Have you ever been on a road trip? The kind where you hire a classic car and head off down a route of impossibly gorgeous scenery with plenty of nice stopping points along the way? Our last big holiday before we became parents for the first time was a road trip down the Big Sur in California which definitely ticked the scenery and nice places to stop boxes. The only thing missing, owing to budgetary constraints, was the classic car. North London’s answer to Thelma & Louise (with Mr Malmo as Louise in this analogy) toured the route not in a convertible Mustang but a sensible Hyundai Hatchback that bore close resemblance to a large toad. The 9 years and three boys that followed have mainly featured roadtrips to visit our parents punctuated by rows about how to fit the mother f#cking travel cot in the boot and stops at Watford Gap services to change horror nappies and wolf down a Chicken Royale meal. However this Autumn, for Mr Malmo’s 40th Birthday( thanks to a kind babysitting offer from my parents -in-law) Thelma and Louise hit the road again and this time in a classic Mustang instead of a #TouringToad.
This would defo look cooler on the school run than our estate car come Variety Club Minibus
Our destination this time? The Isle of Sheppey. The Isle of where I hear you ask. Sandwiched between Gilligham, Gravesend and Herne Bay it is not, at first glance, the most obvious candidate for a scenic road trip I grant you. But bear with me because hidden away in this lesser known corner of Kent is Elmley Nature Reserve. We arrived on Sheppey just as the sun was starting to set on one of those perfect, crisp, Autumn days. Turning off down a bumpy track to reach Elmley Nature Reserve was like driving into the wide open plains of the American Midwest. It is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It took us 20 mins to get from the gate to the farmhouse because I must have stopped the car at least 15 times to take photographs
The Isle of Sheppey but could easily pass as the American Mid West
Mustang Malmo
Stopping the car for my 15th photo break
What awaited us at the end of the track was equally special. Gareth and Georgina, who run Elmley, took over the land from Georgina’s parents in 2012 and over the last 7 years have added a small series of Shepherd’s Huts and cabins for guests to stay in across the Nature Reserve. Elmley is the only place in the UK where you can stay on a nature reserve. All of the huts and cabins are in a palette of materials which ensures they blend seamlessly with their surroundings.
The Saltbox, my favourite of the Cabins scattered across the Nature Reserve
You can bath under the stars and roast marshmallows on fire pits
I would love to have cladding like this as part of our renovation
There are also smaller Shepherd Huts to hire with the same amazing views
On the inside they are a cocooning mix of Farrow & Ball colours, silver larch clad walls and reclaimed materials and they have all the mod cons to ensure a truly comfortable stay with bathrooms stocked with delicious Bramley products and a cute kitchenette for making meals in. But the star of the show has to be the surroundings. You can fall asleep to the sound of owls and wake up to the sound of migrating geese flying overhead. It is enough to turn even this townie into a twitcher.
I loved the mixture of reclaimed materials used
The little kitchenette has all you need to see you through a stay
I loved these copper taps like the ones in my old bathroom
Not a bad view to wake up to
With the huts and cabins having proved a runaway success, the couple have turned their attention to renovating the Farmhouse and another cottage on the land so that Elmley now boasts two other exceptional places to stay. We were kindly hosted by Georgina in the Farmhouse which sleeps 14 in 6 truly amazing bedrooms, with an enormous kitchen diner and a choice of three ridiculously comfortable living rooms. The whole things is a masterclass in Modern Rustic Luxe. The kitchen is housed in a contemporary extension to the original farmhouse and combines traditional materials with modern architecture to great success.
The contemporary kitchen addition is a beautiful contrast to the original farmhouse
I loved the view through to the nature reserve from the floor to ceiling glass kitchen window
I think our trip may have been the first time in our entire relationship that I have woken up before Mr Malmo and volunteered to get out of bed to make him a hot drink rather than the other way around! Watching the sunrise over the nature reserve through the huge glass doors in the kitchen was worth going downstairs to put the kettle on for!
The kitchen from the inside is equally stunning
The side window floods the space with lights
A view worth getting up before 7am for
If you are looking for a place to stay for a large family or group gathering I literally don’t think I have ever come across anywhere better! It sleeps 14 in 6 double bedrooms. There are also three different living rooms to chose from ranging from an elegant parlour style room, a sophisticated library and a gorgeous cosy snug with sexy velvet sofas and an exposed brick fireplace
I loved the blend of old features with modern accessories liked this rug in the hallway
Just one of the 3 gorgeous sitting rooms to choose from
Pink to make the boys and Malmo wink
This cosy snug was my favourite of the living rooms
With its exposed brick fireplace and wood burner
But the front sitting room in a rich teal blue gave it a close run for its money
All of the rooms combine insanely comfortable beds with lovely touches like hot water bottles and the kind of bathrooms that belong on a Pinterest board.
Huge comfy beds await
With lots of lovely luxe touches like white robes and hot water bottles in all the rooms
I loved all of the different colours that had been blended together seamlessly
With every room enjoying stunning views over the nature reserve
There are two cosy rooms in the attic with a bathroom which would be great if you were staying as a family of 4
The room we stayed in had a four poster bed and a cast iron bath at the end of bed in which I tried to pull of the insta legs akimbo in alluring fashion pose which ended in me looking less like a graceful swan and more like a dying duck
The stunning bedroom with 4 poster bed where we stayed
Doing my best Elizabeth Taylor impression
I will spare you the photo of me doing the dying duck pose in the cast iron bath that looks out over the nature reserve
If you are a smaller group there is also a freshly renovated clapboard cottage to hire. The black clad exterior belies a light, bright Scandi interior that has more of a coastal cape cod feel.
The interiors in the cottage have a fresh coastal feel
If I were ever to have a pink bedroom this is the perfect shade of blush
I loved the contemporary twist of painting the cladding in two colours
The gorgeous sitting room in the cottage with wood burner
It is often hired for yoga retreats and it is easy to see why
Oh and did I mention there is a fairly light festooned barn with an honesty bar where you can gather for a gin on a hay bale of an evening. Seeing the inside of the barn had me mentally getting down on one knee and proposing a wedding vow renewal to Mr Malmo.
The festoon strung black barn that made me want to re propose marriage to Mr Malmo
Both the cottage and the farmhouse are well set up to self cater but if you are feeling lazy (we were) you can rest your inner Delia Smith for the evening and let the Elmley team rustle you up a relaxed supper, delivered to your door in a hamper. It is basically like staying in the nicest of boutique hotels with all the comfort and relaxation of home. If I were ever to make (an unadmittedly unlikely) switch into agriculture this would be my fantasy farmhouse.
The kitchen is super well equipped but you can also opt to have Supper delivered to your door
Breakfast with a view
This is the kind of farmhouse that could persuade me career change into agriculture
Sadly after 24 hours we had to return both the Mustang and the Farmhouse but this is one road trip we will remember for a very long time.
Thelma and Louise before they reluctantly left Elmley behind
Whole Farmhouse hire is available throughout the year but for certain weeks of the year it is also possible to book individual rooms on a self catering basis (be quick because these get booked up fast!). The Cottage sleeps 10 and must be rented as a whole property. If you would like to enjoy 10% off a stay in the Farm House or the Cottage quote Malmo19 when you phone or e-mail to book.
Stays in the shepherds huts start at just £85 per night and the cabins, which sleep 2 adults with room for 2 children as well, are from £115 per night. So whatever your budget there is a way to stay at Elmley and enjoy it’s magic. For all the details of how to book click here
Our night in the Farmhouse was kindly gifted to us by Georgina