A West Belfast woman was inspired to set up her own hiking club after finding peace in the outdoors during her fitness journey.
In 2024, Katrina McDaniel transformed her health and fitness, which included losing three stone, beating a binge eating disorder, and even doing her first fitness photoshoot.
After years of struggling with her weight and mental health, the 26-year-old began reflecting on why the changes worked this time, and realised it was all down to community. Over the year, she was supported particularly by the women in her life, from close friends, to her coach, to her colleagues at work.
Recognising the power of "girlhood", Katrina started off 2025 by setting up the Wee Girls Hiking Club, a group centred around getting into the outdoors for a walk, chat, wellness, and a bit of craic along the way. Just weeks on, the club's Instagram page has 500 