To celebrate 250 years since the birth of Hampshire’s great novelist and her passion for walking, Winchester Ramblers invites you to join them in a weeklong festival of free walks during August, exploring some of the key places in her life. Jane Austen loved Hampshire, spending all but five years of her life in the county, which this year “salutes this literary legend,” says the New York Times, which puts it as “the number one place to visit in 2025”.
Steventon: Jane’s first 25 years
Saturday 2 August 9.5 miles
Literary genius Jane Austen was born in the small village of Steventon in 1775. As we walk in Jane’s footsteps, we pass many places little changed from her day, and we begin to see how she was inspired to break the literary mould in concentrating on life as she saw it and addressing human psychology, especially in relationships.
Chawton: the last 8 years of Jane’s life and publication
Sunday 3 August 9.5 miles walk
Wednesday 6 August 4.5 miles evening walk
Friday 8 August 4.5 miles morning walk
One of Jane Austen’s letters to her sister Cassandra, when she lived in Chawton, said that “the plan is that we should all walk with her to drink tea at Faringdon,” and this walk will do just this, minus the tea drinking, unless you bring a flask!
Winchester: her last weeks and resting place
Monday 4 August, 9.5 miles walk starts,
Thursday 7 August 4.5 miles evening walk,
Saturday 9 August 4.5 miles morning walk
Jane Austen had several connections with Winchester, and she would have visited her music teacher, George Chard, in Georgian Winchester here, as well as friends Mrs Heathcote and Miss Bigg, who resided in the Cathedral Close. At the end of this walk, we consider the last weeks of Jane’s life, following her move to Winchester to seek medical care, and finally, we will retrace the route of the mournful procession to her funeral at the Cathedral.
How to Book
These walks are in conjunction with “Beyond the Bonnets: Working Women in Jane Austen’s Novels” at The ARC, Winchester from 26 July to 2 November 2025 and the walks may be booked on the ARC’s web site, arcwinchester.org.uk where they are listed as part of the “Jane Austen 250” events. Simply scroll to the date in the What’s On section to reserve your place. All of these walks are free and led by Winchester Ramblers. For details of more Ramblers walks, visit WinchesterRamblers.org.uk
