Off the M2 and past one of Kent’s busiest market towns, you can find an oasis of peace.

Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, near Faversham, is the ultimate beauty spot if you’re seeking tranquillity.

Experts describe it as a “service station for birds” and the range of wildlife there is incredible, as I discovered on a recent visit.

Stepping out of my car into a brisk breeze, there wasn’t a sound to be heard other than from the animals.

To one side were cattle while on the other was an array of birds.

Having never been to the nature reserve before, I was instantly blown away.

I met with Stephen Weeks from the Kent Wildlife Trust and after being handed a pair of binoculars I was anticipating an interesting walk.

Firstly, we were shown the 120-year-old Oare Marshes Well next to the car park. Beautiful, fresh water, safe for drinking, was gushing out of the natural spring. It reaches 250 feet into the earth and was tapped by the local Mining Machinery and Improvement Company in the early 1900s.

Local sailors were said to drink from the well, and the surrounding marshland and wildlife rely on the spring’s flowing water.

Behind us was the old watch house which featured in a movie adaptation of Great Expectations.

As we wandered up a short hill, the air suddenly became much clearer and colder. I felt the change in the environment before I saw it - the beautiful north coast of Kent.

To my right, we had a clear view of Seasalter and the Whitstable coastline, while across the water was the hamlet of Harty on the Isle of Sheppey.

I have never experienced anything like it. I felt so calm. Away from the stresses of everyday life, nothing mattered in this moment and I felt I had been transported into a whole new world.

After taking a moment to appreciate the picturesque view, we took a stroll around the reserve, which has recently been gifted to the Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT).

Being one of the few grazing marshes left in the county, and of significant importance for migratory birds, bosses at the charity say they are extremely grateful to have taken ownership of the site and describe it as a “marsh milestone”.

The trust has leased and managed Oare Marshes, one of its flagship reserves, since 1984 from the company Tarmac.

A clause in the lease from the British building materials giant stated that KWT could purchase the freehold of the site after 25 years. But, as this date approached, the rare wildlife habitat was handed over for free, with the charity only covering the legal fees.

KWT’s Simon Bateman-Brown says Oare Marshes is an exceptional site and a precious habitat for so many important species.

“It’s really like a service station for birds,” he said.

“The mud on the swale estuary is packed full of invertebrates for the wading species to feed on. The wet grassland, reedbed and fresh water inland allow areas for birds to breed, rest up and feed along the ditch edges.

“It’s also connected to lots of other important bird areas throughout north Kent.”

As our tour continued, I was impressed by the variety of the wildlife on the marshes which, thanks to the binoculars, I could see up close.

It is estimated that about 250 bird species can be found at the marshes - including black-tailed godwits, which breed in Iceland and return to the area for summer. I also saw an impressive oystercatcher fly over while making its calling noise.

Aside from the birds, there was the heartwarming sight of calves nestled together while their mothers grazed. As we walked past, I thought they would react but they didn’t. They seemed so relaxed and accepting of us wandering around their environment – and a few calves even got up from their naps to be photographed.

The walk around the marsh is an easy one, so anyone would be able to do it. I felt truly content and immersed in my surroundings.

Seeing the Isle of Sheppey and Seasalter in the distance was incredible and as we got to the halfway mark around the site, I was greeted by my favourite animal of the trip. I looked through my binoculars toward the Bryan Downes, almost directly opposite Seasalter, and saw scores of seals bathing on the coast.

Although I was miles away and could only see them ever so slightly, it was a wonderful sight.

I felt so grateful to have a hidden gem like this on my doorstep and am certain I will be back.

The work that staff at Kent Wildlife Trust do to protect this vital habitat for the huge array of wildlife is commendable.

It’s one of Kent’s most beautiful locations - just make sure you bring your binoculars to fully appreciate everything it has to offer.