← Back✦ Historic site

The Retreat

0 ha

WildlifeBirdsInsects

Dogs welcome0 ha

Getting here

51.37013, 1.11502

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

Bike parkingToilets

Best for

4 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Herring Gull, Starling, Woodpigeon +80 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Herring Gull, Starling, Woodpigeon +80 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Epistrophe eligans, Eristalis pertinax, Firebug +44 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Epistrophe eligans, Eristalis pertinax, Firebug +44 more · last seen 2026

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

4 signed routes nearby · 1 public path nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

Saxon Shore WayWalking route262 km

Named routeLength 262 kmRegional walking route

King Charles III England Coast Path: Ramsgate to WhitstableWalking route

Named routeRef ECPNational walking route

Wantsum WalkWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

Chestfield WalkWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

39 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

NCN Regional Route 15 (Kent)Cycling route

Named routeRef 15Regional cycle route

NCN National Route 1Cycling route

Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network

Crab & Winkle WayCycling route

Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network

N/ACycling route19 m

Named routeRef 15Length 19 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

N/ACycling route1.3 km

Named routeRef 15Length 1.3 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface grass

N/ACycling route2.1 km

Named routeRef 15Length 2.1 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface concrete

Wildlife to spot

19,738 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

19,738 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds85 species

autumnwinter

2025

Herring Gull · Starling · Woodpigeon · Black-headed Gull · House Sparrow +80

Herring GullLarus argentatus
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
TurnstoneArenaria interpres
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
RobinErithacus rubecula
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
MagpiePica pica
Common GullLarus canus
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
RedshankTringa totanus
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
Great TitParus major
Rock DoveColumba livia
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
Dark-bellied Brent GooseBranta bernicla bernicla
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
DunnockPrunella modularis
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
GannetMorus bassanus
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
SanderlingCalidris alba
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla
SwallowHirundo rustica
BuzzardButeo buteo
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
CurlewNumenius arquata
Brent GooseBranta bernicla
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
SnipeGallinago gallinago
AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
TealAnas crecca
Common TernSterna hirundo
Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula2024
House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
Pomarine SkuaStercorarius pomarinus
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
Common GuillemotUria aalge
SwiftApus apus
ShagGulosus aristotelis
WhitethroatCurruca communis
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret
Mandarin DuckAix galericulata
Greylag GooseAnser anser2024
JackdawColoeus monedula2024
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola2024
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2024
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis2024
DunlinCalidris alpina2024
Great SkuaStercorarius skua2024
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus2024
Sabine's GullXema sabini2024
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna grisea2024
Long-tailed SkuaStercorarius longicaudus2024
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus2024
RookCorvus frugilegus2024

🦌

Mammals12 species

wintersummerautumn

2026

Red Fox · Grey Squirrel · Brown Rat · Domestic Dog · Hedgehog +7

Red FoxVulpes vulpes
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
Brown RatRattus norvegicus2025
Domestic DogCanis lupus subsp. familiaris2025
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2025
House MouseMus musculus
BatChiroptera2025
Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2025
Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2025
Nathusius's PipistrellePipistrellus nathusii2025
NoctuleNyctalus noctula2025
Yellow-necked MouseApodemus flavicollis2025

🐸

Amphibians3 species

winter

2026

Common Frog · Common Toad · Smooth Newt

Common FrogRana temporaria
Common ToadBufo bufo
Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris

🐝

Insects47 species

springsummer

2026

Epistrophe eligans · Eristalis pertinax · 7-spot Ladybird · Firebug · Mystacides longicornis +42

Epistrophe eligansEpistrophe eligans
Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
FirebugPyrrhocoris apterus
Mystacides longicornisMystacides longicornis2025
10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata
2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata
Syrphus torvusSyrphus torvus
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus
Dock BugCoreus marginatus
Birch ShieldbugElasmostethus interstinctus2025
Limnephilus marmoratusLimnephilus marmoratus2025
Xanthogramma pedissequumXanthogramma pedissequum2025
Box BugGonocerus acuteangulatus2024
EupeodesEupeodes
Scathophaga stercorariaScathophaga stercoraria
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax
Twin-spot CenturionSargus bipunctatus2025
Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2025
Miridius quadrivirgatusMiridius quadrivirgatus2025
Hornet HoverflyVolucella zonaria2024
Batman HoverflyMyathropa florea2024
Scaeva pyrastriScaeva pyrastri2024
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina
22-spot LadybirdPsyllobora vigintiduopunctata2025
Migrant HawkerAeshna mixta2025
Vine WeevilOtiorhynchus sulcatus2025
Eyed LadybirdAnatis ocellata2025
Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2025
Blue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegans2025
SphaerophoriaSphaerophoria2025
Issus coleoptratusIssus coleoptratus2025
Deraeocoris (Deraeocoris) flavilineaDeraeocoris (Deraeocoris) flavilinea2025
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes2025
Limnephilus auriculaLimnephilus auricula2025
Anthracite Bee-flyAnthrax anthrax2025
Tawny Mining BeeAndrena fulva2025
Limnephilus flavicornisLimnephilus flavicornis2024
Ivy BeeColletes hederae2024
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima2024
Parent BugElasmucha grisea2024
Synophropsis lauriSynophropsis lauri2024
Tinodes waeneriTinodes waeneri2024
Notonecta (Notonecta) viridisNotonecta (Notonecta) viridis2024
Ledra auritaLedra aurita2024

