©Canterbury Punting Company

Beyond Kent’s busy public transportation systems, slow travel has become an increasingly popular and considerably cheaper way to explore historic sites and popular attractions across the county. Avoiding the tourist rush, every journey can be slowed down, allowing you to gain a deeper connection to the local landscape and communities you encounter. By Bella Ferguson & Emily Sturgeon

Across Kent, stress-free travel has become an ideal option for families, couples and solo explorers who are looking for a sustainable day out; with the last of the summer sunsets, every moment can be cherished this September at a slower pace, whether you wish to embrace slow travel by train, bike or foot, you can discover a wealth of unrushed activities across the Garden of England this autumn.

For Couples 

The perfect couples day out can be spent on the River Stour with Canterbury Punting; with different types of tours to choose from, including ghost tours, private tours, shared tours and nature tours. Each experience will allow you to gain a deeper understanding of Canterbury’s extensive history, which dates back to the Early Middle Ages. While on the tour, you can observe ancient landmarks including the Blackfriars Dominican Priory, Old Weavers House, Eastbridge Hospital and Greyfriars Chapel. 

If you wish to travel the 50-yard dark brick tunnel that runs under Canterbury’s High Street, you’ll need to book the Ghost Tour. While aboard, listen to spooky stories, local folklore and ghost tales. During the nature tour, you will glide under weeping willows surrounded by the city’s natural river banks and abundance of local wildlife.

After your tour, head to The Mooring Cafe and Bar; set on the riverbanks of the River Stour, it is an ideal place to recharge. You can enjoy a hot cup of locally roasted barista coffee or indulge in one of the signature cocktails from the bar.

Just under 11 miles away from Canterbury is the peaceful rural village of Wye, which sits within Kent Downs National Landscape. The town is known for its stretching views and most notably, the Cantii Way cycle trail, a 145-mile circular route where you will be able to discover the ancient land of the Cantii tribes surrounding Canterbury, a Celtic tribe that inhabited ‘Cantium’, the Roman and British-Latin name for the region corresponding to modern-day Kent.

Viking Coastal Trail

The route will end up along Kent’s coastline, passing through seaside towns including Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate and Folkestone. On your cycle, you can stop off for refreshments at The Goods Shed based near Canterbury West station, which is known for its independent farmers’ food market and seasonal restaurant serving dishes made from fresh local ingredients, or The Harbour Inn in Folkestone, a go-to traditional pub that’s known for its locally sourced seafood from Folkestone trawlers. 

A shorter cycling trail to discover is the Viking Coastal Trail, a 32-mile circular route spanning the Isle of Thanet that traverses the surrounding towns of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate. Heading along the route, you will discover where Vikings once landed in the 5th and 9th centuries across the Thanet coastline, most importantly at Pegwell Bay, a shallow inlet between Ramsgate and Sandwich. 

The route will also follow a number of quiet countryside lanes, passing by ancient monuments, including Minster Abbey in Ramsgate, a working Benedictine monastery founded in 670 AD that’s recognised as the oldest inhabited house in England. Why not stop off for a much-needed refreshment in the on-site Tea Room, where you’ll find freshly baked scones served with lashings of fresh clotted cream and strawberry jam?

For Families

Ightham Mote

Planning a day out for the family can be challenging, especially as the seasons begin to change, but the walking trail from Ightham Mote to Knole Park guarantees an adventure for the entire family, with Ightham Mote providing a full day out to explore secondhand bookshops, gardens, cafes and the 14th-century medieval mote house. 

The walk from Ightham Mote to Knole Park is an eight-and-a-half-mile loop through the two spectacular National Trust properties, with deer sightings and stretching views across the Weald of Kent’s historical landscape. Along the way, you will see a number of brooks and natural springs alongside plenty of pit stops for coffee including The Brewhouse Café at Knole Park, which serves barista coffee and an array of decadent treats.

Close by, the Darent Valley Path is a 19-mile walking path passing through the Kent Downs to villages such as Otford, Shoreham and Eynsford. All three villages are known for their historical and traditional landmarks presenting the rustic simplicity of English heritage, with cosy pubs and scenic views from each village. 

©Forestry England

The 19-mile route is estimated to take between six and nine hours to complete, following the River Darent from the banks of the River Thames in Dartford to the Greensand Hills above Sevenoaks. The route is mostly spent on flat and gentle gradients with occasional hills, so it makes for a leisurely day out exploring the Kentish landscape.

Heading southeast of Darent Valley Path is Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, which spans a 2,000-acre radius of substantial woodland. The park allows families to be adventurous and follow cycle routes weaving through stands of pine and sweet chestnut. The forest is ideal for walkers and runners, but is extremely popular for its cycling trails, which encourage families to explore the forest in a new light.

One of the most popular cycling routes is a 5.6-mile family trail route, which overlooks the beautiful woodland setting of Bedgebury along gravel paths with only gradual inclines and occasional hills, which lead to a shared forest road through the woodland.

For Solo Explorers

Exploring Kent’s east coast, it has to be said that Margate is the perfect place for solo travellers to enjoy the quiet company of the sea and explore Margate Old Town, which is known for its independent boutiques and trendy food spots. Here, you can discover The Margate Bookshop – located in the Old Town, it houses underrepresented authors and translated fiction along with a number of classic and modern reads.

While in Margate, exploring by foot can lead you to the Turner Contemporary – set on Margate’s seafront, it is one of the UK’s leading art galleries, with a rolling programme of historic and contemporary art celebrating artists in the local community.

Heading south to the seaside town of Hythe, the Eltham Valley Way walk is a 22.5-mile hike across the Kent Downs National Landscape. The walk takes you from Hythe to Canterbury, passing through the Seabrook Valley. You will walk through Paraker Wood, dating back to the 17th-century, hosting a variety of wildlife, with regular sightings of nightingales and sparrowhawks. 

Close by to the woodland is Seabrook Stream, an area recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest; the stream powers a number of local corn and paper mills, while its varying ecology helps support the local ecology with invertebrates and breeding birds relying on the stream to survive. 

A new addition to Kent’s coastal cycling trails, the Oyster Bay Trail is a natural extension to the Viking Coastal Trail, taking cyclists on a 17-mile route from Whitstable to Margate, stretching across Whitstable to Reculver Country Park. To get to the Northern Seawall, the Oyster Bay Trail continues to Minnis Bay and then finishes in Margate. Througout the route, you can enjoy sea views of the Thames Estuary transitioning into the North Sea.

While on the Oyster Bay Trail, you can stop off along the way at local food spots including The Oyster Shed, a boutique oyster bar based in Whitstable. A local favourite, here, you can enjoy delicious locally sourced oysters from Whitstable Bay.