WALK No. 10.

Ringstead and Weymouth Bay.
Ringstead is about midway between Weymouth and Lulworth. The crucial point in getting there is to find the turnoff point from the main road.(G.R.740834) If coming from Weymouth leave by the A353, then turn off right about a mile beyond Osmington. If coming from Dorchester or Wareham directions, go by A352 to Warmwell Cross, then take A353 for Weymouth. Through Poxwell, then you soon come to a very sharp right turn. Past this then in about 200 yds turn left (S.P. Ringstead). Its a very acute hairpin! Follow this road past a few houses, then swing left, and go uphill. Shortly before reaching the top turn right (S.P.Ringstead Beach). Continue along this road to reach carpark and ministore. (Note : The many 'sleeping policemen' on this bit of road are quite big bumps).
To start the walk go past the store then left on to gravel road behind row of houses. You are now on the Coastal Path. Past the houses and caravans, and the road becomes a path climbing up into woods. As you come out into more open space join a narrow tarred lane, still uphill, passing St. Catherines Chapel (Just a wooden hut). If you need a rest there are some nice wooden seats overlooking the sea in front of the chapel. A little further on and the Coastal Path directions go straight ahead, but you stay on the road (S.P.Holworth),continuing uphill, and gradually swinging left to head in a northerly direction.
At the top pass the entrance to New Barn Farm. The road is now gravel, and swings left for a few yards, then sharp right to head roughly north again.(G.R. 764820) Continue on this road for about a mile, then downhill to go through North Holworth Farm. Pass a duckpond on your left, then immediately turn left through waymarked gate.Head uphill joining a rather vague track which goes just to the right of a small, dense copse. The track swings to the right and you pick up a fence to your left. Head north to small waymarked steel gate. Go through the gate then past a waymarked post., and head uphill following direction of the arrow.
At the top of the hill, slightly to your left, go through steel gate and turn sharp left, keeping by the hedge. As you get to the top into large field aim for a tumulus. By the tumulus is a trig point, but this is largely hidden from view until you reach the tumulus.Continue past the tumulus swinging a little to the left to leave the top of the ridge,and head for the corner of the field (no obvious paths here) to a tatty rusty gate held up by barbed wire. Now turn west, pass a steel gate to your right, keeping close to fence on your right,then leave field by scaling horizontal wooden poles. Now continue due west, picking up what is first a rather vague track, which becomes more definite as you head down into a wood.The next bit can be very muddy. You come out on to a main road where you turn left for a few yards to reach a sharp right turn. Walk far enough to see any traffic coming from Weymouth, then cross at the apex of the corner to go uphill through steel gate(S.P.Bridleway).
Head on uphill through shallow gully, then as it opens out join grassy track which passes to the left of a single windblown tree. Over the top of the ridge then a bit to the left as you go down through yet another gate. A little way beyond the gate turn left on to chalky track (S.P. Osmington), opposite Pixon barn. First uphill then down to come out in Osmington village. On reaching the road turn left into Chapel Lane (S.P. Osmington Mills). Shortly reach the main road where you turn left, and when the path stops cross over by the Dairy Farm entrance. Continue a short distance by the main road, then right to cross wooden bridge (all rather overgrown) and then over stile.(G.R.727829). Head uphill keeping to the left, to next stile. You are now on the last part of the inland coastal path and it is well waymarked all the way to Ringstead.
Over the next stile then head downhill to stile and gate set in hedge. Over stile then keep left by hedge to go over another stile at the bottom of the field. Now down a narrow dark path with overhanging branches to come out on to road where you turn right. At the end of the road go down the steps to the front of the pub, then round the left hand corner, pass in front of some cottages and up over another stile. Head straight ahead to the next stile, halfway up the hill, then follow a clear path all the way to Ringstead, about a mile further on.

White Nothe Headland from Ringstead
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