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

19,738 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds85 species

autumnwinter

2025

Herring Gull · Starling · Woodpigeon · Black-headed Gull · House Sparrow +80

Herring GullLarus argentatus
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
TurnstoneArenaria interpres
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
RobinErithacus rubecula
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
MagpiePica pica
Common GullLarus canus
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
RedshankTringa totanus
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
Great TitParus major
Rock DoveColumba livia
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
Dark-bellied Brent GooseBranta bernicla bernicla
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
DunnockPrunella modularis
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
GannetMorus bassanus
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
SanderlingCalidris alba
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla
SwallowHirundo rustica
BuzzardButeo buteo
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
CurlewNumenius arquata
Brent GooseBranta bernicla
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
SnipeGallinago gallinago
AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
TealAnas crecca
Common TernSterna hirundo
Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula2024
House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
Pomarine SkuaStercorarius pomarinus
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
Common GuillemotUria aalge
SwiftApus apus
ShagGulosus aristotelis
WhitethroatCurruca communis
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret
Mandarin DuckAix galericulata
Greylag GooseAnser anser2024
JackdawColoeus monedula2024
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola2024
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2024
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis2024
DunlinCalidris alpina2024
Great SkuaStercorarius skua2024
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus2024
Sabine's GullXema sabini2024
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna grisea2024
Long-tailed SkuaStercorarius longicaudus2024
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus2024
RookCorvus frugilegus2024

🦌

Mammals12 species

wintersummerautumn

2026

Red Fox · Grey Squirrel · Brown Rat · Domestic Dog · Hedgehog +7

Red FoxVulpes vulpes
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
Brown RatRattus norvegicus2025
Domestic DogCanis lupus subsp. familiaris2025
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2025
House MouseMus musculus
BatChiroptera2025
Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2025
Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2025
Nathusius's PipistrellePipistrellus nathusii2025
NoctuleNyctalus noctula2025
Yellow-necked MouseApodemus flavicollis2025

🐸

Amphibians3 species

winter

2026

Common Frog · Common Toad · Smooth Newt

Common FrogRana temporaria
Common ToadBufo bufo
Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris

🐝

Insects47 species

springsummer

2026

Epistrophe eligans · Eristalis pertinax · 7-spot Ladybird · Firebug · Mystacides longicornis +42

Epistrophe eligansEpistrophe eligans
Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
FirebugPyrrhocoris apterus
Mystacides longicornisMystacides longicornis2025
10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata
2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata
Syrphus torvusSyrphus torvus
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus
Dock BugCoreus marginatus
Birch ShieldbugElasmostethus interstinctus2025
Limnephilus marmoratusLimnephilus marmoratus2025
Xanthogramma pedissequumXanthogramma pedissequum2025
Box BugGonocerus acuteangulatus2024
EupeodesEupeodes
Scathophaga stercorariaScathophaga stercoraria
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax
Twin-spot CenturionSargus bipunctatus2025
Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2025
Miridius quadrivirgatusMiridius quadrivirgatus2025
Hornet HoverflyVolucella zonaria2024
Batman HoverflyMyathropa florea2024
Scaeva pyrastriScaeva pyrastri2024
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina
22-spot LadybirdPsyllobora vigintiduopunctata2025
Migrant HawkerAeshna mixta2025
Vine WeevilOtiorhynchus sulcatus2025
Eyed LadybirdAnatis ocellata2025
Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2025
Blue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegans2025
SphaerophoriaSphaerophoria2025
Issus coleoptratusIssus coleoptratus2025
Deraeocoris (Deraeocoris) flavilineaDeraeocoris (Deraeocoris) flavilinea2025
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes2025
Limnephilus auriculaLimnephilus auricula2025
Anthracite Bee-flyAnthrax anthrax2025
Tawny Mining BeeAndrena fulva2025
Limnephilus flavicornisLimnephilus flavicornis2024
Ivy BeeColletes hederae2024
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima2024
Parent BugElasmucha grisea2024
Synophropsis lauriSynophropsis lauri2024
Tinodes waeneriTinodes waeneri2024
Notonecta (Notonecta) viridisNotonecta (Notonecta) viridis2024
Ledra auritaLedra aurita2024

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Dave Kelly · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

The Retreat, Sea St and RC church of Our Lady

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🌱Memorial ParkUrban park700 m→🌱Memorial ParkUrban park700 m→🌱Hampton Coastal ParkUrban park2.6 km→🌱Long RockUrban park3.3 km→🌱Reculver Country ParkUrban park4.7 km→🌱Waltrop GardensUrban park600 m→

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