A destination that combines nature and luxury accommodation? Basically made for me! Just over an hour from London, Elmley Nature Reserve is the only National Nature Reserve in the United Kingdom that you can spend the night in. 3,300 acres of marshland views, outdoor bath tubs, firepits and miles of walking trails.
If you would like to explore more of the UK’s conservation projects, check out my guide to Scotland’s wonderful Dundreggan Rewilding Centre.
BOOK ONLINE
Need To Know
The Headline Luxury in a National Nature Reserve
Best For Nature and S’mores Loving Couples – and twitchers keen for a bit of comfort
Amenities Nature, nature and more nature! Small wellness area and food hampers can be delivered to your accommodation.
Getting There Just over an hour from London. One hour 15 minutes to Gatwick Airport. Swale is the closest train station.
Getting Around 3,300 acres of nature reserve to explore, with multiple bird watching hides and several peaceful walking trails. Organised “safaris” can be booked.
Prices from £155 per night
THE LOCATION
Just over an hour from London, on the Isle of Sheppey on Kent’s north coast. It is the only National Nature Reserve in England you can spend the night in.
The Elmley Nature Reserve project was created on the footprint of the family farm, by Philip and Corinne Merricks who wanted to demonstrate that conservation and sustainable farming can go together. The reserve is now run by their daughter, Georgina Fulton.
There are 3,300 acres of nature reserve to explore, with multiple bird watching hides and several peaceful walking trails.
If you visit in summer months, be sure to bring insect repellent. The marshes breed BIG mosquitoes! I’d actually recommend visiting in the Spring months instead, when the weather is cool enough to enjoy evenings around the fire pit, and you can have the hut doors open without worrying about being eaten alive.
THE ROOMS
Large groups can book the 18th C Kingshill Farmhouse, with 6 bedrooms, or Elmley Cottage with 5 bedrooms. There are a range of traditional shepherds huts and three larger custom-built wooden huts spread out with views across the marshes, with firepits and outdoor baths. There are also a number of bell tents, spread between woodland and meadows, which sleep four.
We stayed in the lovely Saltbox hut and it was one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in! Thick, snuggly, luxurious feather duvet and a great mattress. There was a good indoor shower, an outfoor shower and a cavernous outdoor bath then entire family could fit into! We had two gas fired hobs, and a small sink, plenty well equipped for catering simple meals during our two night stay.
A small bucket of wood and fire starters are provided, enough for one small fire in the fire pit. You can buy additional buckets for £15. (We ended up buying a bag of wood from the nearby Morrisons supermarket for our second night’s stay, as this felt just a bit too steep for us.) Most importantly, marshmallows are provided for smores…
Check in is from 3pm, and check at 10.30am. You can book to check out an hour later for £15.
THE EXTRAS
There is a large communal space in the barn, with fairy lights, comfortable seating, board games and a woodburner. The dipping pond allows brave swimmers to take a dip, and those looking for a bit more luxury can book massages and facials at the wellness area. The reserve’s private Cockleshell beach is accessible to guests wanting a sea dip.
Breakfast (£12.50 per person) and picnic hampers (£15 per person) can be delivered to your door. In the evenings, pizzas are available in the main communal area.
In addition to the walking trails and bird watching hides, organised “safaris” can be booked. Either by 4X4 or on foot, knowledgeable guides will take you around the reserve spotting wildlife.
Pets – other than assistance dogs – are not permitted as it is a nature reserve.
FAMILY FRIENDLY
Elmley is very family friendly in some ways, but in others, not suitable for children.
Travel cots can be provided (although I’d strongly recommend bringing you own as it was the worst cot mattress we have encountered! It might just be that we have been spoiled by our Baby Bjorn travel cot, as the mattress is better than any of the other travel cots we have tried). The huts have clever roll away beds that slightly older children will love, and one even has a hammock!
But the joy of Elmley Nature Reserve is the tranquillity and opportunity to feel in amongst the natural habitat of this part of Kent. And toddlers don’t tend to bring tranquillity! The best way to enjoy Elmley is to lie in bed enjoying the sunrise over a slow breakfast, taking a gentle walk around the reserve and spotting the wildlife, long afternoons reading a good book, and evenings chatting around the firepits or soaking in the outdoor baths. I’d therefore recommend coming here for an adults only, relaxing stay, or with older children who will enjoy sitting and reading or exploring the marshes and spotting the wildlife. It would also be a lovely spot for a relaxed babymoon.
THE LESS LOVEABLE
All staff we met and interacted with – from booking through to everyone we met on site – were very friendly and welcoming. However, there were a few areas where the service just didn’t quite match the higher end price point that Elmley Nature Reserve charges.
A few examples. Staff didn’t know if the drinks were local, despite heavy emphasis being put on the “local” nature of Elmley’s approach, and seemed unsure about how to keep the bar stocked up. When they ran out of cider, instead of refilling the fridge, staff went back and forward to where their stock was kept, bringing back one bottle at a time as people asked for them. Breakfast hampers delivered to your door are tasty, but all came in disposable cardboard packaging. This felt at odds with the sustainable ethos of the Reserve, and didn’t fit the luxury aesthetic they seem to be pitching for. Likewise, the evening pizzas were good, but not exceptional. Although woodfired to order, the pizza base came from a packet and was served with a dry mixed salad. For £48 for two people, this felt wildly expensive.
These are of course, all relatively minor issues, but at this price point, I expect service to be on point and food to be excellent.
I definitely still recommend a stay at this beautiful reserve, but I suggest planning ahead to self cater (and packing your own wood!), and coming in spring months when you can enjoy having the bifold doors open to the elements without being eaten alive by the ferocious mozzies!
Check out my sleep series for other unusual and special places to say. If you would like to explore more of the UK’s conservation projects, check out my guide to Scotland’s wonderful Dundreggan Rewilding Centre.
Leave a Reply