# Ash Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Discover Ash, a quiet east Kent village near Sandwich and Richborough Roman Fort, with its historic church, community pub and countryside walks. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/ash (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. Village charm between Canterbury and the Sandwich coast [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/ash) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/restaurants) Ash sits on rising ground above the Wingham brook, about nine miles east of Canterbury and two miles inland from Sandwich, on what was once the Roman road linking the two. It is one of the older settlements in this corner of Kent, with Saxon remains uncovered locally at Guilton, and its skyline is still dominated by the 15th-century tower and spire of St Nicholas Church, visible for miles across the surrounding farmland. The village itself is unmistakably rural east Kent: a scatter of thatched cottages, Georgian and Tudor houses, and working farmland stretching out towards the coast. It has never been a tourist destination in its own right, and that is really the point of coming here — Ash is a genuine, lived-in village rather than a heritage set piece, and it makes a low-key, well-placed base for exploring the Roman and medieval history of the Sandwich and Canterbury area without the crowds or prices of the bigger towns. ## Getting to Ash Ash lies just off the A257 between Canterbury and Sandwich, making it an easy stop by car from the A2/M2 corridor out of London and the M25. The nearest railway stations are Sandwich and Minster, both a short drive away, with services on the Kent coast line connecting to Canterbury, Ramsgate and onward to London St Pancras (around 1 hour 40 minutes from London to Sandwich). There is no direct rail station in Ash itself, and bus links are limited, so a car is the most practical way to explore the area, particularly for reaching Richborough and the coast. ## Best time to visit Ash Late spring through early autumn suits Ash best, when the surrounding farmland and hedgerows are at their greenest, the village walks are at their most pleasant, and Richborough Fort keeps its longer daily opening hours (April to October). Summer weekends bring cricket on the green and the best chance of fine weather for exploring nearby Sandwich Bay. Winter is quiet, with Richborough open weekends only, but the village and its pub remain welcoming year-round for anyone after a peaceful, off-season Kent break. ## Where to stay in Ash(1) [All hotels in Ash →](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/hotels) About staying in Ash Ash is a genuinely small village, so it does not have a hotel of its own, and anyone wanting a formal hotel stay will generally need to look to nearby Sandwich or Canterbury, both a short drive away and well stocked with everything from historic coaching inns to modern chain hotels. What Ash does offer is a scattering of bed and breakfasts, farm stays and self-catering cottages in and around the village, which suit visitors who want a quieter countryside base rather than a town-centre hotel. Staying in or near Ash makes most sense for travellers who want easy access to Richborough Roman Fort, Sandwich's medieval streets and the beaches of Sandwich Bay, without paying town-centre prices or dealing with summer crowds. The village's position just off the A257 between Canterbury and Sandwich also makes it a convenient, low-traffic stopover for anyone touring this part of the Kent coast by car. Booking ahead is sensible in summer, when accommodation across the wider Sandwich and Canterbury area fills up with visitors drawn to the coast and the region's Roman and medieval heritage. [Hogs Back Hotel & Spa Seale, Farnham](https://staycation.co.uk/farnham/hotels/hogs-back-hotel-spa) [The Queen Hotel Wetherspoon 1 High Street, Aldershot](https://staycation.co.uk/aldershot/hotels/the-queen-hotel-wetherspoon) [Travelodge Aldershot Westgate House, Aldershot](https://staycation.co.uk/aldershot/hotels/travelodge-aldershot) [Cosy 3 Bedroom Serviced House - Redwood Stays 27 Kingston Road, Camberley](https://staycation.co.uk/camberley/hotels/cosy-3-bedroom-serviced-house-redwood-stays) [Park Lodge Guest House 74 Park Road, Farnborough](https://staycation.co.uk/farnborough/hotels/park-lodge-guest-house) [Potters International Hotel 1 Fleet Road, Aldershot](https://staycation.co.uk/aldershot/hotels/potters-international-hotel) [Holiday Inn Farnborough Lynchford Road, Farnborough](https://staycation.co.uk/farnborough/hotels/holiday-inn-farnborough) [Netley Guest house 54 Netley Street, Farnborough](https://staycation.co.uk/farnborough/hotels/netley-guest-house) ## Things to Do in Ash [All attractions in Ash →](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/attractions) Top things to do in Ash Ash is small, so most days out mean venturing a short drive into the surrounding villages and coast, but there is enough of interest close by to fill a stay. - **St Nicholas Church** — the parish church dates back to around 1190, with a 15th-century tower and spire, an early 13th-century piscina, medieval brasses, and mural monuments to the Septvans family, one of the area's most prominent medieval landowning families. - **Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre** — on Ash's eastern boundary, this English Heritage site marks the point where the Romans landed in AD 43. A reconstructed timber gateway, the amphitheatre remains, and a museum of finds make it one of the most significant Roman sites in Britain, and it's only a couple of miles from the village. - **The Chequer Inn** — a 14th-century Grade II listed timber-framed pub at the heart of the village, saved and bought by residents through a community share scheme after facing closure; it's as much a village landmark as the church. - **Ash Heritage Centre** — a small volunteer-run local history collection at Ash Village Hall, with photographs and records covering the village's older buildings, usually open Saturday mornings. - **Sandwich** — one of England's best-preserved medieval towns, with timbered streets, town walls, a Guildhall museum, and Sandwich Bay's dunes and golf links, is a short drive or cycle away. - **Ash Walks** — the parish council maintains a set of way-marked circular walks through the surrounding farmland and lanes, taking in the church, outlying hamlets and open countryside. - **Ash Cricket Club and village sports ground** — the cricket club and the pavilion and green on Moat Lane are the focal points of village life through the summer, and visitors are generally welcome to watch a match. [Alpine Snowsports Centre ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/attractions/alpine-snowsports-centre) [The Aldershot Lido ⭐ 4.0](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/attractions/the-aldershot-lido) [Brickfields Country Park ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/attractions/brickfields-country-park) [🎟️Trails & Treasure Hunts The Farnham Mystery Treasure Trail](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/attractions/the-farnham-mystery-treasure-trail) [🎟️Sport & Fitness Wolf Cub Challenge](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/attractions/wolf-cub-challenge) [🎟️Trails & Treasure Hunts Godalming Spy Mission Treasure Trail](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/attractions/godalming-spy-mission-treasure-trail) [🎟️Boat Tours & Cruises Woking Trails](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/attractions/woking-trails) [🎟️Adventure & Activity Centres DogFest at Loseley](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/attractions/dogfest-at-loseley) ## Where to Eat in Ash(1) [All restaurants in Ash →](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/restaurants) Food and drink in Ash The centre of village life is The Chequer Inn, a 14th-century timber-framed pub that residents banded together to buy and reopen as a community-owned pub after it faced closure; it serves real ale alongside a food menu with a Vietnamese influence. The Volunteer Inn is another village pub a short walk away. For a wider choice of cafes, restaurants and traditional Kentish pubs, Sandwich and Canterbury are both within easy reach. [Spice of india ⭐ 4.0](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/restaurants/spice-of-india) [Curzon ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/restaurants/curzon) [Aldershot Pools Complex - General ⭐ 3.8](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/restaurants/aldershot-pools-complex-general) [The Alpine Cafe ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/restaurants/the-alpine-cafe) [Durbar ⭐ 4.0](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/restaurants/durbar) [Bunzo ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/restaurants/bunzo) [JRC / Costcutter](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/restaurants/jrc-costcutter) [Manor Farm Tea Room ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/restaurants/manor-farm-tea-room) ## Attractions Near Ash [All attractions in Ash →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Ash. [1 mi Alpine Snowsports Centre Aldershot · ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/aldershot/attractions/alpine-snowsports-centre) [1 mi The Aldershot Lido Aldershot · ⭐ 4.0](https://staycation.co.uk/aldershot/attractions/the-aldershot-lido) [2 mi Brickfields Country Park Aldershot · ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/aldershot/attractions/brickfields-country-park) [🎟️Trails & Treasure Hunts 2 mi The Farnham Mystery Treasure Trail Farnham](https://staycation.co.uk/farnham/attractions/the-farnham-mystery-treasure-trail) [🎟️Sport & Fitness 2 mi Wolf Cub Challenge Farnham](https://staycation.co.uk/farnham/attractions/wolf-cub-challenge) [🎟️Trails & Treasure Hunts 2 mi Godalming Spy Mission Treasure Trail Godalming](https://staycation.co.uk/godalming/attractions/godalming-spy-mission-treasure-trail) [🎟️Boat Tours & Cruises 2 mi Woking Trails Woking](https://staycation.co.uk/woking/attractions/woking-trails) [🎟️Adventure & Activity Centres 2 mi DogFest at Loseley Guildford](https://staycation.co.uk/guildford/attractions/dogfest-at-loseley) ## Camping in Ash(2) [All campsites in Ash →](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/camping) About camping in Ash The countryside around Ash is classic east Kent farmland — gently rolling, hedge-lined and largely arable, running down towards the flat, open expanse of Sandwich Bay and the coast. As with the rest of England, wild camping here is not legal without the landowner's permission, so any camping trip needs to be based at a proper campsite, farm pitch or glamping site rather than pitching up in a field or along the coastal paths. The terrain is gentle and easy walking rather than dramatic, which makes it a relaxed spot for families and less experienced campers rather than a wilderness destination. The best months to camp here run from late spring to early autumn, broadly April through September, when the weather is at its most reliable and the days are long enough to combine a site-based stay with day trips out to Richborough Fort, Sandwich and the beaches at Sandwich Bay and Pegwell Bay. Being this close to the coast, Ash can catch a stiff sea breeze even in summer, so it's worth packing for changeable weather and choosing a pitch with some shelter where possible. Outside these months the ground can turn heavy and wet, and site facilities in the wider area are more limited. Given how small Ash itself is, most camping and glamping options are found in the surrounding villages and along the coast rather than in the village itself, ranging from simple grass touring pitches to bell tents, pods and static lodges aimed at families exploring this stretch of the Kent coast. Anyone wanting a fully-serviced glamping stay rather than a traditional tent will find more choice by widening the search slightly to Sandwich, Woodnesborough and the coastal villages nearby, while still using Ash and its Roman and medieval history as a base for day trips. [Waggoners Campsite at Hampton Estate ⭐ 4.9 · from £36/night](https://staycation.co.uk/seale/camping/waggoners-campsite-at-hampton-estate) [Waggoners Campsite ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/farnham/camping/waggoners-campsite) [Highfield Heights Camping ⭐ 4.5 · from £30/night](https://staycation.co.uk/farnham/camping/highfield-heights-camping) [Runway's End Outdoor Centre ⭐ 4.7 · from £36/night](https://staycation.co.uk/aldershot/camping/runway-s-end-outdoor-centre) [Basingstoke Canal Centre Campsite ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/mytchett/camping/basingstoke-canal-centre-campsite) [Caravan and Motorhome Club Certificated Site, Loseley Park ⭐ 4.5 · from £18/night](https://staycation.co.uk/guildford/camping/loseley-park-caravan-site) [Camping in the Forest, Alice Holt ⭐ 4.6 · from £22/night](https://staycation.co.uk/guildford/camping/alice-holt-camping-in-the-forest) [The Merry Harriers ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/godalming/camping/the-merry-harriers) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Ash [All cottages in Ash →](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/cottages) [Farnham Park Apartment 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £517](https://staycation.co.uk/waverley/cottages/farnham-park-apartment-syk1197429) [Falcon Bal House 7 bed · sleeps 14 · from £1,634](https://staycation.co.uk/farnborough/cottages/falcon-bal-house-syk1172789) [🏡Cottage Cowshot Barn 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £1,380](https://staycation.co.uk/guildford/cottages/cowshot-barn-m375258) [Gordon Avenue 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £700](https://staycation.co.uk/camberley/cottages/gordon-avenue-syk1193015) [🏡Cottage Garden Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £874](https://staycation.co.uk/waverley/cottages/garden-cottage-syk1138396) [🏡Cottage Hay Cottage 4 bed · sleeps 8 · from £4,369](https://staycation.co.uk/east-hampshire/cottages/hay-cottage-ukc8115) [🏡Cottage Hearth Cottage 4 bed · sleeps 8 · from £4,124](https://staycation.co.uk/east-hampshire/cottages/hearth-cottage-ukc8118) [🏡Cottage Reeds Farmhouse 3 bed · sleeps 5 · from £591](https://staycation.co.uk/east-hampshire/cottages/reeds-farmhouse-ukc2381) ## Common questions about Ash How many campsites are there in Ash? We list 2 campsites in and around Ash, of which 2 take tents and 2 offer glamping. Are there dog-friendly campsites in Ash? Yes — 2 of the 2 campsites we list in Ash accept dogs, including Turners Folly Field Camping and Glamping and Goldstone Camping. Where can I stay in Ash? We list 1 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses in and around Ash. Where can I eat in Ash? We list 1 restaurants, pubs and cafes in and around Ash. ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Ash Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DAsh%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Ash - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/ash/restaurants) ## Staycation ideas for Ash [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)