Clays Cloggers Last amended

Clays Cloggers is a group of enthusiastic walkers from the "Clays" group of villages - not just Wheatley, but Sturton le Steeple and Bole and other places.
Members walk on circular routes throughout the year on various days of the month and in different areas. Membership is free, but a nominal charge of £1 per walk is made to cover administrative expenses. Non-members are invited to join the walks on an ad-hoc basis.

If you want to join them, or suggest suitable walks see the contact details below.

This is Sam, the mascot of Clays Cloggers.
He's a walking strawberry, and hopes to join us
in the strawberry season

Summer Schedule 2010

5^th August. A repeat of last year’s successful “Sail and Walk” event to see the Chesterfield Canal from a different perspective. We are going as far as Charlies Lock on the canal, from the Hop Pole, leaving at 10am. It takes about 2 hrs to get there then a 1 hour comfort and picnic stop + approx 2 hrs back to Hop Pole. The trip includes 5 locks. Picnic lunch. £8 per person. Booking essential – ring Eric Emmerson on 01427 880627 before 31^st July. Arrangements same as before, 12 alternating passengers on board each way. Tea and coffee available at £1.
17^th August. Annual Fish & Chip Supper at the Boardroom, Manor Farmhouse, South Wheatley. Members and partner only. Numbers limited so book early. £10 per head includes F & C plus choice of sweet, coffee and free starter drink. Bring your own plate, cutlery and glass plus your own meal drinks. Book with Ted Pasley (01427 880916) or Gwynneth Anderson (01427) 880651. Volunteers needed for set up. Usual (or unusual) entertainment.

25^th August. . Sturton-le-Steeple and Littleborough – a local ramble to appreciate the locality in summer. Meet at Sturton church at 9.00 am. If anyone wishes they can return to the Sun Inn for the pensioners’ lunch.
Phone Carol or David Houghton on (01427) 881602 before Friday August 8^th.

17^th September. With Arthur Radford to Burton on Stather.

14^th October. With Derek Turner. “The Paths of the Dukeries and some of their notorious Dukes”. Pub Lunch. Book with Derek on (01777) 702929

Other future events for your diary: on October 20^th (Derbyshire with Alan Guest and Mick Burgin to Lose Hill, Mam Tor – 9 miles with steep ascents and ridges), 17^th November (Around Wentworth with Peter Wright), 8^th December (7 to 8 miles, Blyth, Hodsock Heights, The Charity Pond and Blyth Leper Hospital). Lunch en-route. Book with Andersons (01427 886651).

Keep Walking!

21st July Arrival to farmhouse biscuits the size of dinner plates, foaming mugs of coffee and a clean convenient loo set the exquisite form for the Cloggers Walking Group Howardian Hills expedition. Verily, also, the heavens did not open as forecast during the six hour relaxed ramble of 10 miles, although the A1 was inundated during our return. Our walk covered the Howardian Hills area of outstanding natural beauty, with superb views of the plain of York and beyond, rolling hills and stately buildings of all shapes and sizes, with a history to match. A perfect full walking day, augmented by good food and even better company!

30^th June. 6 miles around Dunham and Trentside villages. Lunch at the White Swam. was a great success for the 17 members taking part. A fantastic sunny day helped of course, as did the lunch at the White Swan, Dunham bridge.

10th June saw 12 members make a circular 5-mile walk around Collingham, taking in the River Trent weir, and the local nature park.

19th May and nineteen Cloggers chose the best day of the year so far to walk 7 miles around Southery and Tupholme Abbey. Led by the Johnsons, it was an interesting flat stroll incorporating the ruins of the ancient Abbey. A good pub lunch completed a successful morning

21^st April. Pyramid-like High Wheeldon and the Scaly Dragons Back were conquered by 17 Cloggers, walking eight miles up, down and around some of the most dramatic challenges in the Peak District. Superb weather, a relaxed hillside picnic in warm sunshine, crystal clear views, excellent company with a hearty and joyful supper in a cosy old Inn on our return journey. A day to cherish. See pictures below.

Wednesday 24^th March: Teversal, Nottinghamshire. Led by Eva Collins was a walk of about 6.5 miles starting at the Teversal Trails Visitor Centre on the B6014. A good turn out of 18 Cloggers assemble at the start of March's walk around Teversal Heritage Trail near Mansfield. Led by Eva Collins we enjoyed spectacular views including Hardwick Hall followed by good food at The Hardwick Inn.

February 23rd and 18 members joined in a very scenic and interesting walk around Babworth. Led by Roy Sutcliffe we took in 6 miles of Retford Golf Club, Whisper Hills, Babworth Church, The Old A1 (with no sign of Dick Turpin). An excellent lunch at the Golf Club completed a vigorous morning.

The first event of 2010 was done in February, after weeks of cold winter weather. 24 members walked around Langold Country park in
bright winter sunshine and very sticky mud. Six weeks of enforced confinement indoors attracted a large number of walkers desperate
for some fresh air. A very pleasant lunch in The White Hart completed the morning.

Our Walk on 18 November was very well organised by Arthur Radford. and most interesting, on the West Bank of the Trent covering Dunham, Church Laneham and Cottam. A brisk pace was maintained by 9 Cloggers (we had to, or we would have drowned!!!!) followed by an excellent lunch and "drying out" in front of a real fire in the White Swan at Dunham.

On Thursday October 8^th, The Cloggers went on a trip especially designed to include “light walkers” and to provide a contrasting day of interesting and rewarding strolls.

But light walkers soon turned into heavy, with Coffee and full and ample cakes provided by the Methodist Chapel ladies who welcomed us to Cawthorne, before we ambled across to the specially opened Victorian Jubilee Museum . What a collection! An hour was not enough to cover the absolute fascination of half remembered Hair Curlers, Patent medicines, Radios, and Baking powders, contrasting with Pre-Raphaelite Art and Politicians bullet Proof Vests. Then a cross village stroll for an excellent quality lunch.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park , walking steadily around, through and into the arresting sculptures. Sometimes viewing melancholic and unwholesome exhibitions – in an outpost of the Tate Modern. An afternoon was hardly enough, but a really good outing was enjoyed by walkers and non-walkers alike.

24th September. A six miler led by Arthur and Eric again. Through the scenic vales of the Lincolnshire wolds again. 18 members enjoyed a fine day seeing the Humber Bridge, (from a distance). Ending with a good pub lunch in Caistor.

27th August. A walk close to home. 7 miles starting at Laughterton, and following the Trent river bank to Torksey. Thence though green fields and woods to the ancient village of Kettlethorpe and its historical church. Ending with lunch at the Friendship Inn for all 9 walkers.

Friday 21^st August - The Walking, Floating, Walking Picnic -
In another very happy experiment, a party of 27 Cloggers and guests joined the narrow boat Seth Ellis at Hop Pole Quay to float or alternately walk to Hayton Wharf, have a (very) long pub meal or picnic, and then alternately return. Sedate and gracious sailing, leisurely walking alongside, helping with locks, and viewing the Canal from the boat all made a very good excursion, especially for those who cannot walk distances. Some who could, walked in both directions, and those who took part are now looking forward to a similar trip next year.

Annual Dinner on 18^th August "The appetising aroma of Fish and Chips wafted across South Wheatley on the evening of Tuesday 18^th August. It was the Clays Cloggers annual Fish and Chip supper, held - with great success – in The Manor Boardroom. The innovation of a mobile Fish and Chip Van, and a pair of hearty runners, ensured a piping hot delivery for some 40 guests, who later enjoyed superb homemade puddings. It was also the occasion for the Cloggers awards for outstanding performance or service, and closed with a DVD spectacular of the groups walking exploits over past years, featuring incidents such as the naked man of Winster, the giant Bolsover Plate and many, many happy walks."

2nd July. A nine-miler, led by Eva Collins. Starting and finishing by the Trent at Fiskerton, near Southwell. Done on the hottest day of the year. A few dropped out along the way, but a very pleasurable experience in spite of the heat.

21^st May. New - and vastly interesting –were the wide hills and cliffs of the Humber Estuary. Cloggers met early lashing rain, were comforted by walkers slippers issued at Alkborough Tearoom, and then soft sunshine for a guided tour of the Church by the (Methodist) Church Warden. Thence to Julian’s Bower, seeing the Trent and Ouse form the Humber, and dramatic views of the Isle of Axholme and Sutton Bank. A 6 mile walk of surprises, assuredly led by indomitable Arthur Radford.

28^th May. A warm evening stroll around Edwinstowe gave great appreciation of this popular village and its Sherwood walking area. From the burial site of Saxon King Edwin, through idyllic Cricket, Jousting and Fair grounds, we saw quirky pubs, mucky lock ups and grand halls. Guided with research and quiet authority by Eva Collins, with relaxing supper at old Forest Lodge Inn.

17^th June. Gainsborough’s heritage of gone or remaining buildings and features were shown to 15 Cloggers in a windy and rainy November like evening. We felt for the huddled poor Danish seafarers who made home the banks of the Trent, for those drowned through drunken horse riders leaping on the Ferry, saw where a barbers Apprentice Rose invented machine wrapping, and much more. Our thanks to erudite and enthusiastic Thelma Childs, a leading local historian.

24^th June A superb Walk of nine miles around a Peak District Plateau, starting and returning to Winster, taking in SSSI wild flower meadows, abandoned lead mines with small hamlets and villages. The weather was sunny and hot, granting a classic languorous picnic, surrounded by a profusion of wild flowers and orchids. A chance encounter with a (fully) naked walker gave a lift to the final, tired descent and enlivened supper anecdotes at the deservedly popular Hardwick Inn.