Last month, I was chosen to participate in an event in the Peak District, sponsored by Salomon! The event was to test out their new OUTline shoes and backpacks. It was also a great way to meet some really fun and nice ladies, and get a good walk in! We got blessed with amazing weather—it was warm and sunny all evening!

I had signed up a few weeks before, and promptly forgot about it. Then about a week before, I got an email from Salomon saying I’d been selected as a participant, and asking if I was still available! Luckily, this date was a day I already had off work, so it wasn’t too much of a struggle to get to my husband’s work, where I hitched a ride with him to the Peaks.

The event started at the Peak District Visitor Center in Castleton. I absolutely loved Castleton—it’s such a gorgeous place, and the same goes for the entire Hope Valley! We started off getting our Salomon shoes, our packs, and our packed meals before setting off.

Hiking Up Hollin’s Cross

I’d never been up Hollin’s Cross before, but it’s a really nice walk! The path takes you through a more wooded area, and then up by Blue John Cavern and the old road that got washed away. After a decently steep climb, the walk brings you up to the trig point. There are amazing views from here! You can see both the Hope Valley. You can also see down into Edale.

On our way up, we did a short bootcamp-style class. We did squats, push-ups, and even a bit of running (among other exercises). It definitely got my heartrate up! We also had our food here, as most of us started getting hungry by this point.

Sunset Yoga at Hollin’s Cross

One of the big highlights for me was doing yoga at sunset at the summit of Hollin’s Cross! It was so quiet and peaceful. Some of the poses were fairly difficult for me (I can tell I haven’t done very much yoga in the past few years!). But the whole experience was so relaxing. We were treated to a gorgeous sunset over the valley and finished off by chanting/breathing with our eyes closed.

Finishing Back at Castleton

The event finished back at the visitor center in Castleton. It was much shorter going straight down without any big stops, than it took us to get up to the summit! The sunset got even better—pink, purple, and blue hues all around us. The path back to Castleton is easy to follow and partly on a minor road. We had set off at about 6:00pm, and got back just after 9:00pm to the parking lot.

Salomon Gear: OUTline Shoes and Backpack

I was really impressed with the OUTline shoes that I tested. I had ankle boots for my hike and had a lot of ankle support! They were also really durable and sturdy, without being as clunky and heavy as my normal hiking boots. The backpack was a great daypack for the walk. I liked that it came with a mini water bottle holder right by your mouth!

This event was so much fun, and I really enjoyed it! It was also a great way to meet a lot of other women who also love the outdoors. I can be pretty shy in certain situations, and it was a bit nerve-wracking walking into a big group of people I had never meet before on my own. But everyone was so nice, so friendly, and all big fans of good hikes and being outside. I tried my best to chat to lots of different people and really enjoyed this event!

Visiting the Peak District

The Peak District is (in my humble opinion) one of the most underrated places to visit in England. It’s a stunningly beautiful area, with so many great opportunities for hiking and exploring! I also really appreciate that the Hope Valley area of the Peaks is so easy to get to by public transportation. You can take a train from Sheffield to Manchester that stops in Hathersage, Bamford, Hope, and Edale (among others of course). There’s bus service that runs between villages like Castleton.

If you’re heading to the Peak District, YHA hostels tend to be the most popular if you’re traveling on a budget. I’ve also stayed in Airbnbs and pubs. You can search for hostels on Hostelworld, and hotels and other accommodation on Booking.com! You can also sign up to and search for accommodation on Airbnb here.

I definitely recommend booking any train tickets in the UK in advance. If you’re traveling to the Peaks by train, use Trainline to get the best deals. If you’re flying to the UK, the closest airports for the Peak District are Manchester Airport, Doncaster Sheffield Airport, or East Midlands Airport (you could also fly to Birmingham Airport). I use Skyscanner to book flights. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

I absolutely loved this event with Salomon. Not only did it get me out exploring on a gorgeous evening, but it was a great walk with great people! I got a good workout in and saw a phenomenal sunset. It was definitely one of the most fun events I’ve done!

Have you ever been to the Peak District? Where did you go?

You might like my other posts on the Peak District:

The Peak District: Hope Valley, Castleton, Mam Tor, And More

Eyam: The Peak District Plague Village

Postcards From The Peak District

Postcards From The Peak District: Part 2