home is where 'harty' is...
Welcome to our beautiful and secluded corner of Kent, the hamlet of Harty on the Isle of Sheppey. You've chanced upon a lucky find - we think this might just be Kent's best kept secret! Whether you're joining us to dine at our AA Rosette country restaurant, unwind awhile in one of our luxurious bed and breakfast guest rooms, or stay in one our self-catering holiday cottages, you can't help but leave a little piece of your heart at Harty with its abundant wildlife and lovely, low-key leisure opportunities..
Harty's scenery is fabulous year round and changes constantly with the seasons: crisp winter mornings where the fields and fleets are blanketed with a shallow rolling sea mist; spring fields of yellow rapeseed flowers and bouncing lambs; impossibly blue summer skies and swaying wheat fields, ripening into autumn golds, with hedgerows bursting with the berries that we harvest for The Ferry House's menus.
Did you know ‘The Isle of Harty’ is in fact its own little island? A truly unique corner of Kent, a small road causeway separates us from the Isle of Sheppey, and a large road crossing from the rest of Kent. Our happy, humble spot has been described as “the nearest faraway place to London”, and it’s very true. An accessible rural hideaway just 60 minutes from the Big Smoke, with excellent road links from the M2 and M20, we’re easy to reach for a bite to eat or a longer stay, with plenty of local gems to ‘make a day of it’, or more.
Walking & Cycling routes
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With plenty of footpaths, cycle routes and bridleways on offer around Harty, you can easily work up a healthy appetite by the time you join us at The Ferry House!
Harty to Shellness Walk This circular walk from Harty, across unspoilt country down to the beach at Shellness, is a great way to enjoy the countryside. It takes approximately 2-3 hours depending on how long you spend looking at shells on the beach! There is also the Isle of Harty Trail that takes you through the countryside to the coast at Leysdown and via the quaint and beautiful Harty Church. The following article appeared in The Times and gives you a good idea of our location and what can be found nearby. The article was written by Christopher Sommerville who has spent over 25 years writing and broadcasting about country walks all over the world! Click here to read |
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Harty ResidentsThere is an abundance of wildlife to be spotted at Harty. With one of best locations for bird watching in Kent, people flock (!) here year round to watch their many different species. The Ferry House is flanked by two of Kent's largest wetland bird reserves; ‘EImley’ and ‘Swale’ are home to more than half of the country's breeding ‘Harrier’ population, Short Eared Owls, and a great number of wild fowl species, which are a regular sight. The RSPB describes Harty's Capel Fleet as "perhaps the best bird of prey viewpoint in the UK" (click here to view more information from the RSPB).
Why not set the children the challenge of spotting as much as they can on your way to The Ferry House? Everyday you can usually spot rabbits, hares, pheasants, partridge, ducks, geese, herons, kestrels, harriers, field mice and weasels, not to mention all of the farm animals too. In spring there are lambs and calves to be seen on the Harty Road, and all year round we are very lucky to have lots of wildlife around us. Please bear this in mind when you are driving down to us! |
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St. Thomas ChurchJust around the corner from The Ferry House is the 11th century early Norman Church of St. Thomas the Apostle. Often described as Kent's remotest place of worship, it's well worth a visit. The church is open every day on a 9-5 basis and a service is held on the first Sunday of each month. To view more information about the church please click here to view the website
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explore the best of kent...
If you're joining us at The Ferry House for a longer stay you'll find Harty an excellent base from which to explore the very best sights, heritage towns and cities of Kent. Just across the water is Faversham, a beautiful little place which proudly boasts the oldest brewery in England. Iconic Shepherd Neame is open to the public and offers guided tours. See for yourselves just how their beer is made, discover their 300 year heritage and, of course, sample some of their award-wining ales and lagers.
We're also located just 35 minutes from Maidstone and Leeds Castle, often described (very rightly, we think) as “the most beautiful castle in the World”. Canterbury with all its fabulous shops, sites and theatre is 45 minutes away, and another Cathedral town, Rochester is around 30 minutes away.
The guides below are produced by Hidden Britain and will leave you laden with great ideas for a fantastic getaway on the Isle of Sheppey. For more ideas visit www.visitkent.co.uk or http://visit.swale.gov.uk.
Fancy finding out about local Heritage or visiting the fabulously quirky local cinema?
Check out the Blue Town Heritage Centre website.
We're also located just 35 minutes from Maidstone and Leeds Castle, often described (very rightly, we think) as “the most beautiful castle in the World”. Canterbury with all its fabulous shops, sites and theatre is 45 minutes away, and another Cathedral town, Rochester is around 30 minutes away.
The guides below are produced by Hidden Britain and will leave you laden with great ideas for a fantastic getaway on the Isle of Sheppey. For more ideas visit www.visitkent.co.uk or http://visit.swale.gov.uk.
Fancy finding out about local Heritage or visiting the fabulously quirky local cinema?
Check out the Blue Town Heritage Centre website.
