Famous Authors

'Rochester's characterful streets are straight out of a Dickens novel.'

'Long but gentle walk visiting Selborne and Chawton, which inspired Jane Austen (writer) and Gilbert White (naturalist).'

2011 update of entry in the Time Out Book of Country Walks Volume 2

'Winds an enchanting course down the Vyrnwy valley from Pont Llogel to Pontrobert.The way marked route runs in harmony with sections of Glyndŵr's Way, giving walkers various options including a 16 mile figure-of-eight excursion from Pont Llogel, plus two circular walks from Pont Llogel or Pontrobert.'

Visit Mid Wales

'A short walk around some of Bennett’s fictional locations in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.'

Visit Stoke

'Wander through the Bloomsbury area of London, made famous by Virginia Woolf and Charles Dickens, and see tourist attractions such as the British Museum, the Lamb pub, Great Ormond Street Hospital and other places associated with famous British writers.'

London for free

'D.H. Lawrence Heritage comprises two sites in Eastwood, the Heritage Centre and the Birthplace Museum, linked by the Blue Line Trail self-guided walking tour.'

D.H. Lawrence Heritage Centre

'From 1840 to 1845, Anne Brontë was employed as a governess to the Robinson family at Thorpe Green Hall. Her brother Branwell was also employed there for some of that time. The people and surroundings inspired literary work by both of them. Follow in their footsteps today, as you take the Brontë Trail.'

Boroughbridge and the Lower Ure Valley Walks Group

'The full walk of takes you to the summit of Boulsworth Hill so be prepared for uneven paths in this remote landscape. We use an old moorland pack horse trail before dropping down to the hamlet of Wycoller with its Brontë associations.'

Walking tour of Oxford centre inspired by the writings of C.S. Lewis.

C.S. Lewis Foundation (Prepared by Kim Gilnett with assistance from Stan Mattson and Michael Ward)

C S Lewis Nature Reserve

'Designed to guide visitors around the village of Botley, in the footsteps of William Cobbett and to identify some of the places associated with him or which he would have known.'

Hamble Valley

Hawkley Circular Walk - inspired by William Cobbett [Visit Hampshire]

'In the Footsteps of the Romantic Poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772 - 1834), walk 36 miles through the stunning Somerset countryside of the Quantock Hills, the Brendon Hills and Exmoor, a landscape that inspired Coleridge to produce some of his best known work.'

Visit Exmoor

'Why not follow in the footsteps of writers and poets with our collection of literary walks on iFootpath? From Winnie-the-Pooh to Dracula, Jane Eyre to Sherlock Holmes and Merlin to Gandalf, some of our best-loved characters have their roots in England’s towns, villages and countryside.'

'Enjoy the magnificent views of the estuary, Dylan's boathouse, the Gower, north Devon, Caldey Island and Tenby.'

Bob Stevens

'Runs through places associated with the poet Dylan Thomas in Ceredigion, west Wales. It was officially opened by Aeronwy Thomas, in July 2003. The trail is marked by blue plaques and information boards in Lampeter, Aberaeron, and New Quay.'

'East Hampshire is home to some of Britain's literary greats. You can follow in the footsteps of these writers, including Jane Austen and Flora Thompson, on 6 self-guided walks. The walks can be downloaded ...' ALERT I have replaced te Link to the East Hampshire District Council with one to Visit Hampshire.

Visit Hampshire

'During 1854 travel writer George Borrow journeyed right across Wales on foot. He recorded his interaction with the Welsh people, its language and scenery. Today you can follow in Borrow's footsteps using this app. Read his vivid accounts of Welsh life in the mid 19th century and uncover just how much change has taken place during that time.'

Audio Trails

'Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) set most of his novels and many poems in Wessex, once an ancient kingdom of southern England. The heart of Hardy's Wessex is Dorset and the Hardy Way is a journey through some of the most unspoilt parts of this beautiful county, extending from the coast then inland to the timeless Cranborne Chase on the Wiltshire border ... We believe the Guidebook written by Margaret Marande and updated in 2015 is essential not just to follow the route, but because the many excerpts from Hardy's work provide an extra dimension of enjoyment to discovering Dorset and his magical Wessex.'

The Hardy Way [Beaminster Ramblers]

'Haworth village is situated at the edge of the Pennine moors in West Yorkshire, England, the area made famous by the Brontë sisters, known as Brontë country.'

Haworth Village

'Explore dense woodland and pass the former home of a famous British novelist on this spectacular walk near Newbury.'

'Exploring the beautiful setting for Howards End in Hertfordshire, a patch of peace on the edge of the urban world.'

BBC Countryfile Magazine

'Iris Murdoch's novels retell the myths of the ages, situating the timeless archetypes in the familiar world around us. This series of London Walks explores the city through her novels, in which it is background - but also a catlayst. London becomes a charged landscape, electrified by currents of ideas and imagery bubbling up through the plots - that's what we are in pursuit of in these walks.'

