Kingston is a popular little village with some fantastic views looking towards Corfe Castle.

A pretty, rural village in Purbeck with some fantastic views looking towards Corfe Castle. The village is dotted with traditional cottages built of the local Purbeck stone, a local church and a popular village pub. Around Kingston there are many farms that have been in existence since Saxon times.

Kingston means ‘King’s farm and manor’ and was indeed once owned by Saxon kings before it was finally granted to the Abbess of Shaftesbury. The Abbess also owned the mound at Corfe and William the Conqueror persuaded her to swap it for a church in Gillingham. He then built the castle on it in 1086.

There are two popular walks from Kingston: the Commoners Ways which takes you down to Corfe Castle, and Swyre Head which takes you to the highest point on the Purbeck hills; from there you’ll enjoy extensive views towards the Isle of Wight and Poole Harbour.