Walks from Chorleywood

Chess Valley, Chiltern Hills, hill climbs, panoramic views, woods, celandine and bluebell woods, valley rim permissive path and suburban finish.

Warnings: Can flood after rain.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

The chalk-stream Chess Valley, valley-side footpaths and woodland, through the villages of Flaunden and Sarratt to Chorleywood.

The Chess Valley: A scenic Chilterns valley carved by the chalk-stream River Chess, threaded by footpaths between Chesham and Rickmansworth.

Walk details: Walk by Rail (tips and local insights).

Brilliant views over the Chess Valley; the unique yellow gold of autumn beeches shining in the low sun. A wooded Chilterns walk crossing open land, field edges and well-made farm tracks, with great views over the Chess Valley. Underfoot is variable — soft mud or grass in the open, exposed and sometimes hidden tree roots in the woods, tiring stony bases on the farm tracks. Can be deeply muddy when wet and but no long climbs. Spectacular for snowdrops, bluebells and daffodils in season; muntjac deer present. No facilities between the two towns apart from benches.

Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.

The Chess Valley: A scenic Chilterns valley carved by the chalk-stream River Chess, threaded by footpaths between Chesham and Rickmansworth.

Time: 2h30–5h

Lunch: No facilities between the towns apart from benches; shops at either end.

Warnings: Slippery, sometimes deep mud after wet weather — good boots advised. One fast-traffic crossing of the A404 (Amersham Road). Confusing signposting near Whitelands Wood at the Chorleywood end.

Walk details: Walk by Rail (tips and local insights).

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

A varied, undulating walk over fields, through woods and across a golf course, with quiet lanes and a few short steep hills and a couple of muddy patches. Many stiles and narrow sections make it inaccessible to wheels. Look out for golf balls when crossing Gerrards Cross Golf Club.

Time: 3h–5h30

Warnings: A dual carriageway is crossed shortly after leaving Gerrards Cross, though it has a large central reservation; the A413 must be crossed near Gerrards Cross at the end. Some stiles are rickety.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Track with fine views, beech woods, bluebells and rare coralroot flower and suburban descent to station.

Source: A shorter variant of Chorleywood to Chesham – the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Wooded hills, open fields, Chiltern countryside, historic museum grounds and residential lanes.

Source: An alternative variant of Beaconsfield Circular – the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).