Chartridge Hills & Vales Walk

Chartridge Hills and Vales Walk

To the west of Chesham are a number of parallel valleys offering delightful views of the Chiltern countryside. Along the valleys run tracks with curious names such as Herbert’s Hole and Blind Lane and roads that on some days are almost devoid of traffic.

This walk goes out on one such track and then cuts across the valleys climbing to the top and then descending to the bottom. It returns through Lowndes Park. The total length of the walk is 8 miles (13 km) but it can be shortened in various places. On route there is the opportunity to see the remains of an iron-age fort and to pass a house that was built in two parts, one either side of the road.

The route below is an edited version based on the text from the printed leaflet ‘Chartridge Hills and Vales Walk number 5’ by Andrew Clark / Walkers are Welcome. Published with permission.
A printed version of the original leaflet with reference map and points of interest can be found at Chesham Town Hall or The Good Earth Gallery.

8 mile walk, or take shorter options

Starting point 1: Chesham Station

Take the first left down Station Road and turn left into the High Street. At the far end take the pedestrian crossing to Germain Street, continue ahead, over the Town Bridge and turn right down Water Lane. Follow the river past the rear of the Water Meadow Car Park to Wey Lane.

Starting point 2: From Water Meadow car park

From the Water Meadow Car Park Exit at the rear of the car park to a footpath and turn right to reach Wey Lane.

Other options

From the northern end of town, you could head out along the Asheridge Road to The Blue Ball, or take footpaths across the fields. Then pick up the route from eg number 6.

Route description

1 In Wey Lane, turn right past The Queen’s Head pub to Church Street. Taking great care, cross and walk along Pednormead End to its junction with Pednor Road. Turn left and continue for 600m to the junction with Drydell Lane.

2 Turn left up Drydell Lane and follow this quiet country lane for just under a kilometre. Take the first bridleway on the left just after a wooden five bar gate. This is Blind Lane and it can be muddy especially in the winter. Go steadily uphill through an avenue of trees and continue ahead. The bridleway emerges onto a farm track and on the left are views across to Hundridge Manor. Keep straight ahead for one kilometre past Hundridge House to Little Hundridge Lane. (Optional extra route 1 starts here).

3 Turn right along the lane. Just past the entrance to Reddings Farm take the path on the right through a gate into a wood. Follow downhill, through two further squeezer gates and a bridleway, then sharply uphill into a wood. Continue ahead to a lane. The route continues straight ahead over the stile, but take the opportunity to see Pednor House to the right. (Optional extra route 2 starts here – see end of route notes)

4 On return, go right over the stile into a field and continue in the same direction keeping to the left of the fence. Go through a gate, take the diagonal path to the left and through the next gate. Turn left along the field edge as the path eventually drops down over a stile and through a gate to meet a lane, Pednor Vale. Cross, climb steeply through a gate to the top of the hill.

Go through a gate in the top left hand corner of the field. Follow the path around to the right to pass through the next gate into the next field. Turn immediately left and continue along the field edge past the school playing fields. Then bear half right across an often muddy field to a gate at the far right hand corner. The path now emerges opposite The Bell pub in Chartridge Lane (closed in 2022). (Optional extra route 3 starts here).

5 Turn left along the pavement for 100m, cross the road and take the path to the left of the Chartridge Mission Church. The path drops down into a small wood and then uphill and along to emerge into a field. The path passes a hazel hedge. Follow the field edge down to a large open field, continue down and up the other side to a gate and a road, Asheridge Road. For The Blue Ball pub turn left for 100m.

6 From the gate, turn right along Asheridge Road and then left on to the concrete track into Widmore Farm. Walk through the yard and out of the gate at the back staying on the concrete track. Follow it into a wood and immediately fork right downhill. At the bottom turn right along a wide path for about 300m then turn left up the slope out of the wood to the brow of the hill. Turn right and follow the ridge all the way along to climb up into Captains Wood. Follow the path uphill and along for 400m to a gate on the left. Continue forward for 250m and just before the path bends to the left, turn right downhill. Then cross over a bridleway and continue forward to leave the wood. Go down the hill to a busy section of Asheridge Road.

7 Turn left along the road. Just before Portobello Farm turn right through two gates into a field. Follow the fence on the left up the hill to a gate, go through and follow the path to emerge onto Chartridge Lane. Turn left, over Berkeley Avenue, continue along the pavement and cross to the access road to 234 Long Grove Wood Farm.
Walk down the hill and where the road bends to the right continue ahead down to a footpath that emerges at the top of a field. Follow the path to the right of the hedgerow. Go through a kissing gate, keep straight ahead, bear left uphill into a small wood and continue onwards to emerge into Lowndes Park.

8 Bear half left up the grassy track to the top of the hill to see views over Chesham from the ‘Rolling Pin’ mound. Bear half right down the hill to re-join the path. Keep ahead and just past the Guides HQ turn right through large iron gates towards St Mary’s Church. At its main entrance turn left down a paved road to Church Street. Taking care, cross over and turn left along the pavement to St Mary’s Way.

To return to starting point 1 at Chesham Station: Go over the pedestrian crossing at St Mary’s Way, left and right into Church Street, left into the High Street and right up Station Road.

To return to starting point 2 at Water Meadow Car Park: At St Mary’s Way, turn right and follow the pavement to the entrance.

Edited for web by Amanda Carroll with permission.

Optional extra route 1: A chance to visit the medieval settlement at Redding Wick

Turn right along the road for 50m and turn left through a gate. Continue straight ahead, past two further gates to enter the wood and stay in the same direction for 300m to the far end. The remains of the settlement are on the right. Turn right on a crossing path and follow it for 180m to meet a path emerging from the left. Continue forward and follow the edge of the wood round to the right. After a further 150m leave the wood over a stile into a field. Stay in the same direction to the gate to Reddings Farm. Turn left over a stile and follow the path around the edge of the farm. Turn left along the driveway to a lane and turn left to rejoin the main walk at waypoint 3.

Optional route 2: Take a shorter route and to return to Chesham

From Pednor House continue down the quiet country lane for nearly 2km. Where the lane bends downhill to the right, look for a footpath in the hedge on the left. Go up through a squeezer gate and into a field. Turn right and follow the field edge to a kissing gate in the hedgerow. Go through and cross two fields and two gates to reach Pednor Road. Take the path and gate opposite, bear right uphill and then into the wood to join the main route back to Chesham.

Option 3: To return to Chesham

Turn right opposite The Bell pub. Follow the pavement all the way to rejoin the main walk at Berkeley Avenue or continue back into Chesham.

Maps to accompany Walk 5 by Chesham Walkers are Welcome

O/S Explorer Map Chiltern Hills North (181),
Chiltern Society Footpath Map (8)