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 our range of delicious woodfired pizzas and premium drinks in our festoon-lit farmyard (from May 17th - Sept 2026).

Breakfast doesn't need to be pre-ordered and nor does our Woodfired menu in the summer months, 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.

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 or use the gate code in your pre-arrival email.
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.

Please note due to the current drought conditions, and government advice, our firepits are currently restricted due to the fire risk with the surrounding hay meadows. We do provide sand buckets around site for safe disposal for any smokers and general safety.

The week ahead is looking beautifully sunny - a perfect opportunity for a rejuvenating escape in nature, whether you plan to venture across the reserve in search of hobbies, bumblebees and butterflies, or doze in the afternoon sun from your comfy king-size bed. You can view the local weather here.

Due to the current drought conditions, fire pits at individual accommodation are temporarily unavailable. You're very welcome to enjoy our communal fire pit in the Farmyard Gardens instead. It's a lovely spot to relax in the evening and share with other guests staying on the reserve.

We have some beautiful shady spots to sit and enjoy under The Linhay where you can enjoy garden games and our honesty bar.

Our own private Cockleshell beach is open for the summer! Pick up some cold drinks from the Linhay honesty bar and wander down to spend a while catching rays on the sand. Enjoy a wild swim in the Swale or in our fresh-water dipping pond, which can be found as you head out onto the main reserve footpath from the far-end of the carpark. Check the tide times at the pizza shack before you go!

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 challenge each other to a board game on the comfy sofas, or browse our bird books. Drinks from our honesty bar will be added to a tab and settled upon check out. Guest wifi is available using password BlueBirdSing2026!

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 recent sightings from the reserve can be found on a blackboard in the carpark, so do be sure to take a look when you arrive so you know 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 our team on info@elmleynaturereserve.co.uk 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:
Even though water levels on the reserve are low due to the recent weather we still have an abundance of wildlife onsite for you to enjoy. Here is some of this weeks highlights:

🐇 Brown Hares

The hares are still putting on a wonderful show, particularly along the entrance track and across the hay meadows during the evening. We're also continuing to spot leverets (young hares), so keep an eye out for these well-camouflaged youngsters quietly resting in the grass.

🎶 Skylarks

The sound of summer is still very much alive at Elmley! Skylarks are continuing to sing high above the reserve, with particularly good activity around the reed beds and along the walk down to the hides. Their beautiful song is often heard long before you spot them soaring overhead.

💛 Yellow Wagtails

It's been an excellent breeding season for Yellow Wagtails, with lots of juveniles now out and about. They're being seen throughout the reserve, especially on the walk down to the hides, often following grazing livestock as they search for insects.

🌾 Bittern

One of our more elusive residents has been showing well recently. A Bittern has been seen around Wellmarsh Hide, so it's well worth spending some time there if you're hoping for a glimpse of this remarkable reedbed specialist.

🦅 Marsh Harriers

This year's juvenile Marsh Harriers are doing incredibly well and are now becoming more confident fliers. You may spot them practising their hunting skills over the reed beds alongside the adults—a real privilege to watch.

🦉 Owls

It's been another fantastic year for owls at Elmley.

Little Owls – Four chicks have successfully fledged from around the Old School House and are now learning to hunt independently. Keep your eyes peeled, particularly during the quieter parts of the day.
Barn Owls – An incredible 19 chicks have been born across the reserve this year. Many are now at fledging age, so there's a good chance of seeing these young owls making their first hunting flights as they perfect their skills.

🦅 Hobby

Our resident Hobbies are being seen regularly around dusk, darting effortlessly over the hay meadows as they catch dragonflies and other flying insects. Their speed and agility make them one of the most exciting birds of prey to watch on a summer evening.

Whether you're heading to the hides, wandering through the hay meadows or simply relaxing outside your accommodation, there's wildlife around every corner. Don't forget your binoculars - and let us know what you spot during your stay!

Our wildlife tours are a lovely way to experience the Reserve and access areas outside of the marked footpaths during your stay - why not join one of our tours with our lead guides!