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.