On a mild dry spring morning 17 of us met at the Smugglers Inn Osmington Mills. Under a cloudy sky we proceeded in a westerly direction along the coast path toward Weymouth. This section of the walk was a real challenge for us all due to the condition of the path after the long spells of rain we have had so far this year. After passing Osmington Bay Adventure Centre we headed north up the hill to Osmington to visit St Osmund church.

The Church is dedicated to St. Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury and founder of the first Salisbury Cathedral in the 11th century, who also introduced the Sarum Missal. The walls of the Church are of squared local rubble. The West Tower is 15th century whilst most of the remainder of the Church was rebuilt in 1846 retaining the restored chancel arch, which had been built about 1200, and in the nave a North Arcade of around 1300 from which the south arcade was copied.

We all had our picnic lunch in the grounds of St Osmund Church. The sun  broke through the clouds while we were having lunch and for the rest of the walk to Ringsted Bay and returning along the Jurassic Coast coastal path to our start point at Osmington Mills.

Osmington Mills was once a smugglers haven. Back in the 18th century the pub was run by Emmanuel Charles and was known as The Crown. He was the leader of a notorious smuggling gang that controlled this area of coastline, from Weymouth to Poole.

We ended the walk at the Smugglers Inn pub for a well earned drink.