Island 159 - Isle of Harty, Sheppey, Kent

The Isle of Harty is located in the south east corner of the Isle of Sheppey and is bounded on the east by the North Sea, on the south by The Swale and to the north by the Capel Fleet.  The highest point on the island is 27 metres above sea level.  There are a couple of farms on the island, the church of St Thomas the Apostle, a couple of houses and the Ferry Inn.  There used to be a ferry across The Swale from Harty to Oare.

Harty is access down a 3 mile long supposedly metalled road, which comes off the B2231 between Eastchurch and Leysdown-on-Sea.  The road is very potholed, so would not be good if you are in a hurry or it is dark.  I followed 5 4x4s down the road.  I thought they were birdwatchers but when they parked up they all got out with shotguns in their hands, so presumably they enjoy killing birds, rather than watching them!

13 services a year are held in St Thomas's Church.  The church has no electricity and so is lit by candles and paraffin lamps.  I don't know if it is normally open but I visited on Christmas Eve and someone was preparing the church for a service that evening.  Part of the building dates back to the Norman period.

 St Thomas's Church looking north

 St Thomas's Church looking south towards The Swale

 

 Stained Glass windows in St Thomas's Church - To Everything there is a Season

There is a window representing each season.

Capel Fleet where the road crosses it - looking west

One of the best places in the UK to watch birds of prey?
 

The Ferry Inn

Looking south from near the Ferry Inn - salt marshes and The Swale

Peacock

I know the Isle of Harty is a good place to watch birds but I wasn't expecting to see a peacock! This chap was happy to pose for photos