A Co Down hiking group for women has said the mental health benefits for its members have been "life-changing".
The Hiking Hens go out in the Mournes twice a week and average about 90 women a week across the two hikes.
Set up by Maria O'Grady and Fidelma Fearon last year, the group has gone from strength to strength and even carried the Queen's Baton for the Commonwealth Games in June.
Read more: Co Tyrone men take on gruelling Mournes challenge for family members affected by dementia
"As the girls themselves would say, they all have their own reasons to be there - it's good for your mental health, everybody has a story," Maria told Belfast Live.
"People are coming to get outside, have some me time and talk to other women.
"We had a friend of ours who moved to Australia and she told her mummy to 'please go and join Maria and Fidelma'.
"She has barely missed a walk with us, it's been amazing for her."
Fidelma agrees and says the group has provided a welcome space for women to share and to get their head cleared.
"Women in particular sort of look after everybody but don't look after themselves.
"There are a lot of walkers that walk with us regularly and they would say it's like a lifeline to them.
"They've suffered bereavements and things like that, so walking with us helps them.
"There was one girl who brought her mummy because she was heading off to university and she wanted to know her mummy would be OK, she didn't want her mummy to be lonely."
The two women are keen to stress that the group is open to all and the emphasis is on camaraderie as opposed to peak physical fitness.
"The lovely part for me and Maria, is that Hiking Hens was set up for ordinary women likes ourselves, we're not looking like we're about to tackle Everest or looking super athletic or anything," Fidelma said.
"It's ordinary women who maybe thought they couldn't tackle a mountain, it's the self belief that I love seeing when they reach the top and the happiness they have.
"We had a girl started with us last October who had split from a long term partner, and she really struggled to get up the mountains.
"But then at the weekend, she climbed the Devil's Coach Road, one of the most difficult ones to climb.
"So to see that self belief and confidence is lovely - women have literally told us it's life-changing for them."
The group is taking on a charity trek on September 25 in aid of two charities, 'Life and Time' and 'Mourne First Responders'.
The trek is open to all ability levels and will see them hike 13 miles along the Ulster Way in the Mournes.
Maria and Fidlema have urged anyone who is interested to contact them through their Facebook or Instagram pages.
READ NEXT:
- Ancient woodland an hour from Belfast opens to public after 500 years
- Belfast man hikes up Mourne Mountains to show just how much litter is dumped
- Call for action after mental health admissions surge in Western Trust
- Belfast restaurant owner putting mental health on the menu
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
