The first Companion Stone is located at the start of the walk just as you walk through the gate from the car park. The stones were first installed around 2010 and they are starting to weather now.

As we head towards White Edge we can't help but notice the work that is going on ahead of us. It helped to explain the new gates and the hardcore that has been laid on the track we were walking along.

The work is to replace the wooden bridge that crossed the brook with a more substantial stone bridge. Hopefully the landscape will recover and the steps will blend in after a few months.

Looking back at the track we have followed from the climb onto White Edge. The weather looks really nice, in that direction. Just as we had been about to set out a heavy shower had made us delay the start whilst we let it pass over us and we had hoped that was the last of the day's predicted showers.

Curbar Edge from White Edge and the weather doesn't look quite as nice. A few minutes later the heavens opened and it was full waterproofs on.

After twenty to thirty minutes of rain being whipped into our faces as we walked along White Edge the rain eventually stopped. Our waterproofs had a had a good testing, mine being new passed, John's coat after 12 years is maybe due for replacing.

Although the rain had stopped the wind was still fairly strong and at times very gusty. Autumn is definetly on its way.

For the first time we get a view of Higger Tor as the clouds blow away and the sun lights up Burbage Rocks.

As we continue along the edge the clouds continue to lift and the view keeps on improving.

Although the clouds are lifting the wind continues to buffet us as we make our way along the edge.

Win Hill and Bamford Edge, from White Edge.

As we approach the end of White Edge the rain is threatening to start again.

Time to make a decision, do we trust the weathermen are correct and the weather will brighten up, or do we change our plans and make a return trip along Froggatt Edge.

First we visit the second of today's Companion Stones, which is close to the end of White Edge.

We opt to continue the walk as planned and turn along this path to start the walk across the moor.

We divert off the path to visit Lady's Cross one of the stoops found on White Edge Moor. This one doesn't have a Companion Stone.

Our route will take us across the moor towards the road and Barbrook Bridge.

We follow a clear path across the featureless Big Moor.

The path leads us towards the former Barbrook Reservoir.

Barbrook Reservoir's walls come into sight.

We had lunch sat on what would have been the walls of the reservoir.

This was the first of the two new Companion Stones I visited today. The poem refers to the fact it is located next to a road.

It is found next to this stoop on Barbrook, which from this
direction is pointing towards Sheffield.

We cross the road and the scenery changes quite drastically from moorland to woodland. Ahead of us the hill covered by woodland is Smeekley Wood.

We follow a clear track through Greaves's Piece heading for Car Road.

As we reach a clearing in the wood we get our first look at Hewetts Bank. The plan was to try and walk along the bottom of the bank but the clear track, which we opted to follow, crossed Car Lane above the public footpath we planned on using so we skirted the west, rather than the east of Foxlane Plantation.

It was a pleasant walk through the plantation but it did mean we missed out on finding two ancient crosses marked on the map.

When we reached the point where the two paths met we diverted back along the higher path to see if we could find the crosses but had no luck. Next time it might make sense to start the walk from here and follow the other path through the wood.

The second new Companion Stone is located close to the gate onto the road.

Like the previous Companion Stone it is very close to the stoop that used to guide people across the moors, long before the wood ever exisited.

A long section of road walking follows, but now the clouds have lifted we get to enjoy the views across and beyond Leash Fen.

We save ourselves some road walking by cutting across the edge of Big Moor and opt for a break before we head across Jack Flat.

We pass the final Companion Stone of the day on Jack Flat.

We reach Wellington's Monument without passing any cattle, which is very strange as they are normally a permanent fixture on Jack Flat.

From here we have great view of the Derwent Valley and Chatsworth.

We opt to walk between the rocks on Baslow Edge and get this view across to White Edge.

As we walk along Baslow Edge we keep an eye on the clouds in the hope the sun will catch Curbar Edge just as it is currently catching the distant Bamford Edge.

It might not look it but the wind has really picked up and the only way to hold the camera still is to hide behind a rock. One advantage of the wind is we don't have to wait long for the sun to catch the rocks, but you have to be quick or it is soon gone.

We don't hang around for too long even though the light keeps changing, here it is lighting up Baslow Edge just ahead of us.

As we approach the car park the clouds finally seem to be disappearing.

 

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