Following in the footsteps of smugglers

One of our favourite coast path walks is from Osmington Mills to Ringstead, especially when the clouds chasing across the sky constantly change the colour of the sea below from aqua to blue and all shades in between.





The relic of a Second World War look out is a reminder that once this was not such a peaceful place, luckily the only ones now looking out to sea are the cows and walkers!


The path enters a pretty wooded valley and the chance to take a turning on to the beach.









The walk then goes through the woods to Spring Bottom before turning back towards Osmington Mills. This area was a popular haunt for Smugglers in days gone by, like most of the South coast and you may have met "Gentlemen of the night", if you had travelled along these lanes after dark.
At the end of the 18th century the Smugglers Inn at Osmington Mills was the headquarters of Pierre La Tour, the notorious French smuggler. The landlord of the inn was his agent. Despite the customs men having five cutters (boats) based in Weymouth they failed to catch him. Pierre made his fortune, married the landlords's daughter and returned to France where he became a respected citizen.





On the wall of the outside of the pub is part of the Smuggler song written by Rudyard Kipling, below is it reproduced in full :-


IF you wake at midnight, and hear a horse's feet,
Don't go drawing back the blind, or looking in the street,
Them that ask no questions isn't told a lie.
Watch the wall my darling while the Gentlemen go by. 

Five and twenty ponies, 
Trotting through the dark -
 Brandy for the Parson, 'Baccy for the Clerk.
Laces for a lady; letters for a spy,
Watch the wall my darling while the Gentlemen go by! 

Running round the woodlump if you chance to find
 Little barrels,roped and tarred, all full of brandy-wine,
Don't you shout to come and look, nor use 'em for your play.
Put the brishwood back again - and they'll be gone next day ! 

If you see the stable-door setting open wide;
If you see a tired horse lying down inside;
If your mother mends a coat cut about and tore;
If the lining's wet and warm - don't you ask no more ! 

If you meet King George's men, dressed in blue and red,
You be careful what you say, and mindful what is said.
If they call you " pretty maid," and chuck you 'neath the chin,
Don't you tell where no one is, nor yet where no one's been ! 

Knocks and footsteps round the house - whistles after dark -
You've no call for running out till the house-dogs bark
.Trusty's here, and Pincher's here, and see how dumb they lie
They don't fret to follow when the Gentlemen go by ! 

'If You do as you've been told, 'likely there's a chance,
You'll be give a dainty doll, all the way from France,
With a cap of Valenciennes, and a velvet hood - 
A present from the Gentlemen, along 'o being good ! 

Five and twenty ponies,
 Trotting through the dark -
 Brandy for the Parson,'Baccy for the Clerk.
Them that asks no questions isn't told a lie -
Watch the wall my darling while the Gentlemen go by ! 
Written by Rudyard Kipling

Wishing you all a good week , I am taking a blog break for a  few days. See you soon.
Sarah x

Comments

  1. What a wonderful way to say good-bye for a while; I love each path you take us on my friend, by the sea and within. That poem is worthy of many reads and discussions. How magnificent to start my Sunday with you! Anita

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  2. Ah, a beautiful walk, beautiful photo's, beautiful song. Enjoy your week, groetjes, Gerda

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  3. Love the way you've captured the movement of clouds in your photos. Enjoy your little break. Claire xo

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  4. How beautiful. What a blessing to live in such an amazing place. Thank you for sharing. Have a nice week too. : )
    God Bless,
    Bobbie Lynn

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  5. What an amazing foot path to follow.
    You have so much rich history in the UK, I love reading everything that anyone has to write about it!
    I especially love your photo of the stairs where the tree roots are...beautiful.
    Tammy x

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  6. It looks like a wonderful walk! You live in a very beautiful place and seem to get out and enjoy it often. The story about La Tour certainly goes against the expression "crime doesn't pay." :-)

    Enjoy your blogging break!

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  7. Lovely photos as always Sarah- that pub looks gorgeous and I loved the story about Pierre. Very romantic! Enjoy your blogging break x

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  8. I love your photos! Thank you for taking me on this tour!

    by the way, one of your photos is amazingly similar to a painting I just finished - did you see it? http://designdreamsbyanne.blogspot.ca/2013/07/supreme-bliss-unending-joy.html

    Have a wonderful day!

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  9. I enjoyed the walk and the catchy tune. Thank you for bringing us along. XD

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  10. What a lovely walk Sarah, and thank you for the history lesson as well. It's always nice to hear about different parts of the country. Have a lovely break. Sharon

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  11. that`s a first for me Sarah on blogger a great picture of surfers

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  12. Dear Sarah,

    You have so many beautiful walks on your doorstep! The inn looks quaint and the surfing very impressive!

    Happy new week!

    Madelief x

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  13. Thanks for taking me on your walk and for the storytelling too! :) x

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  14. Such a beautiful stretch of coast! I'm itching for a paddle in the sea now after seeing your beach pic :)

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  15. What a lovely walk Sarah. I couldn't help noticing in your first photo of the cows, that one of them is a bull (it's the farmer's daughter in me!)he looks like he was too busy with other things to notice the view!! Enjoy your break, Sally x

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    1. I didn't notice the bull, I'm glad we didn't go in the field!
      Sarah x

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  16. That's a lovely walk Sarah and I like the line in the poem 'You've no call for running out until the house dogs bark' wonderful Rudyard Kipling!

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  17. Beautiful shores! I'm sure my husband would love to live in a place like that.

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  18. Absolutely stunning scenery. Just lovely x

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  19. How lovely to have such a beautiful walk so near to youxx

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  20. I do enjoy your coastal walks, lovely photos as always.

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  21. I really enjoyed that poem - thank you for sharing! And the picture of the green steps leading up to the tree just took my breath away!

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  22. Thanks again for making the time to post, Sarah! The history of the area that you told us about reminded me of how surprised I was when I discovered the the beautiful, peaceful coast of northern CA and southern OR that I enjoyed living along for seven years, had been touched by World War II. It somehow helps me appreciate the peace and beauty I experienced there even more! Have a Happy Blog Break :)
    Gracie xx

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  23. That is a walk that I would love to take as you pass so many types of scenery on it, and the welcome pub at the end for refreshment. Thank you for posting the Kipling poem in its entirety as it brought back memories of teaching and reading it to my class - along with reading them Moonfleet about smugglers. Isn't that book from your neck of the woods too?

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    1. Yes Moonfleet is based around here too, and a favourite book of mine. I will be showing some pictures about it at some point1
      Sarah x

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  24. Looks like you had another great walk, such a pretty area.

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  25. I love all the little jaunts you take me on through the English countryside.

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  26. Another beautiful walk with the sea close by. Hope you enjoy your time away from blogland.

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  27. Beautiful photos and I loved the story about the smugglers. I can just imagine the 'gentlemen of the night' arriving in the coves and then travelling along the lane after dark. The pub looks largely unchanged, too. I remember some of the Kipling poem from childhood, so I enjoyed reading it in full again.

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  28. This walk has everything a person could need....the sea, pastures, cows, woods and pretty little buildings! You are one lucky gal to have all this beauty around you! X

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