WALKERS, cyclists and horse riders can enjoy the countryside while following in the footsteps of East Hampshire’s most famous and much-loved authors, thanks to the opening this month of the new Writers’ Way trail.

The official launch of the trail took place on March 3, outside Jane Austen’s House Museum at Chawton, and was attended by many of those involved, among them members of Hampshire County Council and East Hampshire District Council, who funded the project.

The Writers’ Way celebrates the authors who were connected to the area in this “The Year of Literary Heroes”.

The 2017 UK-wide theme is thanks (in part) to this year’s 200th anniversary of the death of Jane Austen and the 100th anniversary of the wartime poet Edward Thomas – both of whom lived in East Hampshire. Austen’s house, museum and cottage gardens can be visited on the walk.

Telling the story of East Hampshire’s rich literary past, the 13-mile Writers’ Way links the market town of Alton with the picturesque villages of Chawton and Selborne, through glorious countryside. It uses a mixture of paths and rural lanes, age-old sunken tracks, as well as paths over open farmland and woodland.

For a day out with a difference, walkers and cyclists can return to their start point in this linear walk by using the Mid Hants Watercress Line steam railway, as Alton and Medstead stations are close to either end of the route.

The walk begins in the pretty village of Chawton, where Jane Austen lived. She loved the surrounding countryside and often took walks with her family and friends. Passing through Alton, walkers can see the places Jane knew so well – shops and friends’ houses, the bank owned by her brother, Henry, and the coaching inn.

Arriving in Selborne, visitors can discover more about the pioneering 18th Century ecologist and writer the Reverend Gilbert White, who lived at The Wakes. His wildlife observations and fascination with nature led him to write his hugely influential book ‘The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne’. It is reputed to be the fourth most published book in the English language and transformed the way we think about the natural world today. His former home and garden make for a fascinating visit.

The trail is also associated with writer, journalist, MP and farmer William Cobbett, who wrote ‘Rural Rides’ to highlight the difficult living conditions faced by rural families in the 19th Century. For his research, he took long rides on horseback through the East Hampshire countryside and was inspired to visit Selborne after being given a copy of Gilbert White’s book.

Other writers connected with the area include wartime poet Edward Thomas (one of his poems, Adlestrop, was once ranked the nation’s 20th favourite poem by The Bookworm), novelist Flora Thompson (author of The Peverel Papers and classic trilogy Lark Rise to Candleford) and self-taught field naturalist and writer and founding member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, WH Hudson (Nature in Downland, Hampshire Days).

The route is open to walkers and their dogs, as well as cyclists. Parts of the route, however, can be muddy, so are most suited to those with walking boots, or mountain bikes. Horse riders are welcome but are advised against riding through the busy urban area of Alton. The return can be made using the same route, by bus (walkers only), or steam train (walkers, and cyclists). There is also an 11-mile circular option for walkers, returning to Chawton from Farringdon.

The £191,000 Writers’ Way was developed and funded by Hampshire County Council (£63,000), the Department for Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (£110,000) and East Hampshire District Council (£18,000), who have worked in partnership to identify the route and to improve many of the paths, including major resurfacing of bridleways, linking existing public rights of way and small, quiet country lanes around Chawton and Selborne.

Andrew Gibson, the county council’s executive member for culture, recreation and countryside, said: “This is the first of many county council celebrations to mark the 200-year anniversary of Austen’s death, an author with strong Hampshire roots who is famous around the world.

“It will be a thrill for many to follow in her footsteps, walking from her former home in Chawton through the surrounding countryside she herself would have enjoyed, at a time when she wrote many of her popular novels, including Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma.”

Mr Gibson added: “The Writers’ Way not only helps people access Hampshire’s countryside to enjoy the scenery and literary heritage but also to reap the health and wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors.”

Glynis Watts, EHDC’s portfolio holder for economic development, said: “The Writers’ Way tells the story of East Hampshire’s rich literary past and provides walkers and riders with a beautiful, picturesque route through a stunning section of countryside.

“At the same time, the trail opens up exciting potential for the local economy to be supported with people visiting cafes, businesses and shops.”

A leaflet containing full information on the route, as well as maps and ideas of what to look out for, toilet and refreshment stops, museum details, transport options and other information can be downloaded free from 3.hants.gov.uk/writersway.