Explore green London with us and join us on another fabulous walk. This time we will explore the Chess Valley, one of the most beautiful and tranquil parts in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This walk is actually on the Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire border but is still super easy to get to as it starts and ends on the Metropolitan line.

Our route will take you through old estates, farmland, and pretty villages that line the River Chess.

The water meadows, ancient field systems and old watercress beds at Sarratt offer a glimpse of the agricultural past of the valley. Mills played an important role in the history of the Chess and some of them can still be seen straddling the river.

The Chess is a chalk stream. Chalk streams are fed by groundwater, which is stored in the aquifer layers of chalk rock which work like a sponge, soaking up water until it emerges at ground level. Regular winter rainfall is needed to recharge the aquifer and keep the chalk streams of the Chilterns flowing throughout the year.

Because the river is so clean, the wildlife of the Valley is as diverse and exciting as its history. You might see kingfisher, water vole, brown trout, grey wagtail and several species of damsel and dragonflies, amongst many other types of birds, plants and animals.

Will you join us on this walk

How to get there:

We will meet at 9.20 by the Bakerloo line entrance of Elephant and Castle station, where we aim to take the Bakerloo line to Bakerstreet, where we will catch the Metropolitan line to Chorleywood.

If this is easier for you, you can also meet us in Chorleywood, where we should arrive around 10.30.
Please make sure you text me on 078 078 3456 4 to tell me you plan to do that, so we don’t hang around waiting for you and get all worried that you are not there! 🙂

Both Chorleywood and Chesham are within the Oyster and 60+ Freedom card zone, so there is no need to buy tickets in advance.

Terrain and length of the route:

TThe route is about 9 miles/ 14.5 kilometres. There are some hilly parts and we will have to climb some styles. The surfaces can be muddy and slippery in places, so please wear good footwear.

Toilets, food/drinks & what to bring:

Both Chorleywood station and Chesham station are stepfree and Chorleywood, where we start our walk has a toilet. There are not many toilets, but there are some pubs along the way where we could stop there for a drink and a toilet break.
I suggest we bring a pick-nick and enjoy your lunch outside, but if the weather isn’t attractive enough to eat outside, we could eat in one of the pubs along the way.

I have a reputation to uphold, so I am counting on sunny weather, but this walk will happen in any weather, unless it is unsafe. Please check the forecast and bring a sunhat, sunscreen and plenty of water and/or waterproofs. Waterproof trainers with a good grippy profile are highly recommended.

Who can join?

Anyone who can comfortably walk 9 miles. Feel free to bring a friend or family member, with or without poles. Nordic Walker or not, you are very welcome to join us, if you are Fit (enough) and Happy! 😊

Cost:

£10. If you are one of our regular Fit and Happy Outdoors walkers I can recommend buying a ten-session card for £89.
(Train tickets and food or drinks at café not included)

Nordic Walking:

Many of our regulars are nordic walkers, but you can join this walk with or without Nordic Walking poles. Curious? If you have never Nordic Walked before then our free taster sessions are probably the best option to feel what Nordic Walking can do for you, and how it is different from just “walking with sticks”.

Don’t have your own poles? Would you like to borrow some from me? Text me the MORNING OF THE WALK on 078 078 3456 4 and I will bring you some. (please, please do not ask me days before, as I will forget and that will make us both unhappy!)

How to join this walk

New to Fit and Happy Outdoors? Please fill in the registration and health questionaire, which you can find here and email them to walks@fitandhappyoutdoors.com at least 24 hours before the session, mentioning in the header which walk you want to join. That will give us enough time to get back to you and discuss your needs and experience.

Please sign up for our Meetup Group to easily RSVP and find out when the next walks are.

Not on Meetup (yet)? You can also use this contact form: