LIVING in the shadow of the Mourne Mountains, with views looking out to the Irish Sea, it's hard to imagine a more perfect nature's playground for a group of outdoor pursuits fanatics.
With such stunning resources on her doorstep, Castlewellan woman Kath Maguire decided to put them to good use when she set up the Feel Good Factor club in Co Down five years ago.
A part-time outdoors instructor for a local education authority, Kath thought it would be a good idea to share her skills in hillwalking, mountain biking and rock climbing with other like-minded women, while enjoying the many health benefits from being outdoors in such spectacular surroundings.
That was five years ago and in that time, the Feel Good Factor club has expanded from three original members to around 45. Affiliated to both Cycling Ireland and Mountaineering Ireland, its ethos it to 'engage, enjoy and empower' and to make the sports of mountain biking, rock climbing and hillwalking, more accessible.
“Outdoor activities have always been a huge passion of mine, hence my job,” Kath explains. “I'd been working full-time, but when I had my first child at 37, I decided to go part-time.
“On Friday mornings, when I was off, I would leave my little boy to pre-school and then head off on my bike around the Castlewellan trails. Those two hours before I picked him up again weren't enough to allow me to go hillwalking but I could certainly cycle in that time.
“One day another woman who had a child at the same pre-school asked if she could come along too and before long, there were three of us. I'm a trained hillwalker and climber so I was able to put those skills to use as well as the mountain biking.
“The club continued to grow and now we have members from not just Co Down, but Armagh, Lisburn, Omagh and Fermanagh. Some women take part in all three activities, some just do one or two.”
At this time of year, when the weather doesn't allow for outdoor mountain crag or sea cliff climbing, the women get their fix at the Hotrock Climbing Wall in Tollymore National Outdoor Centre. But once the winter passes, the climbers are back out on the mountains, complete with their harnesses and ropes.
Like the mountain biking and hillwalking, climbing does require a certain level of fitness but all three activities have attracted novices with basic skills. Under the watchful eye and expert guidance of the trained coaches, these members have improved and developed their skills.
“Some of the women become coaches themselves; in fact we have 10 mountain bike coaches in the club now,” says Kath. "Others who were new to their sport are fully competent now and look after themselves and others. We are a very self-sufficient club that way. We have women who had never climbed before who are now totally independent and able to navigate themselves. It's nice for me to see that progression.
“The activities can be full-on physical, though, particularly the climbing. But when you reach the top, you get that instant feeling of success, which is very empowering. That's where the feel-good factor comes from.”
Most of the climbers are in the late 40s to early 50s age group, which Kath puts down to greater inner confidence and a lack of fear. On the odd occasion that there have been some nerves on the rocks, the members have pushed through that momentary panic and continued on.
“There are so many health benefits to outdoor sports,” says Kath. “You can really see people's confidence grow as their skills improve. "Then there's the community aspect to it, that sense of belonging. If you make a plan to go walking on your own but it rains, you can just cancel. When you make a commitment to walk with others, you're more likely to turn up.
“We have family days too, to get the children involved and have organised climbs and hillwalking treks to different places like Wicklow, Donegal and Alicante in Spain.
“Of course there's the fitness factor but also, being outdoors with like-minded people is beneficial for mental health too. There's nothing quite like climbing a rock face in the sunshine with the Co Down coastal waves coming in around you. It's amazing. With the mountains, the sea and the trails, we are very blessed to have such beautiful natural resources.”
Social worker Siobhan McKibben, who lives just outside Newcastle, was one of the first members of the Feel Good Factor club. As a mum of young children, she wanted to find a hobby or sport she could enjoy herself while making the most of the beautiful locations around her.
Although she took part in the mountain biking at the start, these days she devotes her spare time to climbing and hillwalking. She loves the thrill of learning new skills and the adrenaline buzz she experiences when she knows she has improved and progressed.
“There's something wonderful about being in the head space where you're just focused on where you're going to place your hand holds or your feet,” Siobhan says. “You're in the moment. It's almost like a mindful practise, really, and when you live a busy life, that can be so grounding.
“I'm much more confident seconding than doing the lead climb with the top rope but I'm in the process of transitioning at the moment and the more I push myself, the more confidence I'll get.
“The thing is, we're all learning together and we're all supporting each other. Some of the members are hugely experienced; some belong to Mourne Rescue or are outdoor instructors, so we're learning from the best.
“Being outdoors is a great de-stressor for me and getting fit with a really nice bunch of people makes it even more enjoyable.
“If I'm at work and there's a blue sky and I know a group of the girls are out on the Mournes on a hike or a climb, I can feel the pull to be there. It's a really strong feeling and I can't wait to get back onto the mountains to join them.”
:: More at facebook.com/thefeelgoodfactor2015
