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Home is where Harty is

A HIDEAWAY PLACE TO STAY

Welcome to our beautiful and secluded corner of Kent. If you’re looking for places to stay, the hideaway hamlet of Harty might just be Kent’s best kept secret. You can join us to dine at our 2AA Rosette country restaurant, unwind awhile in one of our luxurious bed and breakfast guest rooms, or stay in one our self-catering holiday cottages. Surrounded by rolling farmland, wild meadows, protected wetlands and Blue Flag coastline, you can’t help but leave a little piece of your heart at Harty, with its abundant wildlife and lovely, low-key leisure opportunities.

Our Walking Map

Accessible Rural Bliss

Did you know ‘The Isle of Harty’ is in fact its own little island? One of Kent’s truly unique places to stay, 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. 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 TRAILS

With plenty of footpaths, cycle routes and bridleways around Harty, you can easily work up a healthy appetite by the time you join us at The Ferry House.

The Harty to Shellness walk is a circular walk from Harty, across unspoilt country down to the beach at Shellness. It’s a great way to enjoy the countryside, taking 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.

Our Walking Map

COASTLINES

The Ferry House is set a stone’s throw from the Swale estuary, so you can easily enjoy waterside rambles through the wild meadows and wetlands that run alongside the river.

For classic Kent coastlines there is also the Blue Flag sandy beach at nearby Leysdown, or the sand-shingle beach of Shellness within easy reach.

Follow the Isle of Harty Trail for a route that can take you as far as Leysdown, or into the wild and beautiful Swale Nature Reserve.

Our Walking Map

ABUNDENT WILDLIFE

One of best locations for bird watching in Kent, people ‘flock’ here year round to see many different species. Harty is flanked by two of Kent's largest wetland bird reserves; EImley & Swale are home to more than half of the UK's Harrier population, Short Eared Owls & 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.” Everyday you can usually spot hares, pheasants, partridge, herons, kestrels, harriers, field mice & weasels, not to mention farm animals. In spring there are lambs & calves to be seen & year round we are lucky to have lots of wildlife around us. Please bear this in mind when you are driving down to us!

HARTY CHURCH

Just 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, the grade two listed church is well worth a visit.

The church is open every day on a 9am-5pm basis and a service is held on the first Sunday of each month.

EXPLORING KENT

Harty is an excellent place to stay in Kent to explore some of the favourite heritage towns and cities. Just across the water is Faversham, a beautiful town which proudly boasts the oldest brewery in England. Iconic Shepherd Neame is open to the public and offers guided tours where you can discover their 300 year heritage.

We're also located just 35 minutes from Maidstone and Leeds Castle, often described 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.

Holiday Guides

The guides below are produced by Hidden Britain and will leave you laden with great ideas for a fantastic getaway.

Family Breaks

'Kent's Treasure Island' has fun for all the family.

Heritage Breaks

Explore some of Kent's most popular cities, heritage towns & sights.

Outdoor Activities

Make the most of our glorious outdoors with these outdoor leisure pursuits.

Pick ‘n’ Mix Holidays

The perfect guide for those who like to enjoy a little bit of everything.

Local Activities

Some of humble Harty's hideaway gems might just surprise you.

Thank you to Philip Haynes for the use of his beautiful wildlife & Harty church photographs.