Active
Get Active is a link to find the nearest sports clubs to you
and information on funding and club development.
Get Active Walking
The Ashford Health Walk takes place
every Thursday and meets in the Memorial Gardens
opposite Ashford Library at 10.15 for a 10.30
start. Now running for over a year, the walk has gone
from strength to strength, with new routes being tested weekly and
numbers walking increasing week upon week, currently an average of
25 people take part in each walk, which is brilliant. Walks last
between 45 minutes to an hour and are a great way to improve your
health, meet new people, reduce stress and improve your mood. There
is no need to book, just come along to the library, introduce
yourself and you are ready to go.
To keep the walk going into the New
Year, we are looking for some volunteers to help lead the walk from
the library. You needn’t be there every week, but just be able to
help out every so often with one of walks. Free training is being
given to anyone expressing an interest in leading health walks. If
anyone is interested could they please call or email
Julia Wells (Walking
for Health Co-ordinator) on 01304 828700.
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Health walks are run from the Memorial Gardens opposite
Ashford Library every Thursday. They meet in the gardens at
10.15 (for a 10.30 start). It's free to take part, simply
turn up and join in. For more information call the library on
01233 620649. Health walks are also run from the Willow
Centre in Ashford, these walks are designed to be child and
pram friendly, for more information please contact Sheila or Tracey
on 0800 587 7455.
Please visit the Kent Sports Development Unit
website for other county, regional, and national healthy
lifestyle initiatives.
Get Active Cycling
Cycling is a great way to see the Ashford countryside and
keep fit at the same time. As Ashford has grown good progress has
been made towards a network of cycle routes in recent years.
There are now more attractive cycle routes giving greater
access to green spaces and the countryside, with more to come in
the future.
For the cyclist there are many quiet country lanes and a series
of specially designed circular routes waiting to be discovered.
National Cycle Network Route 18 links Tunbridge Wells to Ashford,
with Tenterden a convenient mid-way point. Ashford itself is well
served with purpose-built cycle routes throughout the town.
The
Tourist Information Centre in Ashford stocks a wide range of
cycling publications and maps to help you make the most of the
stunning countryside. For the novice, why not try the flats of the
Romney Marsh with a series of circular rides that give you a gentle
introduction to the great outdoors.
You can also pick up a series of Parish Pedals in the borough,
the Kent Cycle Map and Bike Rides by Rail in the Stour Valley, as
well as an assortment of free leaflets all designed to encourage
you to 'get on your bike'. Alternatively why not visit the
Explore
Kent website where you will find plenty of ideas involving
walking and cycling for all.
For more information on travelling round the borough
by bike or on foot visit the Best Placed
Getting Around webpage.
Go Cycle Kent have provided the
following information for cyclists in Ashford:
Ashford boasts some 28 miles of traffic-free paths with the best
cycling alongside the River Stour on National Cycle Route 18.
Perfect for all users including novices, the route meanders
throught the heart of Ashford, overcoming roads, railway lines and
the M20 with safe crossings and underpasses. The section
through Victoria Park onto Singleton Lakes is ideal for young
children and toddlers learning to cycle.
West of Ashford, National Cycle Route 18 passes through the
medieval country town of Tenterden. There is great 'scenic'
cycling close by. Fit, seasoned cyclists can enjoy a
roller-coaster ride on route 18 to the High Weald of Kent, an area
of outstanding natural beauty. Anyone who thinks Kent is flat
may reconsider on route to Bedgebury Forest where a traffic-free
cyclist's paradise has been created among the trees. There is
a 10km family cycle path, fantastic adventure play apparatus, and
12km of mountain bike trails. Highly recommended!
Kent County Council's website lists
several cycle routes and has a
Kent Cycle Guide that can show you excellent routes all around
Kent.
Ashford Borough Council, Civic Centre, Tannery Lane, Ashford TN23 1PL
Telephone: 01233 330232 Email: activeashford@ashford.gov.uk
Copyright 2007 Ashford Borough Council
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