Chesham Town Guide 2023/4

Walkers are Welcome
© Chilterns Conservation Board
‘Walkers are Welcome’ (WaW) is a national organisation
that seeks to boost our wellbeing by walking and also by
supporting the local economy by encouraging tourism.
It is aimed to cover all levels of walking from the lunch
time stroll to strenuous long-distance exercise. WaW
membership is open to towns, parishes and districts.
The 90 plus members stretch from Cornwall to the
Shetland Isles and from Pembrokeshire to Norfolk, but
there are only two of them in the Chilterns at present –
Chesham and Henley-on-Thames.
In 2006 Chesham was one of many towns across the
country seeking revitalisation, as a consequence of a
nationwide process known as Market Town Health
Checks. One of the outcomes of that was the idea of
publishing walking routes in and around the town.
Suitable routes were sketched out and a small committee
formed. The routes were formalised and funding
obtained to print walk leaflets. These consisted of walks
in town and others stretching out north, south, east and
west as well as a walk following the natural boundary
of Chesham.
In 2009, the group decided to apply to join the
national WaW movement. This meant collecting 500
signatures from local residents to show community
backing and gaining the support of the Town Council,
which was readily given. The leaflets were rebranded
and downloadable versions produced which can be
accessed from the Chesham Town Council website. The
support of businesses in the High Street was sought, and
many now display WaW stickers.
Subsequently Chesham WaW
produced a series of leaflets called
Station to Station Walks, encouraging
visitors to alight at railway stations readily accessible
from London and walk to Chesham Station. Another
leaflet outlined a route linking producers and providers
of local food and drink. WaW have also worked with the
Chilterns Conservation Board to update the 10-mile
walk along the River Chess with new interpretation
boards, signage and footpath improvements.
This year, Chesham WaW supported by Chesham
Museum, will be launching a series of 4 downloadable
walks which will guide people along routes with
stopping places showing details of the historic
significance of various locations. Three routes are within
Chesham, but the fourth follows the life and death of the
local martyr, Thomas Harding, who was burned at the
stake in 1532 for his non-conformist beliefs.
WaW aims to cater for all kinds of walking and the
Chesham group are hoping to incorporate routes
suitable for the less able. A few years ago, in conjunction
with the Disabled Ramblers and the Chiltern Society
Path Maintenance Volunteers, they installed accessible
gates in the Royal Forestry Society’s Hockeridge and
Pancake Woods near Berkhamsted.
Chesham WAW has led walks in conjunction with
Heritage Weekends and with St Mary’s Church Beating
the Bounds. We also advertise walks with notice boards
at Chesham Station and in Water Meadow Car Park
where most of the walks start from. You can access these
walks from the following websites: chesham.gov.ukwalkersarewelcome;
chilternsociety.gov.uk;
walkingworld.com.
Working with Chesham Environmental Group, we
aim to help keep footpaths open and well maintained.
Would you be interested in getting involved with your
community and sharing your knowledge of the beautiful
countryside around Chesham? We are looking to
welcome a couple of new members to join our
committee. Further details are available from Phil Folly
at postmanfolly@gmail.com or Andrew Clark at
ceg_waw@yahoo.co.uk
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