Active travel is the term used to describe physically active journeys. Active travel includes walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting as a means to get about. Active travel choices can improve your health and wellbeing, help reduce your carbon footprint and save you money.
Argyll and Bute Council are working with key partner organisations including Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, HITRANS, Paths for All, SPT and Sustrans to deliver projects that make active travel choices in Argyll and Bute easier, safer and more appealing
Active Travel apps
Argyll and Bute Council have developed a series of fun interactive active travel apps for Campbeltown, Dunoon, Helensburgh, Mid Argyll, Oban and Rothesay. Each app provides a series of interactive active travel self-guided trails to help you explore each town and discover some of the history and hidden treasures that can be found there:
Maps
Walking and cycling maps
View or download our handy and popular active travel maps to help you walk, wheel and cycle around our main settlements in Argyll and Bute
Infrastructure projects
Working with partners and our communities, Argyll and Bute Council is working hard to improve and expand the active travel network. All new routes are required to meet the criteria set by our funding partners.
Projects currently being designed or constructed
- Bowmore to Bridgend (led by Islay Community Access Group with support from Argyll and Bute Council)
- Ralston Road, Campbeltown
- Helensburgh to Dumbarton
- Helensburgh to Garelochhead
- Dunoon to Hunters Quay
- Lochgilphead Town Centre
- Lochgilphead Front Green to Crinan Canal
- Oban Town Centre North
- Rosneath, Phase 2
- Rothesay Joint Campus to Town Centre
- Craighouse to Corran Sands, Jura
- Campbeltown Esplanade and Kinloch Park
- Rothesay Pavilion to Albert Pier
- Tarbert to Kennacraig
What is Active Travel?
Active travel sits at the top of the sustainable travel hierarchy as defined in the Scottish Government’s National Transport Strategy. The higher up the hierarchy, the more sustainable and greener the travel option, so by choosing to walk, wheel or cycle for your journey instead of using a private car you are helping to reduce your carbon footprint.
Active travel is also good for you. There are numerous studies that demonstrate the physical and mental health benefits bestowed by regular exercise such as traveling actively.
A recent survey found that 17% of journeys undertaken in Scotland were under 1km and that more than half were under 5km. These are the sort of journeys that have the greatest potential to be taken actively and bring about a wide range of benefits which include:
- Better physical, mental and social health
- Reducing carbon emissions and helping reach net-zero carbon goals
- Reduced air pollution
- Reduced congestion
- Higher quality public realm
- Vibrant communities