Chiltern Walks: The Two Rivers Walk from Amersham to Chesham
View to Old Amersham from the edge of Parsonage Wood
Start: Old Amersham Market Hall, 19 Market Square, Amersham, HP7 0DG
Finish: Chesham Underground Station, Station Approach, Chesham HP5 1DH, United Kingdom
Distance: 5.7 km (3.5 miles)
Elevation change: +93m / -76m. Net - 17m
Terrain: Town pavements, field-edge footpaths, ancient woodland trails through Chesham Bois, and parkland tracks.
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): South Bucks Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail, Chess Valley Walk, Chiltern Link
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 57, Chiltern Heritage Trail Hampden, Harding and Milton Routes
Pubs / Cafes on route: Many in Amersham and Chesham. We like Seasons at the start in Old Amersham
Map: Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenhead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: Amersham, Chesham Bois, Chesham, River Misbourne, River Chess, Chalk stream.
This is part of a series of short walks in the Chilterns. This point-to-point route, often referred to as a "Two Rivers Walk" link, offers a delightful exploration of the Misbourne and Chess Valleys. It connects the historic market town of Old Amersham with the surrounding countryside, providing a mix of riverside paths, open meadows, and gentle hillside tracks. It is a fantastic option for those who enjoy historic architecture alongside their nature fix. You can return to the start by Underground and an additional 1 kilometre walk at the end.
Walking Directions
For this walk we parked at Old Amersham, specifically near St Mary’s Church or the public parking area off The Broadway. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.
Start at Market Square: From the Old Amersham Market Hall, walk north through the grounds of St Mary’s Church to reach Rectory Drive.
Climb the Hill: Turn right, then left at the cemetery wall. Follow the path up the hill with the field on your right; stop at the edge of the woods to enjoy the classic Chilterns view back toward the town.
Through the Woods: Continue through the woodland to the north-western corner. Follow Rectory Hill road under the railway bridge.
Hervines Park: Turn left onto Longfield Drive, then take the footpath on the right to cross the open space of Hervines Park.
Chesham Bois: Cross Hervines Road and continue north-east. Turn right on Copperkins Lane, then left onto Chesham Lane. Instead of the pavement, follow the quieter parallel paths through Chesham Bois Woods.
Descent to Chesham: Near the top of the hill, take Maryhall Lane (left), which becomes a footpath curving north-east through fields.
Town Arrival: Enter Chesham via Fuller’s Close (near Chesham United FC) and follow Fullers Hill down to Germain Street.
Finish at the Station: Cross into Market Square, walk up the High Street, and turn right onto Station Road to reach Chesham Underground Station.
Return to Old Amersham: We took the Underground to Chalfont and Latimer then changed to take another Underground to Amersham. From here we retraced the first kilometre of the Two Rivers Walk back to Market Square in Amersham.
Points of Interest along or near to the Route
Old Amersham High Street: Before or after your walk, take a moment to admire the timber-framed buildings and the 17th-century Market Hall. The town has a rich history as a "Metroland" hub and a popular filming location.
St Mary’s Church, Amersham: A beautiful 12th-century flint church. Look for the Drake Chapel, which contains monuments to the local Drake family who lived at nearby Shardeloes.
River Misbourne: The walk follows sections of this rare chalk stream. These streams are a unique feature of the Chilterns, known for their clear water and supporting specialised wildlife.
Hervines Park: A large open space popular with locals. The path here offers a transition from the suburban feel of Amersham-on-the-Hill to the more rural Chiltern countryside.
Chesham Bois Common: The route brushes past the edge of this serene wooded common, which is particularly atmospheric in the autumn months with its canopy of beech and oak.
Chesham Bois Woods: These ancient woods are part of the local history of the Chilterns' "bodgers" (wood-turners). The canopy is primarily beech, typical of the region.
Chesham Links: As the route nears its northernmost point, it provides easy access to the outskirts of Chesham. This section offers a slightly different character as it transitions from the broad Misbourne valley toward the residential fringes of the town, allowing walkers to see the connectivity between these two historic Chiltern settlements.
The River Chess: Upon arriving in Chesham, you meet the second of the "Two Rivers". Like the Misbourne, it is a rare chalk stream, home to water voles and brown trout.
