Reading & Libraries
Inspire Poetry Festival 2026 - Desert Island Poems: Paul Farley in Conversation with Clare Brown
An evening of poetry, as acclaimed poet Paul Farley shares his desert island poems in conversation …
Emma’s Story
This two and half mile walk starts and ends at the Vicar Water Country Park car park, near to the Visitors Centre and Rumbles café. Walking alongside the duck pond we ascend to the top of the hill overlooking the headstocks. We walk along this ridge, passing through two viewing points, before crossing Beard’s Meadow and descending via a steep path to Vicar Pond. From here we follow the water and the fishing pitches back to the car park, ending (if open) at Rumbles café.
Our guide for this walk is Emma, who, having gathered stories for objects at the Clipstone Car Boot Sale, is trying to understand the forces that have shaped this landscape and a place that she has a complicated relationship with. Alongside her story we hear from those who work on the site as shepherds, bailiffs and cooks.
There are a total of 16 tracks on this walk, with regular stops along the way. There are also sections when the audio is playing as you walk. It should take you between two and two and a half hours to complete Emma’s story.
The stops are:
Track 1 - Emma's Story (Clipstone)
To be listened to at the Visitor Centre car park
Track 2 - Emma's Story - Clipstone
To be listened to at the viewing station at the Duck Pond
Track 3 - Emma's Story (Clipstone)
To be listened to at the wooden post at the bottom of the hill
Track 4: Emma's Story - Clipstone
Bench overlooking the Headstocks
Track 4: Emma's Story - Clipstone
To be listened to at the butterfly interpretation panel
Track 6: Emma's Story - Clipstone
To be listened to at the bench overlooking the Forest
Track 7: Emma's Story - Clipstone
To be listened to at the gate by Bower Hill Heath
Track 8: Emma's Story - Clipstone
To be listened to at the top of the hill looking onto Clipstone
Track 9: Emma's Story - Clipstone
To be listened to at the bench overlooking the Forest
Track 10: Emma's Story - Clipstone
To be listened to at the Vicar Water viewing station
Track 11: Emma's Story - Clipstone
To be listened to at the butterfly interpretation panel
Track 12: Emma's Story - Clipstone
To be listened to at the bench before the steep descent
Track 13: Emma's Story - Clipstone
To be listened to at the bench by the style coming out onto Vicar Pond
Track 14: Emma's Story - Clipstone
To be listened to at the bench by the fishing pitches
Track 15: Emma's Story - Clipstone
To be listened to at the path along Vicar Pond
Track 16: Emma's Story - Clipstone
To be listened to at Rumbles cafe
‘Emma’s Story’ was written by Andy Barrett and read by Emma Rayner, with Kev Fegan, Quentin Rayner and Andy Barrett. It was recorded by Phil Booth at J.T. Soar and the sound design was by Adam P McCready.
Thanks to those whose voices are included; to Ian Collinson for his work on the project; to everyone who shared their stories; and to all those who helped with the research for this walk.
