Harty Walking Trails

Explore On Your Visit To The Ferry House

With plenty of footpaths, cycle routes and bridleways around Harty, you can easily work up a healthy appetite (or walk off dessert!) on your visit to us. We’ve put together this walking trail map to help you explore the wild meadows, nature reserves and coastal paths beside the Swale estuary. You can take a look here, or pick up a paper copy from the restaurant during your visit to us.

Please keep your dogs on leads (to protect our wonderful ground nesting birds) & clean up their mess. Let’s keep Harty beautiful.

The Isle of Harty Trail

6mi / 9.5km

Harty is in fact its own little island, with the road over Capel Fleet separating us from the Isle of Sheppey. This easy walking and cycling trail takes in all the best of our wild and beautiful corner of Kent, from the 11th century church (5) and water’s edge wetlands, to our abundant wildlife. The route is flat and mostly off road, although there may be farm traffic. Choose the path that takes you to the sand-shingle Blue Flag beach at Leysdown (7), or divert on to the Harty-Shellness route to explore the Swale Nature Reserve. Avid bird watchers simply must visit the RSPB Raptor View Point (9), described as “perhaps the best bird of prey viewpoint in the UK.” However you’re sure to see plenty of wildlife from anywhere on the trail, if you decide on a shorter route.

The Harty-Shellness Trail

7.5mi / 12km

This is a beautiful and easy circular trail to see both coast and country. Walking through the Swale Nature Reserve (4) beside the estuary is a soul-soothing route, as you take in the wildlife around you. Head to Sheppey’s most easterly point at Shellness Beach (6). Yes, it’s true that part of it is a designated naturist beach (and well signposted), but don’t let that make you twitchy. Shellness’ off-grid tranquillity is part of its appeal. Continuing on, you’ll reach the altogether different beach vibe at Leysdown (arcades, anyone?). That’s where you’ll find toilets and refreshments before you continue the circle back.

English Coastal Path in Kent

The entire coastline of the UK is being opened up to walkers in phases, so walking our Harty section can take you as far as you please. We recommend the water’s edge route towards the beautiful Elmley Nature Reserve, where we graze our family farm herd that serves The Ferry House menus. About four miles will bring you to periphery of the reserve, although it’s possible to continue much further. Please note that dogs are not permitted on the reserve itself (excluding service dogs), due to the risk of disturbing the many wonderful species of ground nesting birds that live there. You can find a complete map of the Kent coastline walk at www.ldwa.org.uk.

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