PURBECK-2000 - A Virtual Gateway to the Isle of Purbeck

Kingston, Houn's Tout and Chapman's Pool


The hamlet of Kingston which is part of Corfe Castle Parish is dominated by St James Church. Its size is almost that of a cathedral and is disproportionate to this village of a hundred or so houses.

The Scott Armas in KingstonVisitors come, mainly, with the intention of visiting the well-known local pub – The Scott Arms – whose main claim to fame would probably be the fine view it affords of Corfe Castle in the near distance. Another claim of the pub is its ghost – a lady, it is said, who opens doors mysteriously much to the annoyance of the cleaning staff.

To get to Kingston requires quite a pedal so get into a low gear and be prepared to push in parts. The effort is worthwhile if only for the view of the castle we have already mentioned but also the village is the gateway to a walk out to Houns Tout which lies along the coastal path and in turn gives access to Chapman's Pool.

The view from Houn's Tout towards KimmeridgeTo get out to Houns Tout at the top of the hill turn right and go past the pub on your right and the church on your left. One hundred yards or so further on turn off to the left.  Don't be intimidated by the private property notices for the Encombe Estate – the walk to the cliff is public access for all to enjoy.

Houns Tout is about three quarters of a mile away. Go along the path closing the three gates behind you until you arrive at the coast. There is a bench you can sit on far away from anywhere. In the summer the sea will generally be calm but in the winter it can be wild. This is the site of the wreck of the steamship Treveal Chapman's Pool viewed from Houn's Toutwhich went down in 1920 with only seven survivors. The irony was that the ship, split in two halves, floated for days and would have kept the crew safe. To the right you will see Clavel's Tower at Kimmeridge and from there beyond. To the left go over the brow of the hill and down to Chapman's Pool. Away up above you and in the distance you can just see St Aldelms Chapel on the cliff above Winspit.


St Adelms Chapel


The View from Houn's Tout
Chapman's Pool