Take on a rewarding walking challenge this summer and do it your way ! Whilst helping raise funds for Endeavour, supporting some of Sheffield’s most vulnerable young people through hands-on, outdoor and experiential learning that builds confidence, skills and connection to education.
The Steel Cotton Rail Walk stretches from Sheffield to Manchester totaling 62 miles/ 100km, threading through the heart of the Peak District and offering a unique glimpse into the region’s industrial past featuring hilly terrain, woodlands, and meadows. Check out the route sections here. Go as far as you wish, there’s a distance for everyone, when you are ready to stop , just wait at the station of your choice to catch the train home, trains run hourly, last train at the time of writing 23:04 from Edale. You can hop on at any stage of the walk at the next station to catch the train back home, or stay overnight to enjoy the social evening and spend Day 2 exploring more of what the Peak District has to offer.
Choose your walk options:
To help everyone plan, we’ve added an estimated schedule for each day route. These timings show the pace we’ll need to maintain to finish before food stops being served in the evening. It’s a challenging schedule in places, so please use the tables to judge on the day how far you plan to walk and plan which train your aiming to get back to Sheffield on (unless staying over) .
Total route Profile
99.5 km (61.8 miles)
2,001 m (6,565 ft) ascent
558 m (1,831 ft) maximum height
Option 1 - 1 Day Event Friday 3rd July - Sheffield → Edale (27.3 miles total) - Cost £20
A classic Hope Valley day: woodland, riverside paths, and gentle climbs.
Start: 07:00 | Finish: 19:00 | Distance: 43.8 km / 27.3 miles
Estimated walking time: 10h 30m | Breaks: 1h 15m (45m lunch + 2×15m rests)
Estimated elapsed time: 11h 30m
| Section | Route | KM | Mileage | Start | End | Est. walk time | Description of route | Train to Sheffield |
| 1 | Sheffield Station → Dore & Totley | 8 | 5 | 07:00 | 08:30 | 1h 30m | Pavement. Gentle start with suburban paths swapping the bustle of the city for leafy green spaces in no time. | 09:58 |
| 2 | Dore & Totley → Grindleford | 10.1 | 6.3 | 08:30 | 10:30 | 2h | expansive moorland views, woodland paths and a chance to shake off the city streets. | 11:51 |
| Rest/lunch | — | — | — | 10:30 | 11:15 | 45m | ||
| 3 | Grindleford → Hathersage | 4 | 2.5 | 11:15 | 12:15 | 1h | Trail/hilly. Quiet lanes and valley paths, this stretch takes you past charming farmland and the River Derwent | 12:46 |
| 4 | Hathersage → Bamford | 5.6 | 3.5 | 12:15 | 13:45 | 1hr 30 m | Trail/hilly. Gentle riverside walk with wide views of the Hope Valley | 14:42 |
| Rest / Lunch | — | — | — | 13:45 | 14:00 | 15m | ||
| 5 | Bamford → Hope | 4 | 2.5 | 14:00 | 15:00 | 1h | Open fields and rolling hills | 15:42 |
| Rest | — | — | — | 15:00 | 15:15 | 15m | ||
| 6 | Hope → Edale Finish – Day 1 | 12.1 | 7.5 | 15:15 | 18:45:00o | 3h 30m | Trail/hilly. rough foot ,paths, stiles with the cheshire cheese Pub enroute. Added extra 30 for tiredness | 19:34 , 20:32, 21:34 last train 23:04 |
| Total | 43.8 | 27.3 | ||||||
Includes:
- On the day event insurance and First Aid support
- Bag and clothing transport (if required)
- En route Checkpoint - Snacks and drinks
Option 2 - 1 Day Event, Saturday 4th July - Edale → Manchester Piccadilly (34.2 miles total) - Cost £20
A gentler day: canal paths, woodland, and urban greenways and finish right in the centre of Manchester.