The Word Travels

'Circular walk around the north western area of Leicestershire. The route is split up into 7 sections, therefore making it easy to walk as a series of short strolls.'

Choose How You Move in Leicester & Leicestershire

'Jane Austen was born at Steventon in Hampshire on 16 December 1775 to George and Cassandra Austen. Her father had been born in Tonbridge in 1731, and there are many family links to the town ...'

The Jane Austen Society

'This website is all about the walking trail that links Chawton, where Jane Austen lived, to Alton where she often visited. The route of the trail is available on a free leaflet available locally or downloadable as a PDF.'

Alton Chamber Enterprises

'This circular film and literature walk takes you to the places visited by Charlotte Bronte that appear in Jane Eyre. You can also recreate the famous scene from Pride & Prejudice "on location" above Stanage Edge and visit the grave of Robin Hood’s sidekick Little John. Explore a Romano-British village, Norman fort, historic church and breathtaking moors on the way.'

Village Trails [Peak District National Park]

'The trail starts on the beautiful Chiltern Hills, which are reputed to be John Bunyan's delectable mountains. It continues through some of Bedfordshire's most attractive and scenic countryside taking in a variety of nostalgic places, full of interest and intrigue, connected with John Bunyan.'

'With his remarkable story as inspiration the John Clare Walk recreates, “in the spirit of John Clare", the poet’s trek northwards from High Beach in Essex to Helpston, the village of Clare’s much loved first home and the site of Clare Cottage.'

John Clare Cottage

'Follow the daily route Keats took during his stay in Winchester. Starting at Winchester Tourist Information Centre, enjoy a self-guided walk in the poet's footsteps from the city to St Cross, passing through the landscape which inspired his famous ode "To Autumn".'

Visit Winchester

'Until the mid 19th century this was a remote area. Then in 1855 Charles Kingsley set his novel Westward Ho! here and a small resort was developed on the coast and named after the book. It is now the only town in Britain with an exclamation mark as part of its spelling. This walk starts by circling inland behind the town before heading to the cliffs to the west. It then returns along the South West Coast Path.'

'Philip Larkin is widely considered to be Britain's greatest post-war poet. Born in Coventry in 1922, he lived the greater part of his working life in Hull, having moved here in his early 30s to take up the post of University Librarian ...'

The Larkin Trail

'Back in 1985, a head-over-heels fan of Cider with Rosie, I spent a day exploring Slad with Laurie Lee as my guide. I've never forgotten the deep and amused affection that the author showed for the little South Gloucestershire village where he grew up ...'

Celebrating the Laurie Lee Centenary [Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust]

'A circular walk around Harrow on the Hill where Lord Byron and Anthony Trollope went to school.'

Circular walk around Chappel including visiting Chalkney Wood  which holds 'a wide variety of wildlife including deer, badgers and over 30 species of breeding birds. The plant and and insect communities include a number of rare species'.

colnevalley.com

'The Magic of Mary Webb is a series of four trails devised to guide you to the places Mary Webb loved, along walks she did many times and to locations she wrote about. There was little that Mary Webb didn't know about the Shropshire countryside, its lanes, hills, valleys and meres, its wildlife and vegetation, its legends and folklore - and its people.'

Shropshire Tourism

'Oxfordshire has featured in many blockbuster films and TV programmes over the years. Follow in the famous footsteps of Harry Potter, Inspector Morse, Lyra and others and explore some of those magical locations around the city and county. Download a trail ...'

Location Oxfordshire

'Great Missenden was home to Roald Dahl for 36 years until his death in 1990. He wrote all of his children's books and many of his adult short stories in the Writing Hut he had built in his garden. Many of Roald Dahl's stories are based in and around the village.'

The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre

'Links some of Britain's best-loved tourist destinations - London, the Chilterns, Oxford, Blenheim Palace, the Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon.'

The Shakespeare's Way Association

'The pathway (18 miles approx.), which runs between Cleobury Mortimer and north of Stottesdon, is laid out in roughly a figure eight pattern intersecting at Detton Hall. The walk is planned, as a one day outing for experienced walkers, to include most of the Rea Valley farms mentioned in Simon Evans' books. Casual walkers should allow 2 days to fully enjoy this footpath.'

Cleobury Mortimer Footpath Association

'Cross-country walk between Moffat in South Central Scotland to Cockburnspath on the South East Scottish Coastline. It runs through lowland valleys, by lochs and reservoirs, alongside the River Tweed and its tributaries, over several significant Borderland hills and through communities steeped in history and interest.'

Walking Support

'A Staffordshire Libraries walk - a series of three linked walks that cover over 30 miles of the Staffordshire Countryside on and around Cannock Chase. The walks focus on Staffordshire's J.R.R Tolkien connection.'

