With a local history of Smuggling stretching back to the 14th Century, there are certainly a lot of historical connections to Weymouth, Portland, and the surrounding area.

The famous novel “Moonfleet” was written at the end of the 19th Century by John Meade-Falkner, and was set in the small village of East Fleet, on the banks of the Fleet Lagoon – the perfect setting for smuggling operations, far from the interfering Coastguard and Revenue Officers.

We can organise private evening tours from outside the Nothe Tavern on Barrack Road, near the site of the Coastguard Cottages on Weekday Evenings, starting after 7pm.

Come and join us for a fascinating insight into the past with the “Free Traders” and learn about the history behind this great story of 18th Century smuggling on the Dorset coast!