“We are the Hiking Hens,” sang a group of women as we left the carpark near the Invisible Tree on our way via the river path to Cloughmore Stone last Wednesday evening.

That camaraderie and banter epitomised the next hour-and-a -half or so spent with around 20 members of the Hiking Hens.

The group, led and established by Fidelma and Maria, meets every Wednesday and Sunday, where they hike various routes and mountains in the Mournes - and a lot of fun is had.