Ringstead itself is about 7 miles from both Weymouth and Dorchester, separated from the main A353 by a steep hill and a private road. Much of the surrounding farmland is owned by the National Trust, and the whole bay is now included in a recently declared World Heritage Site. But even at the height of summer it rarely feels crowded as visitors have to pay a toll (not ours) for use of the road and those that do visit seem to disperse along the wide sweep of Holworth beach or into the undercliff of White Nothe.