The Steel Cotton Rail Trail is a new station-to-station walking trail from Sheffield to Manchester.
It was launched on 27 September.
Created by the High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership and the South East Manchester Community Rail Partnership, the Steel Cotton Rail Trail allows walkers to explore the Peak District and canals from Sheffield to Manchester along the Hope Valley railway line, discovering the area’s industrial past along the way.
Helen Wright, from the High Peak and Hope Valley CRP said: “We are so pleased to be able to bring this project to life. The idea was initiated by the Chair of Friends of Bamford Station, volunteer John Stubbs. The route follows existing tracks, paths and trails through beautiful countryside and will hopefully encourage lots of people to visit the Peak District by train and leave their cars at home.”
In the first half of the 20th Century, Sheffield’s steel workers and Manchester’s cotton mill workers escaped their polluted cities to reach the clean air of the Peak District. They travelled by train on the Hope Valley line. The Hope Valley line still runs between the cities.
“This fantastic station to station route passes through some stunning scenery in the Peak District and is a brilliant addition to our local walking network. The trail and the rights of way that it uses reflect an ongoing partnership of work that occurs across the park – with council officers, user groups, rangers and our fabulous volunteers all working to make accessing the countryside easier. This latest welcome addition to the network of trails offers visitors a sustainable option to visit and enjoy the national park, combining their walk with a wonderful railway which, like the trail it links to, passes through the heart of the beautiful Peak District,” said Ken Smith, chair of Peak District National Park.
“The Steel Cotton Rail Trail is a wonderful example of how history, community and the natural environment come together in the Peak District. This new station-to-station route not only celebrates the legacy of those who once sought fresh air and green space here but also offers today’s visitors a sustainable way to explore and connect with the landscapes at the heart of Britain’s first National Park. As we approach the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, it feels fitting that this trail highlights how rail continues to provide a gateway to the Peak District for all,” said Phil Mulligan, CEO of Peak District National Park.
Launching the Steel Cotton Rail Trail this year is particularly special as 2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway. The new walking trail showcases the opportunities presented by the Hope Valley line, both for the steel and cotton workers of the past and for the continued access to enjoy walking in the Peak District National Park today and in the future.
“The new long-distance Steel Cotton Rail Trail links together the stunning walking destinations throughout the very beautiful High Peak and Hope Valley areas and is all reachable from cities at either end of the line. We are proud to have been part of this project,” said Paul Webster, Community Rail Network regions support manager.
