DISCOVER DERBYSHIRE

AND THE

PEAK DISTRICT

NEW MILLS WALK

THE WALK

Many, who have only driven through New Mills before, will not be prepared for the dramatic start and finish to this inspiring walk.

Entering the Torrs Riverside Park, deep in a gorge below the centre of New Mills, it immediately becomes apparent that this walk is different from any other in Derbyshire. It is very special as only 20 years ago Torrs Gorge, now so beautiful, was notorious for dereliction and the heavily polluted river.

After leaving the gorge, the walk follows an easterly route through fields, before joining the Peak Forest Canal for a relaxing stroll along the busy canal bank. Newtown Marina is passed on the way before going under the A6015 to walk through open countryside.

On the route back to New Mills your walk takes you through the Torrs Riverside Park again by the side of the River Goyt.

A further surprise waits in the form of the spectacular Torrs Millennium Walkway for about half of its 125 yards length it hugs a tall retaining wall, before running along pillars rising from the river bed.  The walkway forms the final link in the 225 mile long Midshires Way.

WALK DETAILS

Length:     4.5 miles.

Start/Finish:     Hyde Bank Road, turn off A6015 opposite the Foodstore.

Location:     On the A6015 off the A6 Buxton to Stockport road.

Terrain:     Easy. Flat walking, apart from a short ascent and descent to New Mills.

THE ROUTE

1.     Walk up Hyde Bank Road, turn right at the Leisure Centre entrance onto a track where you turn right again under the road bridge you have just crossed.

2.     In about 30 yards turn left into Torrs Riverside Park, signed ‘Goyt Way Via Millennium Walk’. With the river on your left continue to the point where the rivers Goyt and Sett meet, here you cross a wooden bridge and pass under a two tier bridge.

3.     Stay beside the river at first before continuing straight ahead along the track to the left of Goytside Farm. Turn right immediately you have passed the farm.

4.     Continue along the path behind the farm to cross the Goyt by a footbridge and walk uphill bearing to the right to the top of the field to join the Peak Forest Canal.

5.     Turn right along the canal towpath and follow it for about one and a quarter miles. A few yards after passing the Marina, you go under the A6015, and at the next bridge - DO NOT GO UNDERNEATH - bear right up the side of the bridge and turn right down a rough track.

6.     At the bottom of the track continue along a minor road heading slightly to the right, crossing the Goyt by a road bridge, before in 75 yards turning right into Torrs Riverside Park.

7.     Stay on the main path following ‘GW’ and Midshires Way indicators keeping close to the river on the right.

8.     After going over a stone stile by a gate, turn half left to follow the direction of the finger post signed ‘Goyt Way’ through an area of woodland.

9.     Bear right by a derelict stone building and in 20 yards, before reaching a pair of redbrick houses, turn left through another area of woodland to enter and cross a small park and reach a factory unit at the end of a road.

10.    Here you cross the road and soon follow a path on the right leading down to the Goyt Valley and Millennium Walkway.

11.    Go over the Millennium Walkway and continue alongside the river.

12.    On reaching some picnic benches take the path that bends left and from this point you can retrace your steps along the path you used at the start of the walk. Turning right out of the Torrs Riverside Park, then left after going under a bridge, and then left again along Hyde Bank Road.

 Back to the top of the Page         Return to the Contents Page      Return to the Home Page

www.derbyshire-peakdistrict.co.uk is an independent, not for profit website.

No recommendation of any establishment is implied by inclusion on this website.

PLACES OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE LOCALITY

The Torrs Millennium Walkway a much admired bridge set deep in the spectacular Torrs Riverside Park and gorge.  The walkway forms the final link in the Midshires Way long distance footpath.

The Heritage Centre (Tel. 01663 746904)  is housed in a converted stone building of great character and tells ‘The New Mills Story’ with the aid of a magnificent model of the town as it was in 1884. There is a viewing platform outside looking down over The Torrs gorge. A small café serves mainly drinks and biscuits and in the shop maps, guides and gifts are sold. Open all year Tuesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays 11-4pm.

Lyme Park (Tel. 01663 762023) is a National Trust property comprising a magnificent mansion and a 1,400-acre park and formal gardens. The park contains a herd of deer. Ducks and wildfowl can be seen on the lakes and ponds in the park. In the house is a varied collection of historic furniture, textiles and tapestries. For further information website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

REFRESHMENTS

The Royal Oak (Tel. 01663 743675) a popular family pub in the centre of New Mills where a good range of hot and cold food is normally available daily at lunchtime only.

Gio Mia Café Bistro (Tel. 01663 746893) Italian, Mediterranean and English food, hot and cold snacks served every day apart from Sunday. Licensed.

THE DISCOVER DERBYSHIRE AND THE PEAK DISTRICT GUIDE

DISCOVER DERBY

A special new sub-section has been added to this website, based on the Discover Derby Supplement, published by the Derby Evening Telegraph during March 2005. The most recent additions are:

 Click below for details.

Discover Derby

NEW MILLS FEATURE

Spectacular New Mills! But many people who drive through the town by car are completely unaware of the secret beauty that lies below. The Torrs Riverside Park provides access to a dramatic gorge and an area of stunning natural beauty.  

In the late 18th century, a rapid change took place with the implementation of the factory system for spinning and weaving driven by waterpower. The Torrs was an ideal place. Set in a natural gorge it had the joint waterpower of the Rivers Sett and Goyt. Rocky waterfalls and cascades allowed the construction of weirs to provide a controlled supply of water.

The ledges along the riverbank, above the flood water level, were ideal to build on. The sandstone rocks at the side of the gorge meant the builders did not have to go far for their materials.  

One of the best of the many good viewpoints of the Torrs Gorge is from the platform outside the Heritage Centre.

New Mills Feature

All details on this page were correct at the time of publication, but changes may be made without notification.