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Cycling and Walking

Discover how changes to your travel habits can help reduce your impact on the climate and help fight against climate change.

Getting regular exercise is great for both your mental and physical health. It’s also good for the environment. By walking to shops instead of taking the car, for example, you can help to reduce your carbon footprint and reduce the impact of climate change. Our research shows that 22% of commuter journeys in Swale could be taken by bike.

Walking and Cycling

We are lucky to be the only Kent authority with an Active Transport Coordinator who has been working hard to make Swale a great place to walk and cycle. There is lots to see and do, from hiking through a diverse landscape on one of the long distance trails to one of many short circular walks around a historical towns or village. Listed below are just some of these fantastic routes:

  • King Charles III England Coast Path- the National Trail that will eventually cover all 4,500km of England's coast. Walk along the Whitstable to Iwade section passing through the Oare Marshes, which supports an exciting and diverse range of birds, and finish by the unique Kingsferry Bridge, a mid-twentieth century engineering marvel.
  • Saxon Shore Way- this long-distance route follows Kent's ancient coastline for 160 miles (257km) from Gravesend to Hastings. Enjoy the inspiring landscape and natural beauty of the estuarine habitats and the historic marsh villages and towns along the trail through Swale from Otterham Quay to Seasalter.
  • A Land for all Seasons Nature Trail- a circular walk of 9-12 miles in the chalk slopes of the North Downs through Sheldwich, Selling, Perrywood and Badlesmere
  • A Classic Kent Landscape- a 5 mile circular walk through Borden, Bredgar and Tunstall
  • The Two Creeks Nature Trail- a circular 5 mile walk discovering the rich maritime and farming legacy of Faversham, Davington and Oare
  • The Woodlands & Duck Pond Trail- a wonderful circular country walk from Sittingbourne through Rodmersham Green and Milstead. The route is 3.8 miles with a 2.7 miles optional loop.

Click here to get a full list of trails around Swale.

Kent Connected is a free journey planner that empowers you to make smarter travel choices with your health, time, and the environment in mind. The app makes travel planning easy by showing live bus and train times, offering different route suggestions for walking and cycling and using integrated walking and cycling maps to help ease any worries and get you on your way. The app now features an Ordnance Survey map layer as well as a brand new section featuring Explore Kent walking and cycling routes!

Download the app here.

Not feeling confident cycling on the road? KCC offer Adult Cycle Training across Kent to give you the skills to cycle for both work and leisure