Sarratt Walk 09
River Chess at Dodds Mill, looking south to Chorleywood
This is a 5 mile circular wark starting and finishing at Sarratt Village hall.
A good portion of this walk is adjacent to the River Chess and passes through the extensive grounds of the Chorleywood Manor estate.
It has a couple of small ups and downs but is generally a flat, gentle walk that is suitable for families, although of course any accompanying dogs must be kept under control at all times.
This walk took me a little over an 2hrs 30mins on a very warm day in late July 2012.
A map of the walk is attached HERE
A good portion of this walk is adjacent to the River Chess and passes through the extensive grounds of the Chorleywood Manor estate.
It has a couple of small ups and downs but is generally a flat, gentle walk that is suitable for families, although of course any accompanying dogs must be kept under control at all times.
This walk took me a little over an 2hrs 30mins on a very warm day in late July 2012.
A map of the walk is attached HERE
Footpath entry to Sandfields Wood from Dawes Lane
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With your back to the village hall turn left and proceed up The Green to Dawes Lane on your left - opposite The Boot public house.
Turn left and proceed down Dawes Lane passing all the houses on your left. Then take the footpath on your left at the junction with Wards Drive, leading into Sandfield Wood and signposted Chess Valley, follow the path through the wood passing The Old Rectory on your right and proceed forward along Old Rectory Drive |
Footpath entry from Old Rectory Drive to Holy Cross Church
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100yds past The Old Rectory you will pass a very strange looking carved gate on your right and just a few yards beyond this is the footpath entrance on your right into a field.
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Footpath approaching the back of Holy Cross Church
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Cross the stile and proceed uphill bearing left until you arrive at the rear of Holy Cross Church.
Do not enter the Church grounds, rather turn right and proceed forward along by the Holly hedge. Cross the next stile and turn sharp left downhill (signposted to Chenies). |
Footpath junction beside River Chess
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Follow the footpath down hill keeping to the left and heading for the stile in the bottom left corner.
Cross this stile and at the next, cross left and immediately go right towards the concrete bridge over the River Chess |
Footbridge across the River Chess
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Cross the concrete bridge over the river and continue forward over another narrow wooden bridge, across the flood plain.
Proceed straight ahead at the path junction. |
Exit from River Chess floodplain
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Continue straight ahead and over another stile then veer right and over another stile and walk diagonally left uphill.
Cross the field and when you reach the hedgerow turn left and follow the posts along the top edge of the field. Turn right when you reach the wide track and follow this uphill, around to your left until you reach Mountwood Farm. |
Footpath to Mountwood Farm
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Footpath to Mountwood Farm along field edge
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Footpath to left of Mountwood Farm
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When you reach the farm follow the footpath down the left hand side of the buildings to emerge onto a tarmac drive.
Continue forward. |
Kissing gate entrance to footpath from Mountwood Farm to Holloway Lane
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Continue on along the farm drive for 400yds until you reach this footpath entrance on your right, just before a collection of barns and workshops on the right.
Follow the footpath to its end in Holloway Lane, then turn left and go forward emerging onto Latimer Road into Chenies |
Footpath beside Latimer Road
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Cross Latimer Road then turn right and proceed forward along the raised footpath immediately ahead.
Chenies Manor House is hidden behind the trees on your left as you proceed along this path up above the road until it emerges at the far end back onto Latimer Road. Cross the road - carefully, as it can be pretty busy - and take the first turning opposite on your right down to Dodds Mill. |
Dodds Mill
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When you reach Dodds Mill stop and admire the beautiful surroundings and tranquility of the river, fields and nearby woods.
The noise of the water in no way detracts from this tranquil setting, it's only the occasional car passing by that does that. A beautiful place. |
River Chess beside Dodds Mill
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River Chess at Dodds Mill, looking south to Chorleywood
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Entrance to footpath leading to Limeshill Wood
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Walk on past Dodds Mill (on your right) and Mill Farm (on your left) for about 100yds until you reach the footpath on your right.
Take this footpath, which runs roughly parallel with the river through the fields and over three stiles and on into Limeshill Woods |
"The Splash", Valley Farm
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On emerging from Limeshill Wood turn right along the edge of the field and cross a further two stiles then continue on past the entrance to Valley Farm (on your left) and "The Splash", a ford across the River Chess (on your right).
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Cottages at Sarratt Bottom
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Continue on forward along Holloway Lane to the junction with Moor Lane and Sarratt Bottom.
Turn right along Sarratt Bottom and continue to Dawes Lane where you turn left and proceed uphill. |
Footpath entrance to Dawes Common from Dawes Lane
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Proceed up Dawes Lane until you reach this footpath entrance into Dawes Common, on your left.
Proceed through the common in a North Easterly (slightly left) direction, always going uphill |
Exit from Dawes Common
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Go through this kissing gate in the top left hand corner of Dawes Common into the field.
Head for the hedgerow in front of you and follow it round the corner, keeping the hedgerow on your right, over two stiles, and through the tunnell of trees between the houses before finally emerging by Morton's Cottage and out onto The Green in Sarratt, where you turn right to return to Sarratt Village Hall I hope you enjoyed your walk, and that the weather was kind. If you found any errors, spelling or otherwise, or difficulty with my directions then do please let me know, I'm always looking to improve my information. Suggestions are also always welcome. |
