Oare Marshes KWT Site Map

Since this map was produced another hide has been constructed on the sea wall in the north-east corner of the reserve (the Sea Wall Hide) overlooking the the mouth of Faversham Creek, and there is now a car park for disabled visitors north of the Harty Ferry cottages by the 'Welcome To Oare Marshes' sign.

The above map doesn't show all the names in regular use by local birders at Oare and which will be seen used frequently in 'Latest Sightings'. Some of these are listed below:
 

Castle Coote is the shingle bank that you see looking east from the Sea Wall hide on the south side of the Swale and is part of the South Swale LNR - so if someting is described as 'looking towards Castle Coote' then its in that general direction.

Dan's Dock is circa three quarters of a mile NW of the Watch House along the sea wall and is marked on the map. It's the derelict wooden slipway at the NW end of the KWT reserve (where the metal kissing gate and reserve welcome sign are). The sheepfields/Uplees Marshes are to the south of this, and you can take the track south-east to the 'Gate House Bungalows', where there's a bit of woodland and, if you're feeling energetic, you can walk back along the roads to Oare village.

Horse Sands is the large mud/sand bank in the Swale where the Common Seals 'bask' (if you look NE from the Sea Wall hide) and is marked on the map - its a massive feature at low tide and can have stacks of birds on it - although they are a bit far away.
 
Mocketts is used for the hill on Sheppey more or less due north from the Watch House and NW of the Ferry Inn. Named after Mocketts Farm/Cottages which sit on the top of it - its the southern end of Harty Hill. Always good for raptors soaring over it, particularly in a W or SW wind when species like Common Buzzard and Peregrine hang on the updraught as the wind blows up the hill.

Nagden Marshes is to the east of Faversham Creek where the map above shows 'South Swale L.N.R.' (and the Nagden pylons would be the first 5 or 6 pylons running east - you'd be unlucky not to see a Peregrine or two perched on these).

The New Acquisition are the fields purchased recenlty by the KWT and extends the reserve to south along Oare Creek. They tend to be flooded in winter, particularly the area below the powerlines. They have yet to be developed by the KWT, but should prove productive in the future.

The Slipway is shown on the map as causeway and runs down from the northern end of the entrance road into the Swale.

The South-East Scrape is the pool just south-west of the Sea Sluice and is shown on the map above, but not named. It has become a bit overgrown in recent times making viewing difficult, but has been good for waders, including a very smart female Red-necked Phalarope in spring 2005.

Continue NW along the seawall from Dan's Dock for another quarter of a mile and you get to Uplees. Uplees Copse is the small area of trees and scrub on the landward side of the sea wall (there's an old shed there and a 'Private No Through Road' sign). It can be good for passerines in the spring - Ring Ouzels and Redstarts have been here in the past. The flat mossy area on the seaward side of the sea wall is good for Wheatear in spring, summer and autumn. The mud along the Swale there can be good for waders, and scanning across to Sheppey from here can be good for raptors.
   
The West Scrape (or the New West Scrape) is the pool west of the entrance road and 50-100 yards south of the Watch House. Scraped out a few years ago (so not strictly New!) it has hosted some good waders and was popular with the 2006/2007 Long-billed Dowitcher.