To help you prepare and get excited about your upcoming stay, we've gathered some helpful information for you.
We look forward to having you stay with us and we welcome you to arrive early and enjoy the Reserve footpaths. Please do let us know if you have any questions, we look forward to meeting you soon.
Enjoy slow mornings with breakfast delivered to your door, a picnic lunch while wildlife-watching, and come the evening enjoy a Cheese & Charcuterie Sharing Board or a deliciously warming Supper Hamper in the comfort of your accommodation. From mid-May to September, enjoy our woodfired pizza menu al-fresco with a cold drink in the farmyard.
Breakfast doesn't need to be pre-ordered, but Picnic Lunches, Cheese & Charcuterie Boards, and Supper Hampers do - please submit your pre-orders through the links above and below, we are a small kitchen who aim to operate with minimal waste, due to this we kindly ask for at least 24 hours' notice for pre-orders.
Evening Dining - please use this link to pre-order
Monday, Wednesday & Friday Evenings, and Late night Arrivals - Cheese or/and Charcuterie board with house wine
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday Evening - Two-course Supper Hamper
Your order will be delivered anytime between 6pm & 7pm in an insulated hamper for you to serve and enjoy in your accommodation
By Train:
- Direct service from London St Pancras or Stratford Intl to Sittingbourne. We can arrange taxi transport from Sittingbourne Train station to Elmley.
- There is a two-mile entry track through the Reserve to reach Kingshill Farm, so enjoy the drive and soak in the nature views!
By Car:
- From Junction 5 on the M2, follow the A249 towards Sheerness
- Take the exit for Iwade and Ridham Dock, immediately before the main Sheppey bridge
- At the roundabout, take the second exit onto the old road bridge
- On the Isle of Sheppey, after a minute or two, take the first right, following the brown Elmley Reserve sign
- Take the second left, next to the large sign reading "Welcome to Elmley". Buzz the intercom if the gate is closed
- There is a two-mile entry track through the Reserve to reach Kingshill Farm, so enjoy the drive and soak in the nature views!
Sat-nav note: If you are using sat-nav our postcode is ME12 3RW; Google Maps will take you straight to us, though please note that some sat-navs go a little awry! Please ensure you go over the lower bridge and note that the road to us looks very remote - your sat-nav may recognise it as a footpath instead.
If you have any questions about your accommodation, you might find our Information Packs useful. Click here for detailed information or ask a member of our friendly team who will be more than happy to help.
We are delighted to be enjoying the first signs of Spring at Elmley - sunny daffodils dot the tree-line, morning sunlight gleams off the sparkling waterways, and barn owls bask in the evening glow. The weekend ahead is bringing us a mix of sun and light drizzle across Friday and Saturday, with some gorgeous morning sun on Sunday. A perfect opportunity for a rejuvenating weekend in nature, whether you plan to venture across the reserve in search of lapwing and widgeon, or doze in the afternoon sun from your comfy king-size bed. You can view the local weather here. Why not pre-order a picnic lunch to enjoy in one of our bird hides and spend a while wildlife-spotting!
We would recommend bringing with you a light rain jacket and comfortable walking shoes - as the reserve paths can become a little wet from the rain. Or cosy-up around your private firepit toasting marshmallows and glasses of something bubbly.
Easter Children's activities;
Hop into the Easter fun and get creative with our Pebble Painting and Elmley Clay Creature making workshops! Activities are limited to 10 children per session, so don't miss out! Book your places for Pebble Painting here, and Elmley Clay Creatures here.
Tickets are £2 per child, and all children must be accompanied by an adult throughout the activity. Running Tuesdays 12:30-13:30, and Thursdays 13:30-14:30:
Thursday 2nd April - Easter Pebble Painting
Tuesday 7th April - Elmley Clay Creatures
Thursday 9th April - Easter Pebble Painting
Tuesday 14th April - Elmley Clay Creatures
Thursday 16th April - Easter Pebble Painting
Wild Swimming;
Cockleshell beach is closed, after handing it back over to the wading birds throughout the autumn and winter! Don't worry, you can still enjoy a wild swim in our fresh water dipping pond, this can be found as you head out onto the main reserve footpath from the far-end of the carpark.
