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The Overton Jane Austen Trails

Perfect for fans of Austen or those seeking a leisurely countryside walk, this trail is a celebration of her life and literary legacy. A unique blend of  history, stunning scenery, and cultural insight. Image: Surrey Live

Celebrate Jane Austen's 250th Birthday! Walk in the Footsteps of Jane Austen

 

Don’t miss this opportunity to rediscover one of the most beloved authors in English literature during this special anniversary year.

Celebrate our anniversary with the Overton Jane Austen Trails—an immersive journey along scenic walking and cycling routes winding through the historic footpaths and bridleways of Overton, Steventon, and the surrounding countryside. Follow in the footsteps of Jane Austen, her friends, and family as you explore the landscapes that inspired timeless tales and the very places that shaped Austen’s daily life.

What are the Overton Jane Austen Trails?

There are three trails. A 2.5 mile circular walking trail exploring Overton as it would have been in Jane Austen’s time. A 9-mile waymarked circular walking trail from Overton to Jane Austen’s birthplace in Steventon and a 12 mile circular cycle trail. 

How to get to the Overton Jane Austen Trails

  • By Train: Overton is easily accessible by train, with direct services from London Waterloo.

  • By Car: Parking is available at the car park on Overton Hill .

Facilities and Amenities

Experience traditional English hospitality at the iconic White Hart Inn—once a bustling stagecoach stop—where a menu rich in local heritage awaits. You can also choose from other charming options like The Red Lion and The Greyhound for a memorable stay in Overton. A perfect day out.

Explore the Heritage Trail: Discover the Heart of Jane Austen’s World

Start at the information board on the Community Centre forecourt, where the post office once stood. There is sign board which shows you the trails. From there you begin your walk towards  Court House, once home to James Austen—Jane’s brother—and continue to St Mary’s Church in Overton, where he served as curate. Renowned Jane Austen scholar Deirdre Le Faye observes that “the Austens would obviously have visited James while he was living in Overton, whether at the vicarage or Court House” (Jane Austen’s County Life, 2014).

Overton, a bustling market town of the past, offered everything from corset makers, shoemakers, and tailors to a flourishing silk mill and an apothecary. Stagecoaches and mail coaches once stopped at the many local coaching inns, including the enduring White Hart, which remains an inn to this day. Every letter Jane sent from Steventon was postmarked Overton. In one memorable note to her sister Cassandra dated 25 November 1798, she mentioned a local travelling pedlar: “The Overton Scotchman has been kind enough to rid me of some money in exchange for six shifts and four pairs of stockings” (Letters of Jane Austen, 1995). Spending the first 25 years of her life (1775–1801) in nearby Steventon, Jane was intimately familiar with Overton—whether shopping or visiting friends and neighbours.

Overton is a reflection of how Jane Austen passed her days and time in her formative years and had a direct influence on her characters, stories and landscapes. Any fans of Jane Austen can experience these for themselves on these immersive trails.