Restaurants
Trattoria Romana
Traditional Italian restaurant on Bank Street, Ashford, open since 1981, with a la carte, set lunch and dinner menus and collection orders.
Verified Oct 2026
86 hectare heath and bog reserve near Ashford with four waymarked walks, boardwalks and a 500m all-weather trail. No toilets on site.
About Hothfield Heathlands
An 86 hectare nature reserve off the A20, managed by Kent Wildlife Trust on behalf of Ashford Borough Council. It is a Local Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. There are four waymarked circular routes and boardwalks across the wetter ground. Grazing animals are on site at various times of year: keep 10 metres away. Dogs must be on leads across open habitat from March; the Trust’s page gives the end date as both the end of August and September. There are no toilets.
Accessibility
The 500m Triangle Trail from the car park is an all-weather route with a smooth, even surface, passing places and gradual slopes. Other reserve paths are natural compacted sand, uneven in places and wetter in wet weather. Disabled parking is provided.
Where it is
What's on here
Eat and drink in Ashford
Cafés
Willesborough Cafe
Family cafe on Church Road, Willesborough, serving breakfasts, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, burgers and pie and mash, open daily until 4pm.
Verified Oct 2026
Farm Shops & Producers
Brabourne Vineyard
Family-run vineyard at East Brabourne with booked tours and tastings, weekend table bookings, cellar door and online shop.
Verified Oct 2026
Pubs
The Swan and Dog
Shepherd Neame pub in a 16th century building in Great Chart, Ashford, serving food and Kentish ales, with an outdoor area and function bookings.
Verified Oct 2026
Guides that mention Hothfield Heathlands
GuideFamily Days Out, Parks & Walks
Ashford and Tenterden: heathland, woods, nature reserves and the steam railway
Hothfield Heathlands, Conningbrook Lakes, King's Wood, Wye and Ham Street Woods reserves, plus Tenterden's steam railway, St Mildred's and Kiln Field.
More things to do in Ashford
Parks & Walks
Conningbrook Lakes Country Park
34 hectare lakeside country park beside the Julie Rose Stadium in Ashford, with walking paths, wildlife areas, picnic benches and public art.
Dog Friendly
Parks & Walks
Wye National Nature Reserve
Chalk downland reserve above Wye with orchids, a circular nature trail, wide views over Romney Marsh and the Weald, and two car parks.
Parks & Walks
King’s Wood
588 hectare Kent Downs woodland near Challock with walking routes, a sculpture trail, a mountain bike route and pay-by-app parking.