New Eton walkway to be unveiled in September

A new two-mile walk around Eton will be unveiled in September.

Markers will connect 18 points of interest in the town and should take walkers about an hour to complete.

The bronze disks, set into the pavement, will feature the Eton town crest which was granted by Henry VI in 1449 and includes lilies and a lion.

The route will take in Eton Bridge, Eton Porny School, St John the Baptist Church and Eton College.

Other lesser-known sites will include the Olympic marathon measuring point and the stocks outside Eton’s oldest building.

Eton Community Association came up with the idea and called on the Outdoor Trust to make the project a reality.

The trust, a charity, also created the walkway in Windsor which officially launched on the Queen's 90th birthday in April and includes 63 points of interest along a 6.37km (four-mile) route.

Ros Rivaz, chair of the Eton Community Association, said: “I am very pleased that the walkway is going to start appearing on our streets in the next few weeks.”

She added that the association plans to unveil a panel at Eton Bridge by the spring.

A free guide will also be available at shops in the town and online to download.

The project is being supported by Eton Town Council, Eton College and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, which has been looking at the best areas of the town to be included in the trail.

Lord William Waldegrave, provost of Eton College, said: “I am delighted that our staff and students have already stepped up to support the historical research for the points of interest and that our geography department is involving boys in assessing the impact of the new walkway on increasing footfall along the High Street to enhance the sustainability of the town.”