Sunday 17 August 2014

Kingston - Houns Tout - Chapman's Pool


View towards Corfe Castle

We started this walk with Will and Jo at the Scott Arms pub in Kingston. Above is the excellent view from the back of the pub to Corfe Castle, with Poole Harbour visible in the background.

We headed west past St James church, built by G E Street for the 3rd Earl of Eldon  between 1873 and 1880. Pevsner thinks this is Street's "grandest" church. The tower is a landmark from miles around. This view highlights the delightful tourelle on the short north transept.


We turned left off the road to follow a path through the trees signposted to Houns Tout. You emerge out of the wood to a fantastic view west over the Golden Bowl.


We walked along the other side of the Bowl before on the way back from Swyre Head to Kingston when we did the Chapman's Pool to Rope Lake Head section of the Coast Path, back in the days when we still doing it as circular walks.

Further along the path it was possible to get a partial view of the elusive Encome House. This 18th century mansion was altered in 1871-4 by Antony Salvin.


As we reached Houns Tout there was a great view west along the coast.


We headed east towards Chapman's Pool blown along by a fierce wind and soon enjoyed a fine view over it across towards St Aldheim's Head.



As we descended there was a fine view inland towards what seems to be called West Hill.


We followed it round to the right along the unimaginatively named Hill Bottom and then headed uphill back to Kingston. I took one last photo of this pretty Victorian water pump.


Conditions: cool and cloudy with the threat of rain.

Distance: 4.5 miles.

From: Walking the east Jurassic Coast by Robert Westwood (Coastal Publishing).

Map: Explorer OL15 (Purbeck and South Dorset).

Rating: 4 stars.

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