Explore the revamped Chess Valley Walk
The Chess Valley Walk has recently undergone a revamp, with new information boards, footpath improvements, new signage and logo. The whole route is from Rickmansworth or Chesham; or you can take in a section. It’s well-signposted – look out for the logo featuring a little egret. One of the most beautiful stretches is around Latimer – around an hour’s average walk from Chesham, or 30 minutes from Chalfont and Latimer station.
Explore Chesham and Chilterns National Landscape
A Walkers are Welcome town, Chesham is the starting point for walks along the Chess Valley, and surrounding hilltop villages and countryside.
Discover the heart of the Chilterns National Landscape with OS Explorer maps 181 (Chiltern Hills North) and 172 (Chiltern Hills East), which cover this stretch of the Chiltern Hills.
All walking routes included on this website are by kind permission of Chesham Walkers are Welcome, Chiltern Society, Chiltern National Landscape or Chesham Museum.
Pub to pub walks around Chesham
Six leaflets from The Chiltern Society describe a full walking circuit of village pubs around Chesham.
- The Bell*, Chartridge to the Cock and Rabbit, The Lee
- Cock and Rabbit to The Old Swan, Swan Bottom
- Old Swan* to the White Lion, St Leonards
- The White Lion to The Full Moon, Cholesbury
- The Full Moon to The Blue Ball, Asheridge
- The Blue Ball to The Bell*, Chartridge
*The Bell and The Old Swan are currently closed. All other pubs open but please check our Eat and Drink section for details, and contact the relevant pub in advance to check opening hours.
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Explore Chesham
Themed town trails explore the history of Chesham. See the links for walks developed by Chesham Walkers are Welcome.
Explore the villages and countryside
Chesham Walkers are Welcome and The Chiltern Society publish details of walks noted for their fine views, rich wildlife and local interest.
A selection of walks with starting points in Chesham take in one or more neighbouring villages, with country pubs along the way. See Villages for more walks.
Chess Valley Walk
The 16km (10 miles) Chess Valley Walk passes through some of the most attractive scenery in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Waymarked throughout, the walk follows the valley of the River Chess between Rickmansworth and Chesham, linking villages and passing historic buildings and estates, water meadows, ancient field systems and nature reserves. At times the route gets close to the clear waters of the Chess, one of the Chilterns’ precious chalk streams. The river and its margins are rich in wildlife including kingfishers, water voles, brown trout, orchids and dragonflies.
Chartridge Hills and Vales walk
The 13km (8-mile) walk explores the Pednor Valley and Asheridge Vale, with shorter options along the way. Starting in Chesham’s Lowndes Park, the beautiful Pednor section drinks in views over Pednor Bottom and passes through the hamlet of Pednor itself. From the Chartridge Mission Church, the path descends to Asheridge Vale and the Blue Ball pub on the other side of the ridge.
Tylers Hill, Ley Hill & The Chess
Circular walk, which also takes in the Crown pub and passes along the River Chess behind The Pheasant pub.
Striking out to the east of Chesham, this quiet and peaceful 8km (5 miles) walk explores the network of paths in the beautiful rolling countryside between Chesham and the cluster of villages of Tylers Hill, Ley Hill and Botley.
Chesham Riverside and Woodland Walk
This 4km (2.5 miles) stile free walk from Chesham town centre offers a gentle introduction to Chesham’s woodland and river setting. It weaves through lovely Bucks beechwoods and back down to the River Chess, as it runs beside the open space of Chesham Moor. Route details for Chesham Riverside and Woodland Walk
Chesham Outer Ring
Although never more than half a mile from the edge of the town, at times this route seems to be in the depths of the countryside, with outstanding views across valleys and farms. The total length is 13km (7.5 miles) but there are a number of places where it is possible to shorten the walk by returning directly to the start. **please note The Black Horse pub mentioned en route was renamed Hungry Olive and is no longer open.
Captain’s Wood
From Chesham Vale to Hawridge and back through the wood
This 9km (5.7 miles) walk links the valley fields of Chesham Vale with Hawridge village and Captain’s Wood – an ancient woodland and designated nature reserve. The lower bank of the wood, which may date back to the 7th century, is one of the most diverse hedgerows in the Chilterns.
Amersham to Chesham ‘Station to Station’
From the station at Amersham on the Hill, the 8.8km (4.5 miles) stile free route takes in the memorial to local Lollard martyrs before descending to the River Misbourne in the picturesque heart of Old Amersham. It heads for Chesham through Hervines Wood, noted for dazzling displays of bluebells, finishing with a descent through peaceful fields to Chesham’s Old Town and High Street.
Chorleywood to Chesham ‘Station to Station’
Chenies village and Tudor Manor House are early highlights on this scenic 13.6km (8.5 miles) walk. The route then crosses the sparkling waters of the River Chess before climbing to the village of Ley Hill, with its serenely wooded common and golf course. From here, the walk turns down the hill to Chesham.
Little Chalfont to Chesham ‘Station to Station’
From the station at Little Chalfont, this 9.6km (6 mile) walk leads down through beechwoods to the valley of the River Chess. Passing Latimer Park Farm, site of a 1st-century Roman villa, it crosses the river at Latimer, with the choice of taking the Chess Valley Walk to Chesham. The station route skirts Latimer Estate and church and loops through fields with open views, descending to reach Chesham via Waterside and the River Chess.
See the Trails tab on our Things to do page for the Suffragettes trail, Eye Spy Museum trail, and orienteering and more
See our Villages page for walks from each village
Pub to pub walks
Six leaflets describe a full circuit of village pubs starting at Chartridge or choose individual routes. Please make a donation to help the Chiltern Society keep these walks open and maintained if you can.
Time for bluebells
Head out into the woods
All around Chesham in the hilltop villages and woods you can find displays of bluebells usually from around mid-April. This year they began a little earlier than usual.
Among the most accessible are Cowcroft Woods at Ley Hill (near The Crown pub); Hawridge and Cholesbury Commons (near eg Full Moon pub). Captains Wood near Hivings Hill.
Ley Hill Circular Walk for example includes Cowcroft Wood nature reserve. Start out from The Crown pub at Ley Hill for views of the Chess Valley.
All photographs are © of the individual photographers, and not to be re-used without permission.