|
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.
Visitors 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.
To 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 which
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.
|