Windsor Great Park Illuminated (or simply Windsor Illuminated) has now ended, but I visited it this past Saturday on its final weekend. Windsor Great Park hosted a winter light trail from the end of November last year until early January, bringing a light trail with light installations and music for visitors to experience. The trail took about a little over an hour to walk, though I prefer to take my time but was being rushed by the bloke who complained of it being too cold and damp; it was not raining, but it had rained earlier in the day. I like to experience the atmosphere of the immersive light trail, watch the displays set to soundscapes, and take photographs. Next time, I will leave him at home so that I can enjoy it!
The first part of the trail was probably the muddiest part through what looked like a temporary path that was drenched in mud. Around the first bend was a display of sparkling lights reflecting off of disco balls high in the air. The illuminated trees changed colour, and the small lights from these disco balls were projected onto the ground below.
Of course, music was being projected from speakers along the trail with various songs playing, but I think the Christmas music was largely replaced by classic pop music.
The illuminated trees with the disco lights was a small length of trail, and this came to the main pathway, bordered with illuminated hedges covered with white light nettings.
In front of me, was the lake, which contained beautiful illuminated trees on the other side of the lake, and these colours shifted onto the trees.
The path continued around with an impressive view of additional illuminated trees and an illuminated ship in the lake.
The path split here, but going onto the right would have skipped out the majority of the trail. So, we continued on and soon came across this beautiful display of patterned sequenced lights set to a soundscape. The lights changed colour and pattern and were also projected onto the trees, and it was a beautiful display.
After this, we walked past a giant gift with a blue ribbon, designed to be used as a prop for photographs, and some additional photograph props: an illuminated archway with mistletoe and an illuminated set of wings. There was also an illuminated tree and a couple parts of the trail decorated with large stars around some of the trees.
Another interesting display was on a beautiful giant tree, and it had a thunderstorm soundscape and lit up as if it were being illuminated by lightning. The colours of the light illumination changed, but I thought the standard white light mimicked the effect of the thunderstorm best.
After this, there was a light tunnel that changed colour.
The trail led through a slightly muddy trail through the woods, which were illuminated with changing colours.
A really fun section of this trail were additional light displays with smoke machines and light projections, which really made a great experience to walk through. There were two of these, and they were both different.
The trail continued to loop around through another field of stars and some additional props to get photographs near.
The next art installation was a transparent screen suspended in the air between two trees, and there were different moving images projected onto it: an owl, a dancer, flowers with moths, and eyes.
There was a place to stop and get food and drink, and I had a hot chocolate and toasted marshmallow (which the bloke complained about because he did not want to wait around, though it actually does not take long to toast a marshmallow or drink a small hot chocolate, which I took around with me anyway) before continuing on.
More stars and props were dotted along the path, which came out of the main wooded area. One of the props was an illuminated hot air balloon.
The trail came out on the other side of the lake with additional views over the illuminated trees on the opposite side with some illuminiated water lillies in the foreground.
The trail then led along the lake on a straight well-defined pathway lined with stars, lights, snowflakes, and other illuminations.
At the end of this, beside the bridge, was another display with illuminated flowers and birds in motion being projected onto a waterfall.
The final part of the trail led over the bridge and down an illuminated rainbow path. The colours of the rainbow moved. At the end of this trail is the obelisk, which is also illuminated.
Right before the obelisk, the trees were lit up with soundscape and changing colours and lights on the trunk.
The end of the trail had a bar, carousel, and a couple of food kiosks. The bloke did not want to wait around, so we rushed off reluctantly. Next time, I will go on my own so that I am not rushed.
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