Encombe House

Encombe House near Corfe Castle is a historic country house in Dorset, tucked into a wooded valley less than a mile from the Jurassic Coast. It is privately owned and closed to visitors, yet the surrounding countryside is among the most rewarding walking ground in southern England.

What is Encombe House?

The house is listed Grade II*, a category reserved for particularly important buildings nationwide. Sources date its core to the 1600s. Between 1740 and 1770 it was remodelled and extended for John Pitt by an architect whose name is not recorded; the result echoes Vanbrugh, with two storeys plus an attic, ashlar walls and hipped slate roofs. A fire in 1811 led to interior rebuilding. Around 1870 Anthony Salvin enlarged it for the 3rd Earl of Eldon and moved the main entrance from the south front to the north.

Who owned the estate?

The Eldon family held Encombe from the early 19th century until the trustees sold it in 2002. It has been a private estate since. The stables and attached cottages nearby are listed separately at Grade II; they were built for the 2nd Earl of Eldon on the site of Pitt's earlier stables.

What is there to see in the park and valley?

The parkland is also Grade II*, on Historic England's Register of Parks and Gardens, and covers roughly 326 hectares. A stream runs down the valley from the house to the sea, and a cone-shaped hill called the Golden Bowl rises to the south-west. The registered area includes the rocky headland of Egmont Point, which looks across to Chapman's Pool. The gardens close to the house were redesigned by Tom Stuart-Smith.

How can you see Encombe if the house is private?

You cannot enter the house or gardens. The best approach is a walk from Kingston, starting at the car park beside the carriage drive into the estate. The route climbs through woodland, passes the house and the Golden Bowl, and reaches Houns Tout, where it joins the coast path. One stretch of that path was re-routed around a landslip. The circuit is about 7 km, or 8.5 km if you add the beach. Stay on waymarked public paths and respect the private land.

When should you go?

Walking is possible all year, but spring to early autumn is the most comfortable, with drier paths. After rain the valley and the descents toward the coast turn muddy, and landslips occur on this coastline, so wear sturdy footwear.

Frequently asked questions

Can I visit Encombe House?

No. It is a private residence and is not open to the public. You can explore the surroundings from public rights of way.

What heritage status does it have?

The house is Grade II* listed, and the park holds Grade II* status on the Register of Parks and Gardens.

Where does the walk start?

In the village of Kingston, at the car park next to the estate's carriage drive. The route heads for Houns Tout and then follows the coast path.

Is Encombe right on the sea?

The house stands about a mile (1.6 km) inland from the Jurassic Coast, but the estate extends to the shore, and the valley opens toward the cliffs.