‘Steel Cotton’ Trail: 14 Walks, One ‘Eye-Calming’ Landscape

A new 62-mile trail is offering an “eye-calming” escape from the cities of Manchester and Sheffield. The Steel Cotton Rail Trail is a 14-section route through a “charming” and “post-industrial” part of the Peak District, designed for easy, “rail-pegged” access.
This “bit of an unknown” region, south-east of Manchester, is a world of green, narrowing valleys. It’s a landscape where “everything turns green,” offering a perfect antidote to the “built-up” conurbations at either end.
The trail is broken into 14 day-friendly walks, allowing visitors to choose their perfect “eye-calming” experience. You can opt for a “mellow, easy walk” along the “lovely” River Goyt or a “ruminating” amble on the historic Peak Forest Tramway.
Even the trail’s “post-industrial” elements add to its charm. The route celebrates the blend of “work and wilderness,” inviting walkers to appreciate the “golds, reds and ochres of leaf litter” against a backdrop of rich history.
This new, well-marked trail is an “almost perfect” way to de-stress and enjoy the “magical moods” of the autumn season. It’s a fantastic, accessible way to find a moment of peace in a beautiful landscape.