A spectacular 7-mile walk featuring riverside woodland, the iconic Torrs Millennium Walkway, peaceful canal paths, independent cafés and one of the best pubs in the Peak District.

Start: The Strines Nightingale (recommended), Strines Station or New Mills Central

Distance: 7.32 miles

,Elevation: 750 feet

Duration: 3 hours

Difficulty: Easy (non-technical paths, minimal elevation)

Navigation: Follow step-by-step on komoot, or download GPX file

About the route

If someone asked me to recommend the best pub walk near Manchester, this would be my answer every single time.

Starting at the dreamy Strines Nightingale pub, this 7-mile circular walk combines everything that makes a great day outdoors. Woodland trails, dramatic river gorges, historic mills, canal towpaths, independent cafés, brilliant pubs and one of the most impressive walkways in Britain—all within easy reach of Manchester.

From Strines, the route heads into the vibrant town of New Mills, where you'll descend into the spectacular Torrs Gorge to cross the iconic Torrs Millennium Walkway. Suspended high above the River Goyt, the walkway offers an unforgettable perspective of the gorge below before leading you past the historic Torr Vale Mill and the community-owned Torrs Hydro scheme.

After exploring the Torrs, the walk slows the pace along the tranquil Peak Forest Canal, where colourful narrowboats, waterside wildlife and peaceful towpaths provide a complete contrast to the dramatic gorge you've just left behind.

One of my favourite things about this walk are all the many things you can see and do along the way. New Mills is packed with fantastic independent cafés, bakeries, pubs and little shops, making it somewhere you'll genuinely want to spend some time before heading back.

Finish where you started, back at The Strines Nightingale, for a well-earned pint within the woodland.

For me, it's one of the best day walks you can do within half an hour of Manchester.

Route difficulty: Easy

This isn't a particularly technical walk, but the distance and a handful of gradual climbs mean you'll want a reasonable level of fitness. Expect:

Woodland paths
Canal towpaths
Riverside trails
Some muddy sections after rain
A few steady climbs
Plenty of opportunities for food and drink stops

Route highlights

The Strines Nightingale – Quite possibly one of the best pub gardens near Manchester. Hidden amongst woodland beside the river, it's the perfect place to begin and end your walk. They regularly host outdoor woodland events, live music and seasonal gatherings, giving the place a magical atmosphere.
Torrs Millennium Walkway – One of Derbyshire's most impressive engineering projects. This striking steel walkway clings dramatically to the side of the gorge, suspended above the River Goyt, transforming what was once an inaccessible stretch of valley into one of the Peak District's most memorable walks.
Torr Vale Mill – One of Britain's oldest surviving textile mills, standing proudly above the gorge and offering a glimpse into New Mills' industrial past.
Torrs Hydro – The UK's first community-owned hydroelectric scheme, quietly generating renewable electricity using the same river that once powered the town's cotton mills.
Peak Forest Canal – Peaceful waterside walking, colourful narrowboats and plenty of wildlife make this one of the most relaxing sections of the route.
New Mills – One of Derbyshire's most underrated towns, filled with brilliant independent cafés, bakeries, pubs and quirky local shops.

The story behind the Torrs

This peaceful riverside park was once one of the busiest industrial landscapes in Derbyshire.

Around 200 years ago, the Rivers Sett and Goyt powered a collection of cotton mills that transformed New Mills into a thriving manufacturing town. Huge mills clung to the sides of the gorge while workers' cottages were stacked high above them, all connected by bridges, tunnels and steep cobbled tracks.

As the textile industry declined, many of the mills fell into ruin and the gorge became neglected for decades.

Thankfully, the local community recognised what an incredible place it was. Through years of restoration, the Torrs was transformed into what locals affectionately call "The Park Under the Town"—a beautiful green space where nature and industrial heritage now exist side by side.

The Millennium Walkway, completed in 1999, became the symbol of that regeneration. Curving around the sheer rock face above the river, it finally connected the two sides of the gorge and completed a missing section of the Midshires Way.

Just downstream, Torrs Hydro continues the story by once again harnessing the power of the river—this time to generate clean electricity for the local community.

Is this route for me?

This walk is ideal if you:

Love a proper pub walk
Enjoy varied scenery
Want somewhere easy to reach from Manchester
Appreciate industrial history
Like canal and riverside walking
Enjoy discovering independent cafés and shops
Fancy turning a walk into a full day out

Optional detour: Roman Lakes & Mellor Mill

If you've still got some energy left, or simply want to extend your day out, I'd highly recommend making the short detour to Roman Lakes.

Despite the name, the lakes aren't actually Roman. They were created in the late 18th century as mill ponds supplying water to Mellor Mill, once one of the largest cotton spinning mills in Europe, built by industrial pioneer Samuel Oldknow. Today, woodland trails wind past the lakes and through the remains of the old mill complex, creating one of the area's most fascinating hidden historical sites.

It's a peaceful place to explore and a brilliant add-on if you're interested in local history or fancy stretching the day out a little longer.

If you're short on time though, don't worry, the main route is already packed with enough highlights to make it one of the best walks near Manchester.

Where to eat and drink nearby

One of the biggest strengths of this route is just how many places there are to stop. My favourites:

The Strines Nightingale ⭐ (the perfect place to start and finish)
The Torr Vale Tap
The Beer Shed
The Pride of the Peaks
The Shrub Club

If coffee is more your thing, New Mills has a fantastic collection of independent cafés, bakeries and delis, making it well worth spending an hour exploring the town before heading home.

Getting to the starting point

By car

There are several options for starting this walk. My recommendation is to begin at The Strines Nightingale, where you'll be perfectly placed to enjoy a drink at the end of the walk. Alternatively, there are several public car parks in New Mills if you'd prefer to begin in the town itself.

By public transport

This is one of the easiest Peak District walks to reach without a car.

You can start from:

Strines Station
New Mills Central Station
Bus services stopping at The Strines Nightingale

Whether you're travelling from Manchester or Sheffield, public transport makes this a brilliant car-free adventure.

✔️ Good to knows

Difficulty: Easy-Moderate with a handful of steady climbs.
Footwear: Walking boots are recommended, especially after wet weather when woodland paths can become muddy.
Dog-friendly: Yes, although some sections pass through farmland so leads may be required.
Food & drink: Excellent throughout, with plenty of pubs, cafés and bakeries in New Mills as well as The Strines Nightingale at the start and finish.
Best time to visit: Beautiful all year round, but especially magical in autumn when the woodland surrounding the Torrs has its autumn coat on.

🧭 Following the route

I use komoot and OS Maps for offline navigation.

To follow this walk step-by-step, simply open the komoot route or download the GPX file and upload it to your preferred navigation app.

The Best Pub Walk Near Manchester: The Torrs Millennium Walkway & New Mills Circular