Who can tell me about Ash, Surrey?

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Found a house we love in Ash Green, Surrey. Ticks all the boxes and is just beautiful. We are moving from Guildford with our toddler and baby so looking at nurseries / primary schools and trying to get a feel for community and amenities. I haven’t heard many positive things about Ash but nothing concrete I can put my finger on. I guess I’m looking for any nuggets from Mumsnetters who live there and can vouch for what it’s like? Do you go into Ash for your amenities or do you use Woking / Guildford as your Center? I’m aware Aldershot is a DIVE and to be avoided for the most part. Looks like the schools in our catchment would be Wyke in Normandy, St Paul’s c of e and Ash Grange. Anyone have experience with those schools ? Thanks in advance.

I think the issue for Ash is its surrounded by some of the most affluent parts of the UK. Farnham to one side and beautiful Surrey Hills villages on the other side of the Hogs Back. It's not on the same level in comparison, but in itself is OK. It has some lovely parts with lots of history and heritage, it also has some pocket areas you'd avoid (Winchester Road, Longacre). You would find that as standard in most larger urban villages. Ash Green is further out though and very pretty I think. There's a few basic convenience shops in Ash, and a few more in Ash Vale parade. Personally I find Farnham is closest and easiest to get to for a town centre. My hairdressers, aesthetics, opticians, Lidl, etc are all there.

I nearly pulled out of buying a house here due to bad press about Ash, but having lived in Greater London and had lots of problems with crime, Ash has caused me personally no issues. On the plus side its surrounded by Ash ranges and beautiful countryside, no flight path, no flood zones etc. The people are very friendly and community minded. The doctors surgery in Ash Vale is over subscribed and on its knees, so avoid if you can. There's been a lot of new developments, so check planning in your area.

I don't have kids so can't comment on schools.

Laying in bed on a Saturday morning, now contemplating if I really do live in a hotbed of crime and hadn't noticed! It was your comment about not hearing great things about Ash, but no concrete evidence. I know looking at crime stats can make you not want to go outside your own front door, wherever you live (!) but here's a few links for Surrey.

Guildford, where you're coming from, which is perceived as nice, is actually a high crime area, 78 per 1000 people. https://crimerate.co.uk/surrey/guildford

Ash, is pretty much middle of the pack for Surrey at 49 per 1000 people. https://crimerate.co.uk/surrey/ash

Out of interest I looked at Godalming, which is highly regarded, and it's the same as Ash at 49 per 1000. Pirbright, which I love, is very low at 22.

House prices are ridiculous everywhere, so it's a balancing act of getting somewhere that suits your needs with no major deal breakers, in your price range, in an area that you'll be happy to live in.

It's probably wise to take on board that the name, Ash, covers quite a large area, geographically speaking. Ash Green, Ash Vale, Ash Common and Ash Wharf are integral places under the broad heading but are each very different in their make-up and have distinct personalities.

Its easy to get confused when even the local Co-op proudly declares itself to be Ash Vale as does the Surgery...they're not. They're Ash Wharf. Ash Vale begins 200 yards away on the other side of the canal.

It,s not being pedantic. If you're seriously house hunting, I suggest accuracy is a useful search tool. You might like to widen your search slightly to include nearby Tongham..useful range of shops and community assets such as playground, community centre, church, etc. Good luck.

My family live in Ash Green. It’s pretty average, nothing very exciting at all, but well place greenery, country walks and having access to upmarket Farnham and other surrounding villages, as well as the cheaper commercial alternatives on offer from Aldershot and Farnborough.
Depending exactly what road you’re on you’re most likely to hear the Hogs Back dual carriageway in the distance, the sound travels pretty far.
They’re building new builds in the area pretty quickly in the last few years without improving local services.
1 stop to Guildford as you know. I like the area but that’s me. Again it is what it is, nothing much on offer in terms of culture and events, but an incredibly over priced part of the commuter belt serving that purpose mainly.

I like the ash area..
Aldershot is fine.
Farnham has a buzz and pretty buildings
Guildford you know

Ash is good. Bad rep many years ago, but is Oa lot better now. Plenty of countryside and nice places to visit with lovely surrounding towns / areas

Parts of Aldershot are grim bad, not all. There are some very nice houses in Aldershot on the way to Farnham. Apparently money is being injected which it needs to be. What's your budget?

I lived in Ash, albeit nearly 20 years ago.

Compared to Guildford (where I went to school), it was pretty crap.

When I lived there, there was a pretty significant gypsy population.

Thanks all for taking the time to reply - some really useful info here. Budget is £850k and we’ve found a house in Ash Green which ticks all of our boxes though Ash Green looks like it’s really just a small area with a few homes - not quite a village. Took a drive through ash today and couldn’t see an actual high street but with Farnham and Guildford both 10-15 mins away I guess these would be our bases for amenities ?

If you’ve got a budget of £850k, unless you are looking for something massive with a lot of land, you should extend your search area.
villages around Godalming and you’d get a 3/4 bed detached. I’d avoid relying on going into Farnham - traffic is horrendous and only expected to get worse.

Parking in St James car park off Dogflud Way and walking an extra few mintutes is generally OK, quick and easy from Ash direction. Rather than driving any further into Farnham. Agree traffic is pretty awful in Farnham, especially around the Station. It would drive me nuts living there and trying to get around.