Start: 07:30 | Finish: 20:00 | Distance: 55.7 km / 34.2 miles
Estimated walking time: 11h 30m | Breaks: 1h 00m (30m lunch + 2×15m rests)
Estimated elapsed time: 12h 30m
| Section | Route | KM | Mileage | Start | End | Est. walk time | Description of route | Train to Sheffield |
| 7 | Edale → Chinley | 12.9 | 8 | 07:30 | 10:30 | 3h 00m | Wild, high level moorland; steep climbs and descents Jacob’s Ladder, Kinder edges, Mount Famine views | 08:32 |
| 8 | Chinley → New Mills | 8 | 5 | 10:30 | 12:00 | 1h 30m | Transition from rural hills to industrial heritage Bugsworth Basin, Torrs Riverside Park, Millennium Walkway | 10:23 , 11:23 |
| Rest /Lunch | — | — | — | 12:00 | 12:30 | 30m | ||
| 9 | New Mills → Strines | 3.5 | 2.2 | 12:30 | 13:15 | 45m | Gentle valley walking; wooded and peaceful River Goyt, old mill sites, quiet paths | 13:15, 14:15 |
| 10 | Strines → Marple | 5.3 | 3 | 13:15 | 14:30 | 1h 15m | Where old railway architecture meets the flowing River Goyt , Mellor Hill and Goytcliff Viaduct | 14:48, 15:48 |
| 11 | Marple → Romiley | 4 | 2.5 | 14:30 | 15:30 | 1h | Flat : Follows the canal, with its mix of industrial heritage, peaceful towpaths, to find one of the most spectacular aqueducts in the country. | 15:10, 16:10 |
| Rest | — | — | — | 15:30 | 15:45 | 15m | ||
| 12 | Romiley → Hyde Central | 6.6 | 4 | 15:45 | 17:15 | 1h 30m | Flat : Canal towpaths and leafy suburban edges Peak Forest Canal, wooded cuttings, narrowboats | 15:06,16:06.17:06 |
| 13 | Hyde Central → Guide Bridge | 5.6 | 3.5 | 17:15 | 18:15 | 1h | Flat :Peaceful towpaths lined with narrowboats and wildlife | 16:11, 17:43, 18:41 |
| Rest | — | — | — | 18:15 | 18:30 | 15m | ||
| 14 | Guide Bridge → Manchester Piccadilly | 9.7 | 6 | 18:30 | 20:00 | 1h 30m | Flat : Towpaths all the way into the city, passing the historic Fairfields Moravian Settlement, and the characterful Roving Bridge | 18:34, 18:43,19:12, 19:43 |
| Finish | Manchester Piccadilly→ Sheffield | 20:00 | Book your own accommodation for the night or grab a train back home . | 21:13, 21:43, 21:54 | ||||
| Total | 55.6 | 34.2 | ||||||
Includes:
- On the day event insurance and First Aid support
- Bag and clothing transport (if required)
- En route Checkpoint - Snacks and drinks at
- Make your own arrangements for Saturday night - Find your own way home from Manchester or stay overnight
Option 3 - 2 Day weekend event - Friday 3rd to Saturday 4th July – £60
- Includes everything on the single 1 Day events
- Plus overnight Saturday in single sex shared accommodation at YHA Edale (if people advise they wish to be alternative room formation i.e. singles we can ask)
- Dinner , Breakfast and pack up for day 2 provided
On both days everyone will always have the option to stop at the next station and catch a train back home. Do as little or as much as you like. The route schedule estimates are a guide, based on an Average. 3mph / 20 min miles pace.
Fundraising and donations
To keep costs as low as possible for volunteers and to make the event accessible. We ask each participant to support fundraising by either:
- Joining our JustGiving page and raising sponsorship
And / or
- Making a voluntary donation (suggested £40 minimum) via Donor box - Every contribution helps us continue delivering life-changing opportunities for young people.
Please note: fees cover core event costs: Participants cover their own travel to/from the start and finish points, additional food/drinks they require and any requested single room supplements . For more information on the walk visit The Steel Cotton Rail Trail - Visit the Peak District by train
