The new 62-mile Steel Cotton Rail Trail is a “welcome” new addition for Manchester residents. This 14-section path to Sheffield opens up the “charming and eye-calming landscape” to the city’s south-east, a “bit of an unknown” region for many.
The trail “will be welcome in Manchester” because it “links up nicely” with the city’s own 200-mile orbital GM Ringway, creating a vast, interconnected walking network that’s easily accessible.
The “rail-pegged” design is perfect for city dwellers. You can take a train from Piccadilly, “alight at Chinley” or Marple, and in minutes be in a “green” world of narrowing valleys and “post-industrial” charm.
The trail offers a “something for everyone” menu of walks. Choose from “metropolitan mooches,” tough moorland hikes, or “mellow, easy” walks along the River Goyt.
This new, well-marked trail is a “perfect autumn amble.” It’s a fantastic new way for Mancunians to escape the “built-up” city and explore the “magical moods” of the heritage-rich countryside on their doorstep.