A walk on the new 62-mile Steel Cotton Rail Trail is an experience of “classic northern autumn” weather. This 14-section route between Manchester and Sheffield showcases the “magical moods” of the season, from “low clouds, mizzle and mist” to sudden, glorious vistas.
You might start your walk in a “grey-filtered” world, with the “glow of dead leaves” providing the only colour. But the trail’s variety means the weather can change with the altitude.
One 6.5-mile section from Chinley to Strines is a perfect example. After miles of level walking along the river, the path “goes up too – quite sharply.” As you ascend the green lane, the “mist had burned off” to reveal “suddenly much bigger views.”
This mix of experiences is what makes the trail special. The 14 rail-linked sections allow you to choose your challenge, from a misty, “eye-calming” amble along the Peak Forest Tramway to a lung-bursting climb for those rewarding views.
This new, well-marked trail is an “almost perfect” way to enjoy the season. It’s an invitation to embrace the northern weather and discover the “post-industrial” charm of the Peak District.
