December is a special time at Elmley with the most incredible chilly dawns, misty hazes and sunrise glows stretching across the Reserve with an abundance of wildlife overwintering on the reserve.

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!

The Elmley team

By Train

If you are getting the train, we would advise arriving at Sittingbourne Train Station, as there is a taxi rank directly outside. Elmley is located around 10-15mins from here. Should you require a taxi we do recommend pre-booking, try Let's Go Green Cabs on 01795 444444.

By Road

From Junction 5 on the M2, follow the A249 towards Sheerness. The reserve is signposted from the exit for Iwade and Ridham Dock, which is 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 with the Elmley sign. There is a 2 mile (3km) access road to the car park at Kingshill Farm.

Sat-nav/google maps note: If you are using sat-nav our postcode is ME12 3RW but please note that some sat-navs go a little awry & Google Maps is particularly odd at the moment…Please make sure you go over the lower bridge and note that the road to us does look like you're going to the middle of nowhere and sat nav sometimes recognises it as a footpath.

If ME13 3RW is taking you somewhere strange please use ME13 3RN or What3Words; ///trips.mount.whirlwind instead!

Before you travel we recommend checking The National Highways website and Twitter for travel updates relating to the M2 junction 5/A249 currently taking place. Diversions and roadworks may be in place but please allow a little extra travel time.

However you plan to get to us, let us know if this will be past 6pm and we will send out a thorough self-check in email for you to locate your accommodation and keys.

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 also have a range of self help guides you may find useful for your arrival and tips throughout your stay.

You can view the local weather here. The week is looking a bit mixed with drizzle and sunshine.

We would suggest bringing lots of warm layers and waterproof clothing and footwear with you or if you prefer, you can just cosy up in your accommodation with a cup of tea (or something stronger!) and watch the weather pass across the marsh.

We can look after you for each meal, allowing you to make the most of your time here. Discover more about our food & drink.

Enjoy slow mornings with breakfast delivered to you, picnic lunches savoured in a special location on the Reserve and come the evening, keep cosy in your accommodation and enjoy our delicious Supper Hampers delivered right to your door! Please ring your order through in the morning with the menu in your accommodation.

As a small, minimum waste kitchen we do ask for pre-booking please:
Supper Hamper Booking & Picnic Lunch booking

If you do plan to self cater please do double check facilities in your accommodation so you can plan.

Wild Swimming;

At this time of year Cockleshell beach is an important habitat for the birds, so it is now closed to guests until the Summer months. Please enjoy Cockleshell beach as a feeding ground from the viewing screen where some of our migratory birds will soon start nesting.

For those keen cold water plungers please do enjoy our fresh water dipping pond, this can be found as you head out onto the main reserve footpath.

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 fr 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 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 as well as a board game in front of the wood burner. 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.

Please contact our team to check availability or you can book online.

Should you wish to arrange a private tour please contact Simon 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.

Highlight this week:

WIGEON ROOST

Around 8,000 Wigeon roost overnight just north of the Reserve and fly south to the Swale every morning. This is super spectacular and best observed along the self-safari drive. Timing is unpredictable but usually between 7.30am and 9am.

SHORT-EARED OWLS

These have begun emerging from their roosts before darkness, and at least 6 have been seen daily before 3.30pm this week.

Bittern & Herons

The Bitterns have been amazing again this week. Being still seen regularly by Gates 2 and 3 on the self safari drive this week.

Owls

Barn Owls have been tricky this week, but best by the school and the pigs.
Short-eared Owls – we had a leak count of 17 in the saplings opposite the car park, and most are emerging after dark
Little Owl - seen in every tour.
Long-eared Owl - all evening walking safaris have been treated to views of this secretive owl species.

Other Birds of Prey

Merlin - there are 2 Merlins at the Reserve.
Hen Harrier - 2 birds can be seen on the Reserve. Mostly seen from the hides.

Waders

Woodcock - at least 3 have been seen around Kingshill Farm this week.
Jack Snipe - a rare and secretive wader from Siberia. 2 have been seen along the self-safari drive.

Wildfowl

Ruddy Shelduck - this is a beautiful apricot coloured duck that's natural range is in southeastern Europe and Asia. There is a feral breeding population in the Netherlands and this is likely to have been from here. It's hanging out with the Barnacle Geese.
Barnacle Geese - a flock of 15 can be seen in the middle of the marsh. Two have rings on from the Dutch ringing scheme, allowing us to know where they have flown from.

Small Birds

Goldcrests - can be seen along the tree line to the old school.
Fieldfare - these winter visitors from Northern Europe are roosting in the tree line each night, and feeding on berries in the saplings.
Bearded Tits - up to 30 have been seen in one flock this week. Incredible!

December on the Reserve is a time of great change, with the transition into early Winter. Birds begin to dramatically congregate and gather as they prepare to migrate or roost for the colder winter months in the New Year. This week we've had all four owls spotted on our dusk tours-why not join one of these with our lead guides!