Ringstead to Osmington Rings

The inspiration for today's walk came from the seldom occurring and very sudden desire to go wild swimming. After a little googling we discovered that Ringstead Bay is quite a secluded place for swimming - and there's even an unofficial naturist beach there on the east side of the beach. In case you're wondering, no we weren't going to go skinny dipping, and I can only think that this aberration of character derived from the searing heat of the day before, resulting in the desire to quickly cool down.

Anyway, off we set with a route planned to cover a little bit of coastline and the south-west coast path that we hadn't yet done. Parking at Ringstead we immediately came across a potential east beach user, a very tanned and long silver-haired matureish gentleman was sitting reading the newspaper - IN THE CAR PARK - in his mobile home, with the door wide open and with not a stitch on! Yes, we tittered like children, "It's alright as long as he doesn't get up," Paul quipped. Being parked next to him, it was difficult to avoid looking in his direction as we busied ourselves with rucsacks and hiking boots. He proceeded to put a towel round his waist, get out the van and wee against the side of his van whilst Paul rapidly tried to find the National Trust twitter account to lodge a complaint.

We decided against taking our fleeces. "Nine times out of ten I regret it," I said, firmly closing and locking the car with fleeces still inside. Sadly, I had to leave my binocs too. I can't bear it really (and don't tell my brother), but until I get a lighter weight pair, I also can't bear the weight round my neck, especially in the heat. The swimming stuff also remained in the car; it was a long shot. One day I'll do it!

Some paragliders were already in the air, this being a popular spot for this activity. I decided I thought it wouldn't be too bad, but then as we watched them being blown out to sea and high above the land, I changed my mind with a little shudder of fear. Some of them appeared to be lying down in sleeping-bag like seats.

There is a plethora of paths here, not all of them marked on the Explorer map.

The seedheads of all types of thistle were being carried by the wind and gathering in places on the ground - there should be a word for this. 'Thistlesnow' Paul suggested. I like that because it does give the impression of snow. We followed a different one to the one we'd been on before when we came with the Dorset Walkers (Hi John!) as I wanted to visit the little wooden chapel here - St Catherine's by the Sea. What a delightful little chapel this is, with its own garden for picnics. Rebuilt in 2010, it is now only occasionally used, including on Sundays throughout the summer for tea and cakes!

St Catherine's by the Sea - SY7681

St Catherine's by the Sea - SY7681

St Catherine's by the Sea - SY7681

We were delighted to see Wall Brown butterflies on our walk, although it didn't perform for the photo!

Wall Brown

The views today were stunning. You can see why it's such a popular place, except for the pebbly beach. I always think it must be very uncomfortable to lie on such a beach. there were a few people in the sea but no sign of our mobile home user (thankfully)

Ringstead Bay with Portland in the distance - SY7581

We decided to have a cup of tea on the beach and then walked for a short stretch along the beach to the steps which led back to the coastal path. We walked along lovely shady woodland paths and then passed two WWII coastal artillery searchlights.

CASL - SY7481

Osmington Mills was mobbed. We were ready for lunch, but decided to get through the busy seaside resort before stopping again. The Smugglers' Inn  looks an attractive place to stop for a bite to eat though.

The Smugglers' Inn, Osmington - SY7381

We followed the south-west coast path inland now and uphill towards Sandy Barrow, walking alongside the biggest campsite I think I've seen and marvelling at the tents pitched on a 45 degree slope!

Sandy Barrow - SY7382

We somehow missed the path westwards here, but rejoined it a little further up where we sat on a grassy slope with our lunch. We then followed a track to East Farm, where there was an unexpected cafe, an overgrown stile which we avoided, choosing to walk through the farmyard instead to the main road - the A353 through Osmington. 

Near East Farm - SY7282

Small Tortoiseshell near East Farm - Butterfly Conservation are asking for records of this species

Having crossed the road, we walked through the village for a bit before striking off north-east and uphill to the ridgeway. It was a steep climb.

Osmington - SY7383

At Pixon barn there is a convergence of paths. This must at one time have only been a barn, but now there is a modern house here.

Pixon Barn - SY7383

We turned south-eastwards now, back to the main road, straight across and up to what I thought looked an exciting bit on the map. It WAS an exciting bit. We walked through dappled woodland up hill to a quarry (dis) and then went a little off piste to look at a cairn circle.

Cairn Circle on Moigns Down - SY7483

Cairn circle on Moigns Down - SY7483

There is quite a lot of archaeological interest here - strip lynchets, earthworks and stone circles. The South Dorset ridgeway is rich in archaeology. I wish I knew a bit more about it.

Our next landmark was the trigpoint at Moigns Down.

Moigns Down trigpoint - SY7583

We were glad of our Memory Map app at this point, because with weary legs, we mindlessly followed a tractor track through a field before we went to look at a distinctive dead tree and Paul noticed a footpath sign (one of those circular screw in ones) attached to its bark - pointing in the opposite direction!) We immediately changed course and thanked the tree accordingly.

The tree that 'spoke' - SY7583

We were now on the homeward stretch, but the best was yet to come. On a south facing slope full of Ragwort near Holworth we were suddenly in a world of butterflies - Meadow Browns, Blues, Painted Ladies and the best of all - a Clouded Yellow, danced round us tantalizingly.

Painted Lady - one of the many butterflies we saw in this meadow

Butterfly rich meadow near Holworth - SY7683

I'd like to say 'all too soon, we were back at the car', but that would be a lie. It was a bit of a slog and an uphill one at that, through territory we'd covered before. But it had been an amazing walk. Still, we were glad to see the welcome stile and gate and then a host of people with hand gliders, parachutes and dogs all milling around in the car park. But thankfully the silver-haired naturist was nowhere to be seen.

Paraglider and Portland - SY7582

No. of paragliders seen in the air at any one time: 7

No. of butterfly species seen: 13

No. of miles walked: 9.1

No. of trigpoints visited: 1

No. of times crossed main road: 2

No. of naked peoples seen: 1

No. of new gridsquares: 10