Chess Valley Walk: Chorleywood to Little Chalfont

Start: Chorleywood station

Finish: Chalfont and Latimer station

Length: 9.33 km / 5.8 miles

Weather: Bright and sunny

Map Link

The Chess is a chalk stream, fed by groundwater, through layers of chalk rock. It is a shallow, narrow stream, with gravel beds and clear, warm water. Along it you will find a diverse amount of wildlife. All this makes for a perfect walk in the lovely spring sun.

 

We started at Chorleywood Station and having worked out the online payment for parking we headed up to Chorleywood Common.

Chorleywood Common

 

The church at the other side of Chorleywood Common.

Chorleywood Common

 

A short walk through the estate of Chorleywood House and a short section through a wood, brings you to the Chess Valley and it's river.

chess valley walk

 

A quaint cottage on the other side of the river.

chess valley walk

 

At a junction of paths, cross over the footbridge and walk through a small wood to a lane.

chess valley walk

 

chess valley walk

 

chess valley walk

 

chess valley walk

 

Lane Wood in the background, the Chess in the foreground and deer in the field, seen here as pinhead sized black dots.

chess valley walk

 

chess valley walk

 

Frogmore Meadow Nature Reserve is untainted by fertilisers and pesticides and so wildflowers and water voles abound.

chess valley walk

 

Blackthorn blossom.

chess valley walk

 

William Liberty, was a local brickmaker and relative of the founders of Liberty's of London. He asked to be buried alone, out of fear that he would not be able to identify his bones when the time came to be resurrected. Talk about delusions of grandeur.

William Liberty

 

chess valley walk

 

Latimer House, a mansion on the hill on the edge of the village, was once a home of members of the Cavendish family who became the barons Chesham. It was built in 1838 by Charles Compton Cavendish, 1st Baron Chesham. It is currently a hotel that specialises in weddings and conferences..

Latimer House

 

chess valley walk