Trans Pennine Trail: Hadfield to Penistone

The Trans Pennine Trail section from Hadfield to Penistone is a 16 mile, one way walk through Longdendale and over Woodhead Pass. Allow about six hours at an unhurried pace. It is a full crossing of the Pennines, not a loop or a walk around one reservoir, so plan how you will get back from Penistone before setting out.

The western miles climb gently through Longdendale beside Bottoms, Valehouse, Rhodeswood and Torside reservoirs. Much of this approach follows the former Woodhead railway on a path without road traffic that is mostly surfaced; the views open across the water and the hills as you leave the town. At Torside, toilets and a refreshment point at peak times are useful pauses. For the best valley photo, keep Bottoms Reservoir in the foreground and the hillside settlement across it in frame.

Past Torside, the walking route leaves the easy rail bed and climbs steeply on rough, stepped ground toward Woodhead Pass. Three old tunnel mouths at the former station are visible, but they are sealed: the TPT crosses over the pass, not through the tunnels. The exposed section and busy A628 crossings are the main drawbacks. After the high point, the line continues east to Penistone, with more open countryside and road crossings before the town finish. This is shared trail, so expect cyclists and horse riders.

The mapped TPT start is in Hadfield; free parking is marked at 4 Platt Street in Padfield, about half a mile south of that point. The finish is Penistone, so this is not a car loop. Expect around six hours on foot, with most of the effort concentrated in the climb to Woodhead. If you want the reservoir and railway scenery without crossing the pass, the separate 6.5 mile Longdendale Trail is the shorter option, though it is one way, though it still needs a return plan. Dogs are allowed; keep them close and in sight, using a short lead near livestock and horses.