New Mills is a town located in the High Peak area of Derbyshire, just on the edge of the Peak District.
And I honestly think that being just on the outside of the Peak District makes this whole High Peak region a bit of an undiscovered gem.
While crowds flock to Castleton, Buxton and Mam Tor, the High Peak is home to charming towns and villages, the highest peak in the Peak District (Kinder Scout) and some of my favourite pubs in the region.
Now perhaps you’ve seen photos online of the Millennium Walkway, a metal walkway seemingly clinging to the rockside in a gorge with a river running below.
It’s New Mills’ most famous attraction but if you’re not a local, you might have a bit of trouble locating it – it somehow seems to be buried in the centre of the town and yet looks so secluded in nature?
In this quick guide, I’m sharing how to find the New Mills Torrs and how to get to the Millennium Walkway so you can enjoy what I personally think is one of the best easy walks in the Peak District.
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What are the Torrs?
Just quickly, if you’re wondering – what are the Torrs?
The Torrs are the local, shortened name for The Torrs Riverside Park. It’s the river and park area in the gorge along the River Goyt where you’ll find the Millennium Walkway.
How to get to the Torrs and the Millennium Walkway in New Mills
If you’re arriving by train, there are two stations in New Mills which both connect to Manchester Piccadilly station.
New Mills Central is the closest station to the Millennium Walkway in New Mills and has a path with direct access from the station to the Torrs.
New Mills Newtown is the other station and it’s also only a 10 minute walk from there to the Torrs.
How to get to the Torrs from New Mills Central Station
This is super easy – come out of New Mills Central station on the side of the track where the actual station building is.
When you come out of the main entrance on to the narrow road, there is a footpath directly opposite.
Follow this and it brings you to a metal footbridge, don’t cross the bridge but instead turn left – you will see Torr Vale Mill on the opposite side of the river and the Millennium Walkway is immediately on your left.
How to get to the Millennium Walkway from New Mills Newtown Station
Come out of the station and walk down Albion Road. You will see the Swizzels Factory on your left.
After passing the factory and car park, turn left onto Wirksmoor Road. Walk straight down and where it forks in two, you can actually go either way – going right will bring you through the Torrs Riverside park first, going left will bring you to the Millennium Walkway first.
For the sake of this guide, we’ll start in the same place from both stations. So take the fork on the left and you’ll walk down Torrvale road which is an unfinished road.
You’ll find yourself in a car park, continue through it as if you’re going to the Torr Vale Mill – there’s a cafe and taproom in here called Torr Vale Tap which is a great spot for some refreshments either before or after your walk.
But just before your reach the mill building, there’s a path in the wall on the left with a set of stairs – this is the Google Maps location. Go down the stairs, you’ll find yourself at a metal bridge – walk across it and then you’ll see Millennium Walkway on your right.
Where to park in New Mills if you’re driving
If you’re coming to New Mills by car, parking at either train station is available but it’s paid parking.
There is a car park for Torr Vale Mill (follow my instructions from New Mills Newtown station to find it) but this parking is for customers only so you can only park here if you’re actually going to the Torr Vale Tap for a refreshment.
Alternatively there is plenty of street parking in the streets around New Mills. Wirksmoor Road, Albion Road and the surrounding roads have available street parking.
Walking the New Mills Millennium Walkway and the Torrs trail
However you’ve reached New Mills and the Millennium Walkway, I recommend doing a big loop of the Torrs Riverside Park.
Take your time walking over the Millennium Walkway, the views of the Torr Vale Mill and the Goyt River below are great. There’s also a train track running through tunnels above you, you might see the train pop out on the track above you before or after it’s passed through New Mills Central station.
At the far end of the walkway there are viewpoints and also information boards about the walkway and the historic mills that stood in this area.
Follow the trail around the corner and you’ll see the path go under the large stone bridge – Union Street Bridge.
I just love this area because there’s so many unique features with modern bridges, old stone bridges, the weir, walking trails, bouldering and more!
If the weather is good, you’ll see rock climbers on the cliff face to your left and climbing on the bridge itself.
There is a picnic area and through the bridge, you’ll see the weir and the two-arch Church Road Bridge to your right.
Next to the weir you’ll also see a large turning screw – this is the Torrs Hydro, the first community owned hydro-electric scheme in the UK. It generates power for the town and again, you’ll find a large information about the scheme. The screw is nicknamed Archie because it’s an Archimedes screw and it began generating electricity in 2008.
The weir itself is over 200 years old, built to raise the height of the river, while the double arch Church Road bridge was built in 1835 and the reinforced second layer was added in 1888.
You’ll also find a couple more information boards in the ruins of the old mill that overlook the weir and a large old mill chimney stack on your left, built into the rock face.
From here, you have 3 walking options.
If you stand facing the hydro, the path to your right, underneath the two-layered Church Road bridge, takes you on a trail through Goytside Meadows. This is a lovely, easy walk that I like to do through the valley and then loop back up towards the Peak Forest Canal which brings you out again near the Swizzels Factory.
Still standing facing the hydro, the path to your left takes you over the Sett Bridge and alongside the craggy rocks of the Torrs and this is the Sett Valley Trail. You can follow this all the way to Hayfield and perhaps reward yourself with a pub lunch. If you don’t fancy going that far, you could go as far as Thornsett where there’s the Thornsett Brewery, The Pack Horse Inn or the Sett Valley Cafe.
Alternatively if you’re looking for the shortest walking route option, if you’re facing the hydro, turn around and talk the path back under the Union Road bridge on the far left side. This slope takes you back up towards Wirksmoor Road where you’ll find the Rock Tavern pub if you fancy a quick drink, or you can loop back around to the Torr Vale Tap which has hot drinks, food and alcoholic drinks too.
Summary: The New Mills Millennium Walkway walk
I hope this quick guide helps you not only figure out how to get to the Millennium Walkway in New Mills, but also gives you some ideas for walks to do from New Mills – whether you’re a local or you’re visiting for the day from Manchester or beyond!
