Active Travel

Active Travel has a wide range of benefits to our health, economy, and environment. People who walk, wheel, or cycle feel often improvements to their mental and physical health, and repeated studies find people who travel into the highstreets without car spend up to 40% more of their money, helping to support the local economy. That's not to mention the environmental benefits- Swale has six Air Quality Management Areas which suffer poor air quality. Reducing the use of private vehicle use can help alleviate pollution, reducing the emissions and particulates that can be so damaging to our health.

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan

The government's ambition is to make walking, wheeling, and cycling the natural choice, both for shorter and longer journeys. Transforming local areas in ways that support active travel will reduce congestion, improve air quality, improve mental and physical health, and support local economies. The Department for Transport  (DfT)  has developed the concept of a Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), a document that allows local and regional authorities to take a strategic approach to improving walking and cycling infrastructure.

LCWIPs are evidence-led, long term plans to identify cycling, walking and wheeling improvements. LCWIPs provide:

• network plans identifying preferred routes for further development
• prioritised programme - a list of infrastructure improvements for future investment
• background report explaining the process followed and analysis undertaken.

Following a public consultation throughout autumn 2025 the Environmental Services and Climate Change Committee, held on the 17 March 2026, adopted the Swale Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan. You can read this here.

Faversham Town Council adopted it's own Faversham LCWIP in 2022.  You can read this here.

Swale Cycle Recycle

Cycling is a healthy,  low carbon alternative to driving, but we know that it can be an expensive choice- that's why we've set up the Swale Cycle Recycle scheme, a partnership project with the Canterbury Bike Project and HMP Swaleside.

Old, damaged and unloved bikes can be donated, either through donation day events or at the  Sheerness Waste and Recycling Centre, after which they are taken  to the prison workshop to be refurbished by inmates. This helps the inmates work towards a City and Guilds qualifications, supporting their re-integration upon release.

After the bikes are refurbished, they are sold back to residents through events hosted by our brilliant community partners.  All bikes are given away for a minimum £10 donation, this ensures that the scheme remains  affordable and is financially self-sustaining.

To find out more about the scheme please visit the website.

Where to walk or wheel in Swale

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 Swale's 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.

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