Walks and safari drive;
Our entrance track is a winding 2 miles with some of our most sensitive and active breeding grounds teeming with wildlife as well as roaming livestock. We encourage you to enjoy this at any point of your stay by using your vehicle as a moving bird hide. We politely ask you to remain within our 15mph speed limit as well as stay inside your car and not use the road as a footpath. There is no time limit here so please pull to one side.
We encourage you to enjoy the reserve and switch off during your time with us. Why not pack a flask of something hot and enjoy our marked footpaths for miles of wild landscape. Venture as far as you feel, use one of our bird hides as a check-point to sit and take nature in. You will be given a map of the reserve and we please ask you to stick to the marked footpaths to avoid disturbance to any wildlife.
The Linhay;
This is our communal area available to all guests to enjoy during their stay. Please help yourself to a drink from our honesty bar or a complimentary tea or coffee, then cosy up with a board game in front of the wood-burner, or browse our bird books. Drinks from our honesty bar will be added to a tab and settled upon check out.
Tours & Treatments;
If you haven't already, check out our range of tours and treatments to indulge and relax at Elmley. We do recommend booking in advance to avoid any disappointment. Further information and links to book are below.
This weeks sightings from the reserve are listed below so you can get a flavour of what to expect on the reserve. Binoculars are available throughout your stay if you'd like to hire a pair from us.
The local area;
If you do want to venture away from our peaceful surroundings there are some wonderful places to visit such as Faversham, a local and historic market town. Alternatively Whitstable is a picturesque seaside town with an abundance of independent shops and seafood to sample.
Elmley National Nature Reserve covers 3,300 acres brimming with wildlife. Make the most of your time here with an immersive, expert led tour. Each tour is tailored to recent sightings and will access unique areas of the reserve off of the marked footpaths.
We have plenty of availability on our upcoming tours, elevate your Elmley experience and learn something new about the vast array of species that call us home - Please contact our team to check availability or you can book online.
Should you wish to arrange a private tour please contact Simon (simon@elmleynaturereserve.co.uk) or our team directly to find out about availability and booking.
During your stay you can unwind and indulge in a range of rejuvenating treatments complimented with VERDEN and VOTARY products. From healing massages to nourishing facials, our treatments are rooted in natural fragrance to reconnect you with happiness in every moment of self-care.
You can book here with our experienced Holistic therapists - Victoria and Sarah.
Highlights this week:
- STARLINGS
Still one of the highlights on our Dusk Walking Safaris is the 2,000-5,000-strong Starling murmuration at the Brickfields reedbed
- WIGEON
Every year, thousands of Wigeon fly over 1,000-3,000 miles to be with us for the winter. This year has seen very high numbers arrive, possibly due to the cold weather and easterly winds before Christmas. Huge flocks can be seen from the Swale Viewing Screen, and during high tide on our Land Rover Safaris.
- LAPWINGS
We currently have around 13,000 here now, most of which have flown from eastern Europe and Russia to escape the cold. These are spectacular as they fly up in mini-murmurations across the vast skies here and are another spectacle on our Land Rover Safaris.
Other special birds...
- Fieldfare – we have around 100 on the Reserve, feasting on the berries amongst the saplings.
- Hen Harrier - one has been seen most days this week, down around the hides. They can pop up anywhere and are always on the move, flying quite low to the ground.
- Bittern – there are at least 4 regularly being spotted along the entrance drive and by the hides.
- Marsh Harrier – these have begun to pair up and display on calm, bright days.
Our wildlife tours are a lovely way to experience the Reserve during your stay - why not join one of our tours with our lead guides!