The Ferry House - a luxurious stay in a secluded corner of Kent
What I loved about it:
A stay at The Ferry House feels truly luxurious yet is reasonably priced.
Location:
Suitable for:
Value for money (out of 10):
Website:
Everything you need to know about our stay at The Ferry House, Kent
Driving down long country roads in the dark, my husband and I had no idea what our surroundings looked like when we arrived at The Ferry House. Nor what beautiful countryside we had just travelled through. It wasn’t until we looked out of our window the next morning that we realised that we were located in a stunning landscape overlooking the Swale estuary. Unfortunately for us, it was a drizzly and grey morning but I can only imagine how picturesque it would look on a clear, bright day.
Originally a 16th-century pub, the Ferry House has been lovingly restored by the Burden family. 3rd generation farmers, they bought the pub, located on the edge of their farmland in 2000.
Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted and taken to our beautifully decorated and individually styled room. We loved the little touches – the delectable homemade cookies, the British made toiletries and as someone who doesn’t drink tea or coffee the option to make a hot chocolate!
For me (and I’m sure most people) the two most important things when staying away are the bed and the shower. Both were perfect. The bed was huge and inviting, the perfect spot to return to after an amazing meal. The huge bathroom was gorgeously decorated. I felt truly refreshed after a great night’s sleep and an invigorating shower.
We were booked in for dinner at the hotel restaurant and enjoyed a delicious 3-course menu (reasonably priced at £40). With the weather cold and wet outside we were thankful to be in the cosy restaurant with open fires and dried hops adorning the ceiling.
Their ethos at the Ferry House is that local is best and you can’t get more local than selecting produce from your own kitchen garden. At the Ferry House you’ll find a flourishing garden growing an abundance of seasonal produce. Testament to that was the amazing garden beetroot starter I enjoyed.
As well as sourcing ingredients from the garden, head chef James Pilcher serves up homegrown beef and game from the family’s farm and estate. They strive for sustainability and what cannot be grown or reared by them is sourced from local producers. This goes right down to the wine list, with local heroes Biddenden and Chapel Down featuring and even the Owlet juice served at breakfast – a favourite of mine.
I immensely enjoyed each course, as did my partner,and we were left feeling satisfyingly full. We were well looked after by the staff and enjoyed a complimentary sloe gin, flavoured with their own sloe berries – a fabulous way to end the evening.
The area of Harty has been described as “the nearest faraway place to London.” Being only a 60-minute drive away the Ferry House is the perfect escape from the Big Smoke and is easily reachable from all across Kent. Harty is the perfect place for exploring, especially if you are lovers of nature. Harty is situated between two of Kent’s largest bird reserves and is a perfect location for bird watching. We visited Elmley Nature Reserve and enjoyed a happy few hours wandering the marshland spotting the different wildlife.
As well as having two nature reserves, Harty is an ideal location for walking and cycling. Try walking the Harty to Shellness walk which is circular or instead head to the coast and walk the Swale Eastbury, The Isle of Harty Trail is a cycle route that takes you through the countryside and to the coast. All perfect for working up an appetite before dinner.
There is also a treatment room on site so if you don’t feel like exerting yourself in the great outdoors then perhaps you’d prefer a massage followed by a local glass of wine in the bar.
My husband and I had a fabulous stay at The Ferry House and would stay there again. We loved the comfy, stylish rooms, the friendly and welcoming staff and the delicious food. I fell in love with the location and am eager to explore more of Harty and also the Isle of Sheppey. If you’re looking for a luxurious getaway that’s a bit of a hidden gem then The ferry House might just be for you!
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