A man from North Belfast has been overwhelmed with support after starting a men's walking group seven months ago.
Orin Calder, from the Cavehill area, started the Men's Cavehill Walking Group last year after finding his regular treks up the hill were giving him a real boost and chance to clear his mind.
Wondering if others would benefit in the same way from regular walks, he put a post up on social media asking if anyone would be up for a walk, and the group was formed soon after.
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Starting with just four or five regular walkers, around 20 men now make the walk a part of their regular routine every Wednesday evening.
Orin said everyone in the group comes along for different reasons, some for fitness, others because they're lonely and it gives them the chance to get out of the house and chat to other like-minded people.
"You come up against challenges in life, and walking up the Cavehill is a bit of a challenge, and you feel so much achievement when you get to the top. By the time you're back down, you feel so much better for doing it," Orin told Belfast Live.
"You get a general sense of feeling better after walking. For me personally, I use it for my own fitness, and there are other guys who are the same. Some people use the group for company as well, they might work on their own all day, then live alone.
"Some of the guys have kids and some don't, but you know you can go up the Cavehill every week and switch off. You're surrounded by like-minded men and it creates a nice environment for guys able to go up and relax.
"Sometimes when you're relaxed a bit more you maybe find it easier to open up. A lot of guys have opened up on the walks and said they're struggling.
"It's not all about that, but it's nice people are in an environment where they can open up and ask for help or advice. That being part of a group can make people feel good, and makes them feel like they're not lonely, and have something to look forward to. The group can be a lot of different things to different people.
"A guy who's part of the group randomly text me one night and thanked me, he said if you asked him months ago, he would've been embarrassed to tell someone he's part of a men's walking club, but now he said he absolutely loves it."
As well as the mental health benefits included with the walk and talk aspect of the group, Orin said it creates a different way for men to socialise, saying it provides an alternative to heading out for a pint or to watch the football.
He said everyone involved in the group enjoys it, and although there's no roll-call, many say they miss it when they miss a week.
Orin said: "There's 20 odd guys who look forward to it each week, and it really helps break up the week with it being on a Wednesday.
"Sometimes you have to come up and do the walk to know what it's like. It's different when you're walking with a group, there's a bit of banter and you get your photo at the top.
"It's so simple but it's so effective. It's just a walk and talk with a cup of tea and curly wurly at the end."
To anyone who would like to get involved with the walking group, Orin encouraged them to get in touch."
"There's a great group of men up there and everyone's so welcoming," he added.
"Come up and join us. Some people may never have done the walk before and think it's a bit out of their comfort zone, but we don't leave anyone behind."
You can find out more about the Men's Cavehill Walking Group by clicking here.
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