Walkable History: New Trail Links ‘Steel City’ and ‘Cottonopolis’

A new 62-mile walking trail is bringing the “Steel City” and “Cottonopolis” together, offering a 14-section journey through the “post-industrial” heritage of the Peak District. The Steel Cotton Rail Trail is now open, inviting explorers to walk through history.
This 100km route is a “heritage trail” at its core. It follows the 1796 Peak Forest Tramway, a route once plied by horse-drawn, gravity-powered vehicles carrying limestone. It also showcases the “canal mania” era at Bugsworth Basin, the only intact inland port from that time.
The 14 day-length sections are all linked by rail stations, making it incredibly easy to explore this history. Walkers can discover the dramatic viaducts of New Mills, pass the long-running Torr Vale Mill, and stroll through nature reserves that were once landfill sites and gasworks.
The trail is designed for all. “Urban explorers” will love the city-end sections, “summit fiends” can tackle the high moors, and families can enjoy level canal paths. It’s a route that truly “brings together elements of the land and the heritage.”
This new, well-marked path is a fantastic addition to the North’s walking network. It’s a chance to discover the “charming and eye-calming” landscapes that powered an empire, all just a train ride away.