A new 62-mile trail in the Peak District is a victory for “car-free” travel. The Steel Cotton Rail Trail, linking Manchester and Sheffield, is meticulously designed around the rail network, making its 14 sections “really attractive” for sustainable exploration.
The “rail-pegged” system uses stations on the Hope Valley Line as start and end points for each day-length walk. This allows walkers to leave the car at home, “alight at Chinley” or another small village, and simply walk to the next station.
This design opens up “hidden gems” that are harder to access without a car. Walkers can discover the “dramatic” town of New Mills, the historic Bugsworth Basin, and the “lovely” River Goyt, all on a simple, point-to-point walk.
The trail offers “something for everyone,” from tough moorland climbs to easy, flat canal walks. It’s a “welcome” new addition that “links up nicely” with other routes like the GM Ringway.
With full waymarking and free online maps, this new trail is a model for accessible, “green” tourism. It’s a “perfect” way to explore the “post-industrial” heart of the Peak District.