Six Hillingdon members, including our most recent recruit, joined Barbara for a walk that would take us in and out of the Chess Valley in search of bluebells.  (This lovely spring flower has been the theme of a number of walks in recent days).

After leaving the station we headed north across the Common towards Chorleywood House and the Chess Valley.  Chorleywood Football Club was holding a tournament for youth teams.   Judging by the number of cars negotiating the narrow lanes around the club it was clearly a very popular event.  As we passed the ground we could hear the excited cries of the footballers and the shouted advice from parents on the touch line. The noise subsided as we reached the River Chess.  We stopped by the site of Sarratt Mill where grain was once ground to produce flour for the local villagers until it was converted into a paper mill.  That business fell on hard times in the late 19th century. The Duke of Bedford purchased the mill and turned the house into a fishing lodge. 

We followed the river for a while before heading up the valley side towards the Holy Cross Church in Sarratt.  Soon afterwards we enjoyed a rest in one of the woods near Sarratt where bluebells were growing in profusion.  After our break we headed back towards the River Chess and the Frogmoor Meadow Nature Reserve.   We eventually reached Latimer where once again we left the river and walked up the valley side to reach the outskirts of Little Chalfont.  Here we turned to walk along the ridge towards Chenies where we enjoyed a picnic lunch while admiring the architecture and grounds of its famous Manor House.

The final part of the walk took us along the river towards Chorleywood.  We walked across  the now deserted football pitches of Chorleywood FC and soon found ourselves back on Chorleywood Common.  

Many thanks to Barbara for leading an excellent walk which was blessed with lovely spring weather, excellent views across the Chess Valley, bird song and, of course, many, many bluebells.