'A unique wilderness walk across the heart of Scotland ... Based on the book Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson ... Centred around real historical events ... A great way to explore Scotland.'

Ian Logan Stevenson Adventures

'Before he died, the Poet Laureate Ted Hughes requested that a granite stone be engraved with his name and placed at his favourite spot on Dartmoor. Hughes, who moved to North Devon in 1961, died from cancer in 1998. In accordance with his wishes, a slab of Dartmoor granite was duly inscribed and sited near the rising of the Taw, Dart, East Okement and Teign rivers. The stone was airlifted into place in 2001, following special permission from the landowners, the Duchy of Cornwall. English Nature and the Dartmoor National Park Authority also gave permission. However, the exact location remained a secret - until 2003, when it was discovered.'

BBC

The Ted Hughes Memorial Stone [Legendary Dartmoor] | The Ted Hughes' Memorial [Dartmoor Walks]

'A long and challenging walk which climbs up the downs and generally follows the crest through forests past ancient burial sites, the Tennyson Monument and The Needles to Alum Bay. Superb views in many directions.'

Isle of Wight Official Tourism Guide

Descriptions of twelve locations around and about Coventry associated with the poet Philip Larkin: 'This self-guided leaflet ... is aimed at residents and visitors alike, since many of today's Coventrians remain unaware of Larkin's literary heritage'.

Coventry City Council

'Take an audio poetry tour through the city. Pick up an MP3 player, headphones and an illustrated map from the Playhouse Ticket Office and set off on an hour-long guided walk of Oxford, with specially selected and recorded poetry for company.' ALERT I could no longer find details of the Tour on the Playhouse Website; so I have replaced the Link.

Oxford Playhouse

'During the last great age of Irish Literature in the 18th Century, the Ring of Gullion was famed for its strong association with "fili agus filíocht" (poets and poetry), with all the major poets coming from this area. Their remains can be found in Creggan Church and graveyard in Slieve Gullion, which is known as the poet's graveyard. There are three waymarked trails, for walking or cycling, around Mullaghbane, Forkhill and Creggan, collectively titled The Poet's Trail, along which you can visit locations associated with these bards and find out more about them.' Note that Newry & Mourne District Council has been absorbed into Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

Newry & Mourne District Council

'The landscape speaks to us, if we just take the time to understand its language. Increasingly, it is telling us that our cultural affiliation with nature is in crisis. The wildlife dimension is being dissipated at an unprecedented rate and there is an urgent need for action to halt the destruction and restore wilderness eco systems before it is too late.'

Dick Capel

Meg Peacocke | Pip Hall

Five walks have been surveyed and written by members of the Cymdeithas Thomas Pennant to commemorate the bicentenary of the publication of "The History of the Parishes of Whiteford and Holywell".

Thomas Pennant Society

'In the footsteps of J.R.R. Tolkien ...'

'Take a walk along the 4 mile route between Turner's Margate and Dickens' Broadstairs. Much of the walk follows an ancient footpath between St Peter's Church and St John's Church and the walk is signposted in both directions.'

'Wainwright's Way is a journey on foot through Alfred Wainwright's life from Lancashire to the Lakes. This walking guide charts a 126 mile long-distance route linking the place where he was born – a Victorian terraced house in Audley Range, Blackburn – with his final resting place on Haystacks, his heavenly corner of Lakeland.'

Wainwright's Way by Nick Burton (Frances Lincoln, 2013) | Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells (Frances Lincoln, 2011)

'In April 2007, inspired by the writings of Thomas Hardy, I travelled on foot from Win Green to Weymouth. The journey was one of great contrast, reaching to the very heart of Hardy country. Along the way I passed through landscapes associated with the novels, poems and short stories: Cranbourne Chase, the valley of the Stour, the chalk ridge south of the Blackmoor Vale, the Frome valley, the coastal uplands ... '

Southern Walks

'Links Horsham in West Sussex with Chichester Cathedral ... And as you follow the trail the Guidebook will bring the walk alive with stories of dozens of literary connections along the way ...'

Footprints of Sussex and Per-Rambulations

'The William Soutar Perth Walks were officially launched by Provost John Hulbert and Councillor Liz Grant at the Soutar House on 19 November 2007. The idea of a haik originated with Robert Alan Jamieson, who was the Soutar Writer in Residence from 1993-96. Alan's idea was to identify sites which Soutar had either written about or had referred to in his poetry, and link them together as a walk ...'

The Friends of William Soutar Society

'This walk is probably better known as Robinson Crusoe's walk since this is where Daniel Defoe places his character, in the novel of the same name, after being shipwrecked with a resulting walk to Great Yarmouth. Although such a stormy day would not make the best of walks, when the sun shines and the tide is out this really is a great walk.'