Ash

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.

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.

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

Ash itself is a small village with limited formal accommodation, so most visitors base themselves here for a countryside stay and head into Sandwich or Canterbury for a wider choice of hotels and guesthouses. Around Ash, options tend towards farm stays, B&Bs and self-catering cottages in the surrounding hamlets, well suited to visitors touring the Roman and medieval sites of east Kent by car.

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.