New Mills to Hayfield Walk

2.5 miles (4 km)

This walk takes you from New Mills to Hayfield using the Sett Valley Trail and the Pennine Bridleway. The route runs for 2.5 miles, heading east along the dismantled railway line which is now a popular cycling and walking trail.... At Birch Vale you pick up the Pennine Bridleway to complete the journey into Hayfield.
The walk begins in the historic mill town of New Mills, following the former railway towards the village of Birch Vale. The Sett Valley Trail provides an easy-going start, passing through attractive countryside and woodland as it follows the route of the old railway. The trail forms part of the wider network of walking and cycling routes through the Sett Valley and is particularly pleasant in autumn when the surrounding woodland takes on its seasonal colours.
At Birch Vale the route leaves the old railway and joins the Pennine Bridleway for the final section towards Hayfield. The character of the walk changes as you move into more open countryside, with views towards the surrounding hills of the Peak District. Hayfield is a particularly attractive destination, sitting at the foot of Kinder Scout and providing a popular starting point for walks into the surrounding moorland.
The route is a useful short linear walk between the two towns, with the combination of a traffic-free former railway line, quiet countryside and the waymarked Pennine Bridleway providing plenty of variety over its short distance.