CHORLEYWOOD HOUSE ESTATE

YOUR VISIT

Chorleywood House Estate is a stunning open space which is easily accessible by road, on foot or public transport.


As you drive onto the estate there is an area of free parking opposite the tennis courts with additional parking further along the road adjacent to the football pitches and woodland pathways.


The Estate is located directly off the A404 in Chorleywood, WD3 5SL.


There is plenty to do once you arrive.  For photo enthusiasts, the actual Chorleywood House (now residential) and summer house offers some creative angles and the woodland pathways leading down to the River Chess provide some great landscape and wild nature options. 


In addition, you can enjoy:

  • Self guided walks
  • Formal gardens and historic parkland
  • Specimen trees and mature woodland
  • Wild flower meadows 
  • Dell Nature Reserve
  • The Chess Valley Walk
  • Public tennis courts (free, turn up and play)
  • Picnicking
  • Views of the Chilterns


BACKGROUND

Chorleywood House and the surrounding grounds were
owned by Lady Ela Russell who bought the Estate in 1892.

The layout of the Estate has remained largely unchanged
with formal gardens laid out with lawns, flowerbeds and
specimen trees near the House. 

The Estate came in to Council ownership in 1939, after Lady Ela's death, and was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 2007.

Visit the Friends of Chorleywood House Estate dedicated website


PARK AND WOOD WALKS TO ENJOY

Choose from three contrasting circular walks and
discover this magnificent estate for yourself.

The site can be freely explored, however, please
note that there are no surfaced footpaths and some
areas can become slippery, especially in winter.

PARK WALK (1km/0.6miles)
Take a step back in time with a gentle stroll around the
formal parkland surrounding Chorleywood House. The
current Victorian house replaced a much older Georgian
mansion and is now private apartments. Please respect
the tenants right to privacy.

Discover the extensive formal gardens, lawns and fine
specimen trees such as holm oak and laburnum and
admire the restored Sunken Garden and Wisteria Circle.

WOOD WALK (1.2km/0.7miles)
Head for the quiet seclusion of the woods, dominated by
oak, cherry, beech and ash trees. In spring time the
floor is bright with bluebells, wood anemone and wild
daffodils and also supports the nationally rare coralroot
bittercress. 

Along the walk the canopy opens up to
reveal panoramic views across the Chess Valley.
The route also passes the Dell Nature Reserve, an area
of chalk grassland. Look out for cowslips, violets and
the bright blue speedwell.
VALLEY WALK

VALLEY WALK (1.5km/0.9miles)
In late spring the pink blossoms of the Chestnut Avenue
fall to form an inspiring carpet walkway. Steeper paths
lead further down to the picturesque banks of the
River Chess, a popular summer picnicking area. This
chalk stream is an important habitat supporting many
kinds of plants and animals including brown trout,
water voles and kingfishers. 

More adventurous walkers could join the Chess Valley
Walk; a 10 mile route which heads towards Chesham to
the north and Rickmansworth to the south.
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