Steel Cotton Rail Trail: Chinley to New Mills | 5 Miles
The Steel Cotton Rail Trail is a long-distance walking route linking Sheffield and Manchester, weaving together old railway lines, canal towpaths, and valley trails. What makes it especially handy is that it’s split into stages, and each stage runs from train station to train station – perfect if you’re travelling by public transport or just want to walk it in sections.
This post came about after a lovely invite from the High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership, who asked me to help spread the word about their new walking trail. I wasn’t paid to do this – I just thought it was a great idea worth sharing.
On this outing Joel, Hols and I tackled the stretch from Chinley to New Mills, a 5 mile walk that takes in the historic Bugsworth Basin and the striking Millennium Walkway – a short but scenic slice of the trail that’s easy to fit into a day out.
We decided to park at New Mills Central Station and catch the train to Chinley, and then walk back. You can do the trail either way. It cost £3.90 per adult, £1.95 per child on the train, well worth it!
Walk Highlights:
Bugsworth Basin
One of the highlights of this stage has to be Bugsworth Basin. Tucked away just outside Whaley Bridge, it’s a fascinating place to wander around and picture how busy it must have been in its heyday. Once the largest inland port on Britain’s narrow canal network, limestone was brought down here from the quarries by horse-drawn wagons and loaded onto waiting boats. These days it’s a much quieter spot, with moored narrowboats, ducks pottering about and a lovely sense of history.
Torrs Hydro
The route passes under Queens Bridge, a quirky two tier stone arch bridge, and then passes Torrs Hydro, a community-owned hydroelectric scheme that’s been generating green energy since 2008. It uses a big Archimedean screw to harness the power of the River Goyt, producing electricity that feeds back into the local grid. There is also the ruined Torr Mill, destroyed in 1912 by a fire.
Millennium Walkway
The trail then leads you to the Millennium Walkway in New Mills – a real treat at the end of the walk. This clever steel walkway clings to the side of the Torrs Gorge above the River Goyt, and it’s one of those places that makes you stop and say “wow.” It’s only a short stretch, but with the river rushing below and the dramatic rock walls rising around you, it feels really special.
This section of the route follows a mix of canal towpaths, stretches of the old Peak Forest Tramway and well-made trails through the valley, so you’re never scrambling or picking your way over rough ground. It makes the walk really gentle underfoot – perfect for families, easy-going walkers or anyone wanting a shorter day out.
The route itself is waymarked with the Steel Cotton Rail Trail Logo, but there is also a free leaflet that accompanies this stage.
You can find the whole trail details here: Steel Cotton Rail Trail
Steel Cotton Rail Trail: Chinley to New Mills
Walk Details: Chinley to New Mills Leaflet
Walk Map (Opens in OS Maps): Steel Cotton Rail Trail: Chinley to New Mills Hike
Parking: We parked in a small layby just down the hill from New Mills Central train station Station Rd, New Mills, High Peak SK22 3JB (W3W:///giraffes.breezes.submerged). The road is very narrow, and quite potholey. It cost £4 all day.
Dogs: Allowed, but must be on a short lead during nesting season and around livestock.
Facilities: Public toilets are on the corner of Green Lane and Lower Lane in Chinley. There are several shops and a café in the village centre. There are further public toilets in High Lea Park, New Mills.
Walk Time: 2-3 hours
Difficulty: ▲
Distance: 5.1 miles (8.2km)
Elevation: 125ft (38m)
Trig Points Bagged: None
Peak District Peaks Bagged: None
Peak District Ethels Bagged: None
Check out the full trail at Steel Cotton Rail Trail
