… and the plan is that we should all walk with her to have tea in Faringdon.- Jane to Cassandra, 28th May, 1811
This quote comes from a four-page PDF walking guide created by the East Hampshire Council for a 4 1/2 mile walk around Chawton.
Jane fans will find this guide interesting because of the map and notations describing points of interest, such as:
Gilbert White, the 18th Century parson naturalist, lived at The Wakes in Selborne (see Selborne Literary Walk leaflet). Jane Austen refers to a special occasion of ‘Gaities’ on Selborne Common in which her own friends and Gilbert’s nephew took part.
This image shows a portion of the walking map provided in the guide, which is the best one I have seen so far of the area.
Books of interest on this topic:
- In the Steps of Jane Austen: Walking Tours of Jane Austen’s England This book by Anne Marie Edwards describes a series of walking tours in the places Jane lived and traveled.
- A Rambling Fancy: In the Footsteps of Jane Austen, by Caroline Sanderson, seeks out Jane Austen’s England and sheds light on why Jane is still so popular.
- Jane Austen in Bath: Walking Tours of the Writer’s City, Katherine Reeve. This illustrated guidebook offers four walks in the ancient city of Bath, including detailed descriptions.
- A Walk With Jane Austen: A Journey Into Adventure, Love, and Faith, represented by Alive Literary Agency. This book by Lori Smith, recently published, does not serve as a physical guide. Rather, the author writes about her own emotional and spiritual journey as she visits Jane Austen’s England.
What fun it would be to take a walking tour!