The new 62-mile Steel Cotton Rail Trail is not just a walk between two cities; it’s a journey through some of the most dramatic and surprising landscapes the Peak District has to offer. This rail-linked route from Manchester to Sheffield is packed with visual and historical highlights.
One of the standout locations along the trail is the town of New Mills. Here, walkers will find a dramatic constellation of magnificent stone viaducts, vertiginous gorges, and the powerful rush of fast-flowing water. The route also features the impressive steel Millennium Walkway, offering stunning views.
The trail also immerses walkers in the “canal mania” of the 18th and 19th centuries. A key stop is Bugsworth Basin, once the largest and busiest inland port on the canal system. Walkers can explore this wonderfully preserved site and imagine the 2,000 canal boats per year that were filled with limestone here.
The route guides adventurers along the old Peak Forest Tramway Trail, a path once used by horse-drawn vehicles, and follows the pastoral River Goyt as it threads its way through the landscape. This section, part of the Goyt Way, is a mellow and easy walk suitable for most.
Broken into 14 manageable, station-to-station legs, this new trail is an accessible way to discover these engineering marvels and natural wonders. It’s a perfect autumn adventure, blending industrial history with the beauty of reclaimed nature reserves and peaceful woodlands.