Exploring the River Chess in 2022

This linear route starts from Chorleywood Underground Station with a short walk out of the town and onto Chorleywood Common. We will skirt the Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire county border, and cross the River Chess several times en route to the market town of Chesham. There will be a little noise from the nearby M25, but this will be short lived as we move further west along the Chess Valley.

Climbing up the side of the valley on the way to towards the village of Sarratt we will be rewarded with far reaching views up and along the Chess Valley, before descending into the valley again and alongside the River Chess. Here we will pass by lots of friendly horses, some nonchalant alpacas, and the last remaining watercress farm in the valley.  Here the river is the county demarcation, where we will cross again into Buckinghamshire. 

Entering the village of Chenies we’ll pass alongside the remnants of Chenies Manor. This Grade I listed Tudor house was once the seat of the Russell family before they relocated to Woburn Abbey. Shortly after this we will stop for lunch overlooking the valley.

Further on we will pass alongside Latimer House, situated to command excellent views of the valley. The current Tudor style structure dates from the 1830s, and as a replacement for the Elizabethan house that previously occupied the site. The house was used during the Second World War to contain captured enemy pilots and crew, subsequently as the National Defence College, and today it is a De Vere hotel. 

There are some fine views of the Chiltern Hills as we approach Chesham and the end of the walk. The tube journey back is rather scenic as the tube train winds its way back along the Chess Valley to central London. 

Some of the lower lying parts of the valley will be very muddy underfoot, especially at the bottom of the valley. This will be offset by some long traffic free lanes. 

Start and Finish at LU Metropolitan Line stations.

New Members - I would like to warmly welcome any new members looking perhaps to try this as their first Outdoor Lads event. You may find this link useful https://www.outdoorlads.com/my-first-event or if you have If you have any questions then feel free to message me. 

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Photos and route are attributed to Neil A who researched and planned the walk in late November 2018.