Local Walks

Shellness Nature Reserve

If you follow our previous walk to the Retreat cafe, you are part way to the Hamlet of Shellness and the nearby nature reserve. The walk to the Retreat cafe is a gentle afternoon stroll, the walk to Shellness Nature Reserve is a more taxing walk of over 5 miles, and once past the cafe, there is no more refreshments or facilities on route.  

If you don't relish the walk all the way to the nature reserve, you can drive to the car park along the Shellness road, but be warned, the road is unmade in parts, and care is needed in avoiding any pot holes. 

At the Retreat cafe, look east towards Kent, follow the path until the grass path meets the road, here you can keep on the path/beach or follow the road towards Shellness. (it is to be noted that the path/beach take you through the naturists beach where a different type of nature reserve can be found)

After about 1 mile, you will be at Shellness, where you can either follow the beach path and walk behind Shellness or turn right and follow the path from the nature reserve car park to the nature reserve.

Looking east to Shellness

Road to Shellness

Shellness

Nature Reserve Car Park 

At the car park you will see a path to Harty, this is a longer walk which will take you on a round trip to Harty Church and the Ferry inn. 

Carry on over the stile towards the Shellness nature reserve keeping to the path

Path to Harty Church

Path to Nature Reserve

Reserve Sign

Shellness Beach

When the path reaches the sea you can turn left and walk along the path towards the WW2 bunker, please keep to the path as there are often birds nesting in the deep grass

Car Park - Signpost

WW2 Bunker 

Looking towards Faversham

View towards Harty 

Walk past the WW2 bunker and follow the path. The path winds its way along the coast and eventually ends with a view towards Harty. 

European Community Special Protection Area

Back towards Retreat Cafe

Nesting Birds

High Tide Roosts

Unfortunately the walk ends here and you have to backtrack along the path to Shellness. If you walked along the beach you might try the grass path adjacent to the road, back to the Retreat Cafe, and walking back to Priory Hill via the 9 hole golf course. All in all the walk should take 3-4 hours at a leisurely pace.