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Town in Derbyshire, England
Photo: Clem Rutter, Rochester, Kent., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
New Mills is in Derbyshire. It's unlikely to feature on many itineraries in its own right, but it's worth stopping off for an hour or two if travelling between Manchester and the Peak District.
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Gritstone gorge containing the Goyt and Sett rivers, several historic mill buildings, Torrs Hydro—a small-scale community hydroelectric power scheme—and the Millennium Walkway, an impressive aerial walkway over the waters of the River Goyt opposite a historic mill building.
Small museum and exhibition; refreshments and toilets available.
The New Mills Festival takes place in September each year and includes a lantern procession through the Torrs as well as talks, walks, concerts, gigs and exhibitions.
The former town prison, now a private house with a quaint 19th-century plaque explaining its curious name.
Probably not worth a special visit, but worth seeking out if visiting the Drunkard's Reform, above: look on the wall at the rear of the Masons Arms car park for a rare and rather interesting early 19th-century stone-engraved advertisement for the pub, with masonic symbols and figures in 19th-century dress.
Over the last two years New Mills Town Council have invested tens of thousands of pounds in many new pieces of play equipment for all ages, from toddlers to pensioners. Visitors have said that where they previously went to Manor Park in Glossop or The Pavilion Gardens in Buxton they would now rather visit High Lea Park. Visitors from Manchester and all other towns en route such as Stockport and Marple have said that it is so easy to get to being so close to Central Station.
One possible route is to descend from Torr Top car park (just off Market Street), passing Torr Top Cottages, a listed range of weaver's cottages britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-81897-torr-top-cottages-new-mills-derbyshire, walk downstream along the River Sett to its confluence with the River Goyt (site of the Torrs Hydro reverse Archimedes screwtorrshydro.org). Take the right-hand fork to cross the Millennium Walkway and view the Grade II* listed Torr Vale Mill before returning to the town centre via Station Road. Total distance approx. 1 mile, with one steep descent and ascent but otherwise level. Free leaflets describing this and other walking routes around the town is available from News Mills Heritage and Information Centre (see "Connect").
The Torrs is at the western end of the Sett Valley Trail, a 2½-mile trail for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders, terminating at Hayfield.
Walk along the canal from near Newtown station southwards to Whaley Bridge (3 miles) or north to Marple (4 miles), returning by train or bus.
New Mills AFC play in the Northern Premier League Division One North, the eighth tier of English football.
New Mills Golf Course is an 18-hole course established in 1907 on the hillside above the town with views to Kinder Scout and the Cheshire Plain. Visiting golfers are welcome.
Indian restaurant and takeaway.
Cosy café with friendly owner, mainly English food with a few Middle Eastern dishes.
Well-regarded traditional English takeaway—good fish and chips, generous portions.
Coffeehouse and café.
Traditional country pub in pretty, isolated stone-built hamlet at the end of a narrow no-through road. Cheapish food and Robinson's beer. Alternative routes (on foot) are via a rocky bridleway from Strines railway station (½ mile), or by walking downstream along the Goyt from the Millennium Walkway to Hague Bar picnic site (Waterside Road), climbing to the A6 in Hague Bar then following Hague Fold Road opposite (1¾ miles).
Characterful out-of-the-way place in delightful rural setting next to stream with replica waterwheel. Streamside garden (slightly spoilt by oversized decking erected for the 2006 World Cup) with adventure playground, and Pullman railway coach converted into overnight accommodation. No public transport. Free house, decent food. Live music on Friday nights. Close to pretty hamlet of Rowarth, in good walking country (the streamside path north towards Higherfold Farm is particularly attractive).
Second-hand bookshop.
Largest supermarket in town.
Cycle shop.
By bus
The main bus station is at the junction of Union Street and Market Street, in the town centre close to New Mills Central station.
By car
New Mills is just off the A6 trunk road (follow A6015 signposted Hayfield, New Mills).
The town is small enough to see on foot, but the following bus service may be useful:
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