Chess Valley Spring Escape | Free Hike 21km (13mi)

📈 Grade: 🥾🥾🥾 Level 3/5 (Easy to Moderate, mostaly flat)
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🧠 How it will feel
Regular hikers → Easy
Casual walkers → Moderate
Newcomers → Moderately Challenging
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Join us for a beautiful spring countryside hike through Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, following a varied route from Amersham to Rickmansworth via Chesham Bois, Lower Bois, Waterside, and Latimer.

This rewarding spring route features peaceful woodland trails lined with seasonal bluebells, picturesque stretches along the River Chess, rolling grazing fields with sheep, cows, and horses, and quiet country lanes connecting villages with open countryside.

Along the way, there may be an optional pub stop for refreshments and use of the facilities, depending on the group’s pace and overall timing.

Expect a mix of woodland paths, riverside tracks, open fields, and gentle rural walking, offering plenty of variety while keeping the day relaxed, friendly, and enjoyable.

We finish in Rickmansworth, where there will be the option to join the group for a relaxed social stop at Wetherspoons before catching trains home.

A perfect Sunday escape for those who enjoy nature, fresh air, adventure, and great company.
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OVERVIEW
📏 Distance: 21 km (≈13 miles)
💪 Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
⛰️ Ascent / Descent: 154 m ↑ / 270 m ↓
🚶 Average pace: 4.5 to 5.5 km/h, steady social pace
⏱️ Walking time: Approx. 5 hours
🕒 Total time: Approx. 6 hours including breaks
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MEETING POINT AND TIMINGS
📍 10:00 Meet at Amersham Station entrance what3words
▶️ 10:15 Hike starts
🏁 17:00 Hike ends at Rickmansworth Station what3words
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🚇 TRAINS
Take the London Underground Metropolitan line direct from central London to Amersham. The journey from King's Cross St Pancras station to Amersham takes around 1 hour. You can pay using Oyster or contactless.
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🚗 BY CAR
Parking is recommended at Rickmansworth station car park [what3words](the end point), then take the train to Amersham before the hike. Rickmansworth station car park requires citipark app installed so that you can pay by phone on the day, for more details click HERE
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FOOD AND FACILITIES
🍔 Lunch: Please bring a packed lunch.
🚻 Facilities: Limited en route. We may stop near De Vere Latimer Estate where facilities may be available.
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🎒 WHAT TO BRING
Packed lunch, snacks, and sufficient water
Comfortable hiking footwear
Weather-appropriate layers and waterproofs
Sun protection and hat
Fully charged phone
Personal medication and basic first aid essentials
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📋 RSVP POLICY:
RSVP only if you plan to attend. If you can no longer make it, please update your RSVP as early as possible so others may join and organisers can plan fairly and safely. Repeated no-shows without prior notice may result in removal from the group or restrictions on future attendance.
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✅ WHO CAN JOIN
Adults aged 21 and over
No children
No pets
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👣 GROUP PACE & PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES
This is a friendly, social hike where we walk together and enjoy the experience as a group.

Please stay with the group rather than walking ahead independently, as the aim is to connect, share the journey, and help maintain safety and group cohesion.

Participants should choose events suitable for their fitness level and be able to maintain the advertised pace. The overall pace and schedule will not be adjusted for individuals.

A back marker may not always be present, so participants should keep others in sight and remain within a reasonable distance of the group.
To help keep the group together:

• Faster walkers should wait at junctions.
• If someone ahead is moving significantly slower, feel free to pass and remain with the main group.
• Organisers may pause at suitable points to regroup.

While reasonable efforts will be made to keep the group together, it is not practical or safe to stop frequently for individuals who are unable to maintain the required pace. In such cases, participants may need to continue at their own pace or make their own onward arrangements.

If you choose to move ahead of the group, fall significantly behind, or leave the group structure, you will be considered to be continuing independently and responsible for your own route, decisions, and safety. If you do so without informing an organiser, it will be assumed that you are managing independently.

By attending, you agree to follow these guidelines.
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↩️ EXIT POINTS
The route remains relatively close to towns and villages for much of the day. If needed, the most practical option is usually to arrange a taxi from a nearby road access point or village.
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📞 CONTACT
For pre-event questions, please message the event host via Meetup. On the day of the walk, if required, you may contact AdrianB via WhatsApp on +44 (0) 7438 812 663.
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⚠️ DISCLAIMER
By joining, you confirm that you have read and accepted the group policy on the About page. You are responsible for your own safety. Neither the host nor the group can be held liable for injury, loss, or damage.