Alton's Autumn Walking Festival 2025
After the success of previous years, we are holding our 6th Autumn Walking Festival from Monday 13th October to Sunday 19th October, a week-long event showcasing a selection of handpicked walks from May 2025 which were 'Simply The Best'. Alton's Walking Festivals are truly friendly walking events, ideal for enthusiastic walkers, relaxed wanderers and curious explorers of all ages.
Situated at the source of the River Wey and enjoying a stunning rural backdrop at the gateway of the South Downs National Park, Alton is known by many as 'Jane Austen Country' with its close ties to the charming neighbouring village of Chawton. The festival is the ideal opportunity for the local community and visitors from further afield to meet like-minded people, explore the Town and its surrounding villages, discover the superb Hampshire countryside with its abundance of wildlife and rich cultural heritage - You'll be spoilt for choice!
CELEBRATING JANE AUSTEN 250
Alton Walking Festival 2025 will also be joining the Jane Austen 250th anniversary celebrations by including Jane Austen-themed walks as part of its festival programme. Alton, located near Jane’s home in Chawton, offers visitors the chance to explore the landscapes and places that inspired her writing. The guided walks will take participants through key locations connected to Jane’s life and spots she would have frequented. These walks provide a unique opportunity to step into Jane’s world and experience the Hampshire countryside she knew so well. For more details about all Jane Austen 250 events visit Visit Hampshire website.
CELEBRATING RAIL 200
Alton Walking Festival 2025 will also celebrate Rail 200, marking 200 years of railway history, by including special Railway Walks in its festival programme. These walks will explore the rich railway heritage of the area, including historic routes, disused railway lines and connections to the Mid Hants Railway, also known as the "Watercress Line". Participants will have the chance to learn about the impact of the railway on local communities while enjoying scenic countryside trails. For more details about all Rail 200 events visit Rail 200.
GHOST WALKS Sunday 19th October AT 6:00pm and 8:00pm
It is 1867… a year that places Alton in the history books with a notoriety to rival that of Whitechapel of London. Beyond the tourist trail, the dark lanes and streets hide secrets of ghosts, conspiracy and smugglers. Join the Theatre of Dark Encounters as we bring these stories to life in a truly immersive experience, as ghosts of the past come to tell their tales of well-known haunting spots in the town, including; St Lawrence Church, Flood Meadows, The Crown Hotel and the Swan Hotel. You will learn a little, you will laugh a little - but hopefully you will scream a lot…FIND OUT MORE
We hope you enjoy Alton's Autumn Walking Festival!
If you have any questions, please email Kaylie events@alton.gov.uk or call 01420 83986.