Kingston - Kimmeridge, West Circular Route

As you leave the car park, do not go left through the entrance to Encombe House but carry on up the track.

Continue to bear left along the track and onto the grassy path until you go through the large metal gate and reach ridge the top of the Ridgeway. You are now at Heaven’s Gate and this is written on the small gate to your left.

Turn right here and proceed along the Ridgeway until you drop down to the road (1 mile).

Turn left here down to the junction (60 metres). Cross the road and over the stile with the finger post signposted to Kimmeridge.

Drop down the hill into Kimmeridge, taking care on the potentially slippery path at the back of the church.

Carry on down through the village with the Kimmeridge shop and café on your left. Stay on your right to the end of the houses and turn right at the finger sign into the field.

Go over the double stile in the right corner of the field (50 metres) then continue to bear left through gaps in the corner of the fields, until you meet the tarmac road (2/3 mile). On the way, you will notice the famous on-shore Nodding Donkey, oil extraction site to your right.

At the road, you can take a short detour to the Nodding Donkey, if required. If not turn left until you meet the large grassy parking area and proceed to the right-hand corner with the new Clavell’s Tower straight ahead.

Proceed straight ahead for 200 metres, past the toilets on your left to meet the tarmac road again. Turn right, down the road for 50 metres and then left, up the steps, following the finger signs for Chapman’s Pool.

At the top you will pass the new Clavell’s Tower, moved 80 feet back from the cliff edge to avoid it falling into the sea.

Follow the coast path for 1 ½ miles until meeting a stile to your left at Rope Lake Head. Go over this stile and head up to Swyre Head, taking take to keep left to follow the signs and not turn right along the track. This is quite a steep climb at the end but it is the last one and the views are worth it!

You are now at Swyre Head. Proceed straight ahead towards the wall with the woods to the left and follow the path down to the car park (2/3 mile).