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This short circular walk from Kingston takes you around Hounds Tout for stunning views of Chapman’s Pool.
Chapman’s Pool is a remote, perfectly rounded cove on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset. This short, easy-to-follow circular walk takes you up the towering cliff called Houns Tout for one of the best views of the pool.
Along the way, explore the charming woodlands of the Encombe Estate – bursting with bluebells in spring – and the small village of Kingston with its beautiful Victorian church.
Want to make this a pub walk? You can start and end at the Scott Arms in Kingston, rather than the car park.
NOTE: This walk doesn’t go down into Chapman’s Pool. If you want to visit the beach, you need to detour inland, which takes roughly one mile each way. Click here for our extended route guide.
Hounstout and Chapman’s Pool Walk: Details and Map
Distance: 3.5 Miles*
Time: 2 – 2.5 hours
Elevation Gain: 686 ft
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Accessibility: There are two sets of stairs and several stiles.
Terrain: Gravel, grass, dirt path, shingle beach
Parking: Hounstout Car Park, Kingston (free) – click here for location. There’s also limited road parking in Kingston Village, or you may park in the Scott Arms pub if you will be drinking/dining there after your walk.
*There is a longer route which includes a detour to the beach, roughly 1 mile each way. Click here for the route guide.
To make following this walk easier, feel free to use my GPS trail route on Wikiloc. It’s a free app where people can share hiking routes! You’ll probably still find my instructions below helpful, though.
Hounstout & Chapman’s Pool 3.5-Mile Circular Walk Route
Starting Point: Houns Tout Car Park, 28 West St, Kingston, BH20 5LL (click here for the Google Maps location)
Step 1: Walk through Encombe Woods
From the back of the carpark, take the footpath through the woodlands of the Encombe Estate (signposted for Houns Tout). The path runs gently uphill through the woodlands and is reasonably well signposted.
When this path reaches a junction (with a road visible to your right), take the left turn, ignoring the second left to continue south towards the Coast Path. (Shortly after the junction, a wooden signpost will confirm you’re on the right track).
The path leaves the woods via a wooden gate and leads out onto the top of a grassy ridge. To your right is a stunning view of the wide valley, with Encombe House just visible amongst the trees.
Follow the path along the top of the ridge as it curves slightly left (affording your first glimpse of the sea), then straightens out with the gentle climb towards Houns Tout ahead of you. Once you’re around that first left curve, you’ll have a better view of Encombe House.
Step 2: Climb to Houns Tout
Stay on the ridge-top path (with a low dry stone wall to your left), passing through a wooden gate about halfway. Eventually, you’ll reach a wooden stile where the footpath connects with the South West Coast Path. Pause a moment here to enjoy the incredible views west towards Kimmeridge – look out for Clavell Tower on a low clifftop in the distance. On a clear day, you should be able to see Worbarrow Tout, near Tyneham (there’s another lovely walk here for another day).
Turn left to follow the Coast Path as it curves around the edge of Houns Tout (with the sharp cliff edge on your right and a fenced-off field on your left). Looking ahead, you can see the impressive cliffs of St Aldhelm’s Head, topped with a tiny Norman chapel. After the path curves a little left, you will catch your first glimpse of the perfectly rounded cove of Chapman’s Pool below.
Step 3: Descend into the valley
Follow the path all the way around the clifftop until you reach a wooden stile. Once over it, turn left to follow the coast path (the way is signposted for Chapman’s Pool). Head right before descending for another great view of Chapman’s Pool.
The gravel path descends sharply downhill until you reach a metal kissing gate. Again, follow the signpost for Chapman’s Pool, taking the well-worn grass path through the field across the bottom of the valley and over a wooden stile.
Step 4: Return to Kingston
When you connect with the tarmac path on the other side of the valley, turn left (signposted Kingston). If you want to visit the beach before leaving, you will need to detour inland following the Coast Path. It’s roughly one mile each way, – see our route guide for more details.
Stay on this path all the way back uphill through the valley, until you cross a wooden stile to connect onto South Street. This quiet country lane continues to slope gently uphill along the edge of the Encombe Estate woodlands. Follow it up to the village of Kingston, passing St James’s Church on your left – a pretty, Victorian church nicknamed “The Cathedral of Purbeck”.
Turn left onto West Street and follow it up through the small village to return to Houns Tout Car Park. If you’re in need of refreshment, I highly recommend the Scott Arms pub which you’ll pass en route to the car park. The large beer garden here has incredible views of Corfe Castle and the rolling Purbeck Hills.
