The new 62-mile Steel Cotton Rail Trail is a major new link in the North’s walking network, creating a direct, waymarked path from Sheffield to Manchester’s 200-mile orbital GM Ringway.
This 14-section, “rail-pegged” trail is a “welcome” addition for walkers in both cities. It “links up nicely” with the GM Ringway, allowing for extended, multi-stage journeys that are all accessible by public transport.
The trail itself is a journey through the “post-industrial” Peak District. It tempts Sheffielders “beyond the obvious Edale-Kinder Scout hikes” and shows Mancunians the “charming and eye-calming landscape” to their south-east.
The 14 day-friendly sections offer “something for everyone,” from “summit fiends” to “urban explorers.” Highlights include the historic Bugsworth Basin, the 1796 Peak Forest Tramway, and the “dramatic” town of New Mills.
This new, well-marked route is a significant piece of infrastructure, knitting together the region’s paths and cities. It’s a fantastic new way to explore the heritage and nature between “Steel City” and “Cottonopolis.”