Want to try the new Steel Cotton Rail Trail? A 6.5-mile, two-stage walk from Chinley to Strines is the perfect “taster” section, showcasing the trail’s signature mix of history, easy walking, and sudden, rewarding climbs.
The journey begins at Chinley station. From here, the waymarked route leads you onto the Peak Forest Tramway Trail, a level, historic path where you’ll hear the “crunch of dry acorns” underfoot.
The walk is packed with highlights. You’ll pass the “once largest and busiest” Bugsworth Basin canal port, follow the “lovely” River Goyt, and explore the “very dramatic” town of New Mills, with its magnificent viaducts and steel Millennium Walkway.
The final stretch to Strines station provides the challenge. Just as you’re checking your watch for the hourly train, the “path goes up too – quite sharply.” This ascent up a green lane rewards your “bursting lungs” with “suddenly much bigger views” as the mist burns off.
This 6.5-mile adventure, perfectly bookended by train stations, is a microcosm of the entire 62-mile trail. It’s an ideal, car-free day out from Manchester, offering a fantastic blend of “work and wilderness.”
