A new 62-mile walking trail is inviting residents of Manchester to discover the “charming and eye-calming landscape” on their doorstep. The Steel Cotton Rail Trail runs from the city to Sheffield, opening up a “bit of an unknown” region for many.
This area, between the city and the High Peak, is not quite national park territory but is nonetheless beautiful. It’s a post-industrial region of green, narrowing valleys, misty autumn days, and rich history. It’s the landscape the original Kinder Scout trespassers would have passed through.
The new trail is split into 14 day-walks, all linked by railway stations. This makes it incredibly easy for people to escape the built-up city. A short train ride from Piccadilly can drop you in a small village like Chinley, ready to walk through a world “grey-filtered but for the glow of dead leaves.”
The route highlights the area’s heritage, from the 1796 Peak Forest Tramway to the historic Bugsworth Basin. It also showcases dramatic natural and man-made features, like the gorges and viaducts of New Mills.
This new, well-marked trail is a fantastic way to explore. It links up with the GM Ringway, encouraging Mancunians to venture further and discover the beauty and history of this “post-industrial” countryside that’s just a train ride away.