Magical Elmley Nature Reserve forms a large portion of the low-lying Isle of Sheppey, which lies off Kent's north coast. These wild 3,300 acres are home to one of the largest bird reserves in England – including lapwings, marsh harriers, and plentiful waterfowl in the reed beds – as well as being a working farm where cattle and sheep graze the salt-marsh. And uniquely, it's the only National Nature Reserve in England you can overnight in.
This spectacular land is family-owned, and Georgina and Gareth skilfully combine the farm, nature and visitors to harmonious effect. You've a wonderful choice of places to stay. Larger family parties or groups of friends can book the peaceful and stunningly renovated 18th-century Kingshill Farmhouse comes with sumptuous bedrooms and a large garden. Or Elmley Cottage, which has 5 bedrooms, a sociable open-plan ground floor and picture windows overlooking the reserve. Couples may prefer to stay in a very special and cosy shepherds hut. These are spaced along a ridge to maximise the vast skyscape, and come with private outdoor seating, a firepit and shower bathrooms; some sleep a family of 4. In summer, you can get even closer to nature in a traditional bell tent: set in meadows and woodland, they sleep up to 4. Communal space is found in the barn, a lovely rustic space with comfy seating, games, books and a woodburner for guests to enjoy. There's even a dedicated wellness space for massages and facials.
We woke to phenomenal sunrises, ordered picnic baskets, walked the breadth of the reserve, saw hares boxing and owls hunting at dusk, toasted marshmallows round the firepit, and absolutely loved it.
Highs
- Those vast skies, the quality of light, that sense of space, so much wildlife! And you're just 1hr15mins from London St Pancras
- A wide range of accommodation options, ranging from tents to super-stylish houses, and sleeping from 2 to 14
- Be catered for or self-cater: hampers and picnic baskets can be delivered to your door; the huts have kitchenettes or a camp kitchen, while the houses have well-equipped kitchens
- Heavenly for photographers and Instagrammers, couples seeking to recharge and relax, families looking to re-wild
- We loved the thoughtful details: Romney Marsh woollen blankets, an excellent in-hut guide, top quality linens, high end kitchens in the houses, games in the barn
Lows
- Book ahead for summer stays
- In inclement weather the shepherds huts could feel small; you can retreat to the cavernous central barn in summer
- Extras (like meals, firewood, barbecue hire, binoculars etc) soon add up
- Bell tents have shared showers, loos, and kitchen which can get busy. Woodland bell tents have sockets for lights and phone charging while the others are power free
- Samphire and Little Owl don't have sockets (lights are powered by solar panels). Charge up devices in the barn. Martha's Hut and The Roost don't have kitchenettes
- Stair gates
- Baby bath
- Kids DVDs
- Kids books / toys
Some equipment may need to be requested in advance
If you opt for meals delivered to your door, special requests and flexible mealtimes are easily catered for with a little notice. You are asked for your preferences. We enjoyed fruit crumble and chicken pie for dinner one night, and the breakfast sandwiches went down a treat. The kids liked having wood-fired pizza and picnic baskets of food to delve into
- Masses of space to run around
- Walled garden for football plus a play tractor and a swing
- Wildlife spotting
- Games in the barn
- Pond dipping
- Two blue flag beaches just a few miles away
- Port Lympne Wildlife Park
- Chatham Dockyards
- Kent Life farm and heritage centre
- Leeds Castle
- Nature Reserve
- 10 huts, 10 tents + 2 houses for 4-12
- Self-catering (meals on request)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa
- Beach Nearby
- Babysitting
- Creche / Kids Club
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
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
Best Time to go
This is an all-year round destination for lovers of the Great Outdoors. In winter there's a brilliant bleak beauty and tens of thousands of birds wheeling above your head. Spring sees nesting birds, peeping chicks and leverets bouncing all over the place as the salt marsh starts to boom with life. In summer water levels fall and the grasses and reeds grow tall. In autumn expect migratory birds and fantastic skies.
Our Top Tips
Sign up for a dusk walk on your first night to get a feel for the place and just how much wildlife surrounds you. You’ll be lent some high-spec binoculars for the 2-hour amble and hopefully you’ll spot as much as we did - owls, buzzards, hares, stoats, maybe even an osprey!
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.
More on getting to the UK and getting around
Airports:
- London Gatwick 90.0 km LGW
Other:
- Beach 9.0 km
- Shops 6.0 km
- Restaurant 6.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
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