Chess Valley Walk

The Chess Valley Walk is a 10 mile linear walk through the Chilterns following the River Chess from Rickmansworth to Chesham. It passes through the beautiful scenery of the Chess Valley and several attractive villages and at times gets close to the clear sparkling waters of the River Chess, one of the Chilterns’ famed chalk streams. The walk is waymarked.

The Chess Valley has some of the most attractive countryside in the Chilterns National Landscape, an area rich in wildlife, with a long and fascinating history. You’ll discover the site of a Roman farm-villa at Latimer, pass the 13th century Chenies Manor visited by Elizabeth I, and see the watercress beds at Sarratt, the only commercial watercress farm left in the Chilterns. And when you’re near the River Chess, keep an eye out for kingfishers, water voles, brown trout, orchids and dragonflies.

** Please note: route issue on the Chess Valley Walk between Latimer and Chenies Bottom**

Please note that high groundwater levels are currently causing flooding in the Chess Valley and the section of the walk between Latimer and Chenies Bottom is affected. We recommend diverting to the Chess Valley Upper Walk on the south side of the valley (see map below), which may keep your feet dry, while providing excellent views over the soggier paths below.

For the latest information regarding the state of the paths on the Chess Valley walk through Chenies Parish see https://cheniesparishcouncil.gov.uk/news/footpaths-flooded-in-the-chess-valley

Postcode

Accessibility/terrain/walk info

There are stiles on this walk.

Getting there: You can reach the Chess Valley Walk from either Rickmansworth or Chesham stations. Both are served by the London Underground Metropolitan Line. You can also reach Rickmansworth on the Chiltern Railways overground line from London Marylebone. If you would like a shorter walk, you can access the walk from Chalfont & Latimer or Chorleywood underground stations. For more information, please download the walk leaflet.