Discover Ash: trails, nature and local history

Ash offers several distinct points of interest to consider when planning a trip: trails associated with the railway line, canal and river; the wetland habitats of Lakeside Nature Reserve; and historic sites such as Memorial Chapel and St Peter's Church. If you are looking for a hotel in Ash, these options can help you decide what to focus on during your stay: a walk with a specified duration, wildlife observation or local history. The trails differ in their stated distances, times and terrain.

Walking trails and waterside paths

Transported Through Ash is an easy 5-mile (8.5-kilometre) circular walk. It links the old railway path with the towpath of the Basingstoke Canal. Several specific features help define this route: its circular shape, distance and terrain, which is described as easy. Its connection to the railway path and canal gives the walk a different character from a route description that focuses mainly on duration.

The Rail Trail – Ash is 2 miles long and takes approximately 2 hours. Another duration is given for the easy Explore Ash and Lakeside Nature Reserve walk: it takes one hour. For comparison, the Rail Trail takes about two hours, while the walk at Lakeside Nature Reserve takes one hour. Each duration refers to the named route.

The River Blackwater forms part of the boundary of the Parish of Ash. The Blackwater Valley Path runs along the entire river and can be accessed from various points within the parish. The towpath of the Basingstoke Canal can also be accessed from various points within the Parish of Ash. Both trails therefore have several possible access points, while the description of the Blackwater Valley Path also notes that it follows the river.

Wetland habitats and waterbirds

Lakeside Nature Reserve includes a river, ponds and lakes, as well as reed beds, an orchid meadow and wet woodland. Its habitats therefore include both bodies of water and wetland vegetation. The easy, one-hour Explore Ash and Lakeside Nature Reserve walk passes through water meadows and ponds and offers the chance to observe a wide variety of waterbirds.

Several viewing platforms in the reserve are also used for waterbird watching. Two different aspects may be useful when planning your visit: the specific walking route, with its duration and path through water meadows and ponds, and the waterbird observation points. The platforms are a feature of the reserve; they are not described as part of the walk.

Museum, chapel and church

Ash Museum presents the local history of Ash, Ash Vale, Ash Green and Tongham. The museum is fully accessible to wheelchair users (as of 2026). Memorial Chapel adds to this focus on history with its construction and history of use: it was completed in 1889 as a cemetery chapel and later used as a museum.

Memorial Chapel contains stained-glass windows dating from the 1920s. They were provided by Henry Morris Chester of Poyle Park and commemorate the men from Ash, Wyke and Normandy who died in the First World War. The chapel brings together its original purpose, its later use as a museum and the remembrance of those who died.

St Peter's Church offers another perspective on Ash's architectural history. Its Norman flint-and-stone construction dates to 1170, and the church is Grade II* listed. Its construction, date and listing are specific points of reference for placing the building in its historical context, setting it apart from the memorial history of Memorial Chapel.

Discover more destinations: Cranleigh, Thames Ditton, Frensham, Egham, Haslemere, Chilworth, Peaslake, Leatherhead

For the broader travel overview: Surrey.