Osmington

Osmington is a village 4 miles north-east of Weymouth. Its civil parish had 586 residents at the 2021 census and also takes in Osmington Mills, Ringstead and Upton. The village itself is centred on St Osmund’s Church, first built in 1170.

The Osmington White Horse is cut into the hill above, a figure of King George III dating from 1808. John Constable spent part of his honeymoon here in 1816, staying at the vicarage, and painted the surrounding country. A circular walk of about 7 miles from the Smugglers Inn climbs to the White Horse.

The coast is at Osmington Mills, where the 13th-century thatched Smugglers Inn stands beside the sea with a terrace garden and views to the Isle of Portland. It gives direct access to the South West Coast Path.

Ringstead Bay lies east of Osmington Mills along the coast path. It has a pebble and shingle beach with some sand, and the headland of White Nothe at its eastern end. The National Trust manages the bay, and its inland car park is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the sea. Following the path further east leads to Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. In the other direction, Weymouth is the nearest town, about 5 miles west of Ringstead Bay.