Peak Footwear, Holmfirth – Did you know, you often need a different shoe size in outdoor, performance footwear compared to fashion footwear?
In our quest to continue supporting local retailers and suppliers and celebrate the best of Yorkshires businesses we had the pleasure of speaking to Karen, the Company Director of Peak Footwear in Holmfirth. Join us as we explore her treasure trove of footwear delights!
Peak Footwear started in September 2019 after noting there wasn’t a comparable supplier of footwear for miles around.
They are an outdoor performance footwear specialist, selling a large range of quality, mostly European-made walking boots and trail and fell running shoes. They stock a carefully selected range of accessories and backpacks and offer a free fitting service. They provide old-fashioned service in a beautiful, modern shop. They also organize guided walks from the shop and a ladies' trail running group that takes place every Wednesday morning, both showcasing the breathtaking countryside made famous by the "Last of the Summer Wine" series.
The fitting service they offer is rare to come across these days. They take their time to get it right, which is incredibly important when it comes to outdoor footwear. It can be an expensive mistake to make, and one that is often not realized until you are two hours into your walk. What a lot of people don’t realize is that you often need a different size in performance footwear than in fashion footwear; it’s the most common mistake people make. Lots of adults have not had their feet measured since they were children and are surprised to find out they are a different size than they thought. Feet change over time and develop problems. They help with this by finding the best footwear for their customer’s individual foot type and offer advice on insoles that can help with all sorts of foot ailments.
They adore their customers, who often have tales to tell about some adventure or other. They are very proud to say that people come from all over the country to visit their shop and often make a weekend of it.
They have an experienced and knowledgeable team. David Riley is a mountain guide and experienced fell and trail runner. He has completed the winter spine race twice, one of the toughest trail races in the world, among others, and is incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to outdoor gear. Amanda Crawshaw is a British Orienteering champion and the England Orienteering team manager. She loves a mountain marathon and is also the ladies' trail running guide. She is incredibly knowledgeable and slightly bonkers in the best way possible. They also have Danny Bulmer, an outdoor enthusiast and the brains behind Good Footing, guided walks for mental health. Danny is also their guide for their fortnightly guided walks around the area. Keston, the top shop dog, comes in once a week to meet and greet their customers; he thinks everyone comes in just for him, and to be fair, they sometimes do. They have been in the outdoor industry for 33 years in various roles across the board. They have always loved the outdoors and spent 11 years trekking and backpacking around the world. They are keen trail runners and, when not working, can usually be found running around the local moorland. They also love to revisit places they have explored before.
They have lived all over the world, but for them, it could only ever be Yorkshire they would want to come back to. It’s a bit of a cliché to say Yorkshire folk are so friendly, but they really are, and of course, the countryside is breathtaking and so varied all over Yorkshire, from the Dales to the Wolds. But they absolutely adore the moorland that surrounds Holmfirth. People often think moorland is bleak, but around here, it is dramatic with its crags, waterfalls, spectacular views, and wildlife.
They offer a 10% discount to Mountain Rescue, Holmfirth Harriers, Saddleworth Runners, and the Slaithwaite Striders.
To keep up to date with new products, the guided walks and runs, and prize giveaways, you can follow them on Facebook and Instagram at peakfootwear.holmfrth.
