Elmley Nature Reserve

Rooms

Elmley has a wide range of places to stay: a 6-bedroom farmhouse; a 5-bedroom cottage; 4 wooden cabins; 3 large shepherd's huts; a mini-cabin; 2 traditional shepherd's huts; and 10 bell tents (summer only).

Kingshill Farmhouse, stunningly renovated in a bold bohemian scheme, has six knock-out bedrooms: four ensuite on the first floor plus a two-bedroom family suite in the attic sharing a bathroom. The ground floor has a library with games, a cosy snug, a drawing room complete with chandelier, and a breakfast room extension with dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows for those amazing eastern views.

Another option for larger parties is two-storey five-bedroomed Elmley Cottage, refurbished in soft retro colours. It has big picture windows overlooking the Reserve for excellent birding, and a convivial open-plan ground floor with full kitchen. There's a useful utility room and four bedrooms can be doubles or twins as preferred. The layout works well for a couple or small family too, and the cottage can be booked at a reduced occupancy rate during the winter months.

Guests in houses can choose either serviced or self-catering stays depending on your requirements – private chefs, meals and housekeeping and a host service can be arranged.

To get closer to nature, book one of the beautifully conceived shepherds huts and cabins, strung along a low ridge for maximum big sky views across salt marshes and water courses. Vintage-styled Samphire (where we stayed) and Little Owl are the most bijou; next up is rustic Vanellus. The three large custom-built wooden huts (Damson, Saltbox and Ferryman's) come with outdoor baths or shower. The cabins (The Roost, Martha's Hut, James' Hide and The Isle) have waterfall showers and outside baths; Martha's Hut has side glazing to maximise those views. All have ensuite shower bathrooms, private outside seating beside willow screens or trees and a firepit.

In summer, you can sleep in a traditional bell tent. Set in pretty meadows and woodland, they are spacious (5m wide), tall enough to stand, and surprisingly comfy. Think coir matting, thick rugs, proper beds with soft duvets and pillows, and space for 2 kids' beds. Each tent comes with lanterns, a firepit (you'll need to buy a bag of wood), hot water bottles, and outdoor seating. There are individual cabin showers and toilets in a shared block and shared camp kitchen a short walk away plus a lovely fire pit with hay-bale seating. You can charge devices, or take shelter, in the barn if needed.

Features include:

• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• WiFi

Eating

If, like us, your idea of a relaxing break doesn't involve cooking, make sure to order hampers.

Breakfast hampers can be delivered to your cottage, shepherd hut or bell tent with your choice of bacon, egg, avocado, halloumi and tomato sandwiches plus freshly ground coffee or tea. Order a picnic – perhaps a baguette and salad, fruit and juice – or buy savoury snacks or cakes from the cafe for heading out to the reserve for the day.

For whole house hire a private chef can be arranged and meals in Kingshill or Elmley can be served formally in the dining rooms if guests wish (for a surcharge).

In summer, order a wood-fired pizza to eat in the courtyard or back at your lodgings. In winter, hearty supper hampers consist of two courses from a daily changing set menu (dietary requirements catered for) which you are given advance notice of; we really enjoyed chicken pie followed by apple crumble and custard which we ate in the Barn for a change of scene. Pleasingly, Elmley make a real effort to use local produce.

If staying for more than a couple of nights, meals will start to add up and you may prefer to do some cooking. There are supermarkets in Sittingbourne, and both Elmley Cottage and Kingshill Farmhouse have well-equipped kitchens. The largest huts have galley kitchenettes, while Samphire and Little Owl share a camp kitchen which has solar-powered cool boxes and basic cooking facilities. For those in the bell tents, there's a shared camp kitchen and you can hire a BBQ kit with cooking equipment, falconware crockery and charcoal, rather than having to bring it with you, though we suggest you bring your own cool box and ice packs. End your evening with marshmallows around your firepit.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Breakfast
• Dinner by arrangement
• Hob or stove
• Kids' meals
• Kitchenette
• Lunch by arrangement
• Organic produce
• Picnics on request
• Room service

Activities

• Explore the Reserve on foot. There are bird hides to help you get closer to wildlife – we counted 50 bird species in two days including the iconic lapwing and various owls – and you will definitely see hares too
  
• Sign up for a group wildlife tour with in-house nature guide, Simon. Either on foot (max 5) or in a safari truck
  
• Lovely Whitstable, famed for its oysters and independent boutiques, is 25 minutes' drive away
  
• Kent has plenty of beaches to discover, including wild Blue Flag beaches on the Isle of Sheppey and sandy Botany Bay
  
• Leeds Castle is a 25-minute drive
  
• Walk the North Downs Way for long views, picturesque villages and country pubs
  
• Book a treatment or a massage in the wellness room
  
• Sit out by your hut or cottage by the fire pit for an evening, toast marshmallows, and revel in those big skies

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Historical sites
• Swimming
• Well being
• Wildlife

Kids

This is a terrific place to come with children of all ages as there is plenty of space to run around and the flexible accommodation set-up means that all shapes and size of family can be made comfortable here. We came with our two primary school-agers and they loved it. That said, there are lots of open ponds and streams, so you will have to keep a careful eye on toddlers, and if in shepherds huts space inside is at a premium. Linhay barn is available in the event of wet weather, and offers board games.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

The best huts for families are Saltbox, Damson and Ferrymans as they can take two young children apiece (the seat turns into a bed and there's also a hammock across the bed). The Roost has a double sofa bed, while Martha's Hut has a small double pullout, so both can also take two kids. Book a bell tent in the summer months to be pitched beside any of the huts for extra capacity/children, or the woodland or meadow tents can house a family of four in comfort. Large families or family parties should book five-bedroomed Elmley Cottage (smaller families can book this too) or six-bedroomed Kingshill Farmhouse, which has a family suite which sleeps 4 (the Lookout and its adjoining Nest) on the top floor, with a shared bathroom.

Distances:

• Airport: 1hr15m (London Gatwick)
• Hospital: 30 minutes (Medway Maritime Hospital)
• Shops: 10 minutes (supermarket)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Elmley Nature Reserve is on the Isle of Sheppey, which connects to the Thames Estuary, on the north coast of Kent in the south-east of England.

By Air:
Fly to Gatwick and pick up a hire car.

By Train:
The Javelin service on the Channel Tunnel high-speed line goes from London St Pancras to Sittingbourne railway station. From the railway station it's easy to pick up a taxi to take you 20 minutes to Elmley. Recommended.

By Car:
You won't need a car if you're just staying on the reserve, however, if you want to explore the region and travel to Whitstable or beyond you will probably need a car (or book taxis) to do so.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

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