There are lots of things to see and do within easy reach of the Pack Horse
What to see and do in the area
all pictures are thumb-nailed click to enlarge

New Mills is the perfect base from which to explore the Peak District. There are so many things to see and do here whatever your likes and dislikes. The surrounding hills will test the most experienced walker, and for the less active a stroll along the towpath of the extensive local canal network is a nice way to relax, or just sit and watch as the brightly painted narrowboats chug by. Popular activities in the area include cycling, golf, riding, abseiling, fishing, rock climbing, gliding and of course just sitting back to enjoy the scenery. Visitors in summer can enjoy the spectacles of the many local carnivals and well dressings, which occur all over the Peak district.

The recently completed Millennium Walkway has attracted a new influx of visitors to New Mills, attached to a cliff face right in the centre of the town, people delight in the exhilaration of walking above the fast flowing River Sett and it's weirs. A gentle stroll away on the Sett Valley Trail is the Torrs Riverside Park, a local beauty spot, set next to yet another weir on the River Sett, its a great place to unwind and as the council have provided picnic tables, perhaps a packed lunch may be in order. Above both of these attractions is New Mills Heritage Centre, where the towns industrial history is laid out visually in an interesting but informative way, the centre is jam-packed with leaflets containing information on the hundreds of things to see and do nearby.
The Millennium Walkway in New Mills - click the picture to enlargeThe Torrs in New Mills - click the picture to enlarge
New Mills has a leisure centre with a swimming pool, which, if you fancy a dip, has remarkably warm water. There is couple of health clubs and narrowboats can be hired from New Mills Marina. The towns largest employer is the children's sweetie manufacturer Swizzels Matlow, kids will tell you that no visit to New Mills is complete without a visit to the factory shop to stock up on bags full of goodies at a knock down price. New Mills has all the amenities you would expect in a medium sized town, such as banks shops and post office, an indoor market and a small Saturday outdoor market.

At the other end of the Sett Valley trail lies the village of Hayfield, famous for it's sheep dog trials, beer and jazz festivals. Mountain bikes can be hired here and walkers use it as a base for scaling the heights of Kinder Scout, situated just above the village. Hayfield has a charm all of it's own, which makes it popular which visitors to the area as well as day-trippers.
Hayfield plaque - click the picture to enlargeThe old bank in Hayfield - click the picture to enlarge

About four miles drive from the Pack Horse is the Cheshire Town of Marple, where the Upper Peak Forrest Canal joins the Macclesfield Canal on the well-know Cheshire Ring, if you are lucky you may witness a canal barge ascending or descending Marple Locks, a fully operational  bank of sixteen locks.
Marple Locks - click the picture to enlargeUpper Peak Forest Canal at Marple - click the picture to enlarge
 Day-boat hire is available at Marple Locks, so you can either skipper your way towards Middlewood on the Macclesfield Canal or in the other direction towards the historic Bugsworth and Whaley Bridge basins. Marple has a pedestrianised  shopping area with the usual mix of banks and shops.
The Roman Lakes Leisure Park in Marple is great place to spend a day out, fishing permits are available at a daily rate, you can hire a rowing boat, go for a stroll/walk or just sit and soak up the scenery. Refreshments and toilet facilities are also available.
Roman Lakes, Marple - click the picture to enlargeRoman Lakes, Marple - click the picture to enlarge

A short drive up the A6 and 300 metres above sea level lies the spa town of Buxton, with it's (allegedly) healing waters. Amongst the tremendous architecture there are plenty of visitor attractions and a good selection of craft and antique shops. A pleasant evenings entertainment can be enjoyed at the famous Buxton Opera House.
St Annes Well in Buxton - click the picture to enlargeBuxton Cresent - click the picture to enlarge
To this day people travel miles to Buxton to fill up plastic containers with the freely available waters from St Anne's Well. Returning from Buxton a visit to the Chestnut Centre near Chapel-en-le-Frith is a must for kids, at this conservation park you will find otters and owls.

The market town of Glossop is a few miles away and holds an annual Victorian weekend in September, when the whole town adopts a Victorian theme. There are shops, banks and a main post office as well as large indoor and outdoor markets.
Glossop Market - click the picture to enlargeNorfolk Square in Glossop - click the picture to enlarge
Despite it's rural location in Derbyshire's rolling hills, The cities of Manchester and Sheffield and the large town of Stockport are easily accessible from the Pack Horse. Manchester, just to the north, is a large cosmopolitan city full of theatres, bars, museums, libraries and clubs. The night life is very lively and the city is very proud of the recently completed Bridgewater Hall, home of the Halle Orchestra and the Trafford Centre, a massive, newly built shopping mall and entertainment centre. Manchester is easily reached by rail from either of the two New Mills stations, the journey takes between thirty and forty minutes. You can of course drive in to the city as it is less than fifteen miles away. Stockport, ten miles by road and twenty minutes by rail, is a thriving metropolitan borough with just about all of the main high street retailers, as well as a good variety of independent shops. There is a large bustling market three days a week. Sheffield is less than thirty miles away by road and about half an hour by train. Yet again there is a massive Shopping Mall, the Meadowhall Centre.
New Mills is situated on the main A6, which is the main trunk road through the Peak District, as it snakes it's way through the hills and valleys you will find more attractions activities, and views than we could mention. The caverns of Castleton, the 'Cathedral of the Peak at Tideswell, the tourist attractions of Matlock and Matlock Bath, The stately houses of Chatsworth, Lyme Park and Haddon Hall are within easy reach, and just over the border in Staffordshire, Alton Towers, are all within reach of the Pack Horse. In the other direction the 'Last of the Summer Wine' town of Holmfirth is worth a visit if you fancy a cup of tea in Nora Batty's cafe.
Further afield the historic city of York is now easier to reach since the M1 has been extended to by-pass Leeds. Another city steeped in history within roughly an  hours drive from the Pack Horse is Chester. Blackpool with it's bright lights, funfair and kiss-me-quick hats is a great place for a day out with the kids. All these cities can be reached by rail from New Mills.
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