Imagine being able to explore the wonderful landscapes and habitats of the Medway Gap by cycling along the edge of Kent's largest river.

With this in mind, the Kent Downs AONB (through its Valley of Visions Landscape Partnership Scheme) recently commissioned the UK's leading sustainable transport charity, Sustrans, to examine how it might be achieved.  The result is 'Along the Water's Edge'.

This study is all about creating and improving access alongside Kent’s largest river, enhancing the Medway’s assets and people’s enjoyment of them. Direct easy going riverside paths linking two great historic towns of Kent presents many opportunities for the County.  A quality path with well thought out links to stations would enable many more commuters to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. Recommended improvements for walking and cycling contained in this study create real opportunities for sustainable low carbon travel.

Leisure and tourism benefits are numerous. Who would not want to journey through an ancient landscape, beside a great river, surrounded by one of the country’s finest landscapes – the Kent

Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - and enjoy riverside heritage dating back to Neolithic times, wildlife-rich areas and the songs of nightingales in the spring. There are enormous health implications as increased walking and cycling isn’t just a rewarding and invigorating way to get around or explore the Medway valley, it is one of the best physical and mental makeovers you can get!

But now the Valley of Visions team want to hear what you think. You can download the report in full here (but please note it is a large document - 40 MB) or you can see a lower resolution version here. You can also see a copy of the proposal on the Valley of Vision website at http://www.valleyofvisions.org.uk/AlongtheWaterfront.php. To send your responses either email valley of visions at mail@vov.kentdowns.org.uk or download an enquiry form at http://www.valleyofvisions.org.uk/AlongtheWaterfront.php.