Ash: Walking Routes and Local History

Ash combines walking routes with local history and a landscape whose seasonal features vary. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Ash, you can sort through your interests: some routes can be compared by length and circular format, while the Heritage Centre and the Roman museum offer different perspectives on history. This lets you choose the themes that matter for planning your trip.

Compare walking routes by length and format

“The Orchards” is a 7.3-kilometre walking route with no cattle grids. In spring, the route offers views of blossoming fruit trees; the timing of the blossom varies from year to year. If you would like to experience this seasonal landscape, you can take it into account when planning your trip.

“Ash to Staple” is a 7-kilometre circular walk starting at Ash Car Park on The Street. “Ash to Westmarsh” is an 8.8-kilometre circular walk starting from Ash Village. The 12-kilometre “Ash to Richborough Walk” can also be done as a circular walk from Ash Village.

Among the circular walks, “Ash to Staple” and “Ash to Westmarsh” are closer in their stated lengths to each other than the longer “Ash to Richborough Walk”. “The Orchards” adds to the comparison with a length similar to “Ash to Staple”, the feature of having no cattle grids, and spring blossom. This lets you consider length and circular format as separate factors when choosing. Route conditions can change; check the current situation before setting out.

The landscape through the seasons

North of Ash are the Ash Levels: mostly drained marshland used for grazing sheep and cattle in summer. Together with the spring blossom on “The Orchards”, this creates a seasonal contrast. Along the route, the focus is on views of blossoming fruit trees, while the Ash Levels are characterised in summer by their use as grazing land. The timing of the fruit blossom varies from year to year.

Local history and Roman heritage

The historic village walk “Historic Ash Village” highlights interesting buildings. The Ash Heritage Centre is located in Ash Village Hall on Queens Road in Ash (CT3 2BG). It preserves photographs and information about many of the historic buildings featured on the walk. In this way, the buildings of the historic village and the associated photographs and information are at the heart of this local history theme.

Saturday mornings from 10:00 to 12:00 are listed as the usual opening hours for the Ash Heritage Centre. Confirm the opening arrangements before travelling.

In the vicinity of Ash, in the parish of Ash, is Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre. Its museum is accessed through the shop and includes a permanent exhibition covering many aspects of Roman life. This Roman exhibition complements the buildings and local history at the centre of the historic village walk.

Visitor facilities

Ash Recreation Ground has accessible paths and play equipment, including swings, a roundabout, climbing frames and a zip wire. The usual daily opening hours listed for the public toilets at the Recreation Ground are 7:30 to 20:00. Check the opening hours before your visit.

Behind Ash Village Hall is a public car park with two electric vehicle charging points. As facilities can change, check their current status before travelling. Together with the information about walking routes, landscape and local history, these practical details offer further guidance for planning your time in Ash.

Discover more destinations: Broadstairs, Blean, East Brabourne, Ramsgate, Lympne, Southborough, Doddington, Shadoxhurst.

For the broader travel overview: Kent.