Chapman's Pool

A cove with no road

Chapman’s Pool is a small cove west of Worth Matravers, on the Isle of Purbeck. No road reaches it. The South West Coast Path describes it as a wild beach where a stream joins the sea from a ravine cut through high cliffs. The rock around the bowl of the cove is Kimmeridge Clay shale, full of fossils, with Portland limestone in the cliffs above. A lifeboat station was built here in the 1860s but closed after a short time, partly because of landslips. The old lifeboat building still stands, and fishermen now use it for storage.

Getting there

The nearest car park is Renscombe car park in Worth Matravers. The walk down takes about half an hour by several sections of steep steps, and the path can be muddy and slippery after rain, so a dry day is best. Houns Tout car park is the other starting point, and a hilly 3.5-mile circular route from it gives views of the cove. See the Visit Swanage guide to Chapman’s Pool for route detail.

On the way down, a short detour of about ten minutes leads to the Royal Marines Commando Memorial on Emmetts Hill, which overlooks the cove.

Fossils and cliff safety

The cove is a known place for ammonites, nodules, shells and Upper Jurassic reptile remains. Hammering is prohibited as well as dangerous. Keep away from cliff edges, because loose rocks and shale can fall and landslips occur.

Swimming

Chapman’s Pool is a wild swimming and snorkelling spot, but it is not recommended for novice swimmers or children. There are no lifeguards, rocky ledges can be slippery underfoot, and mobile signal may be poor. Kimmeridge Bay, to the west, has its own page: Kimmeridge Bay.

Tides and the coast path

Egmont Bight, on the next stretch of coast, can be reached only at low tide by scrambling over the rocks of Egmont Point. Walking along that bay is not advised, because you risk being cut off by the tide. Check the tide times if you plan to go further along the shore.

Facilities

There are none at the beach. The nearest are in Worth Matravers.