attracts many visitors; graves of considerable historical significance contribute to this appeal.

The year 1873 marks both the beginning of the construction period and the start of the churchyard's use as a burial ground. The lych gate provides a separate historical link to the remembrance of those who fell in the First World War.

At Wellington College, the main buildings and front walls are listed Grade II*. This adds a designation for listed buildings to the church's architectural and memorial associations, and explicitly applies to specific parts of the college. The historical points of interest therefore differ: for the church, these include its construction period, churchyard and memorial, while for the college, the listing applies to the main buildings and front walls.

An active challenge

Go Ape offers the Treetop Challenge in Crowthorne Wood: a high ropes course with obstacles high above the ground and thrilling zip lines. Unlike Caesar's Camp, where the archaeological form and its possible connection to the training line are of interest, here the focus is on obstacles and zip lines. If you are looking for a hotel in Crowthorne, you can weigh up these different travel interests according to what you want your stay to focus on.

Discover more destinations: Sandhurst, Winkfield Row, Binfield, Winkfield, Bracknell.

For the broader travel overview: Bracknell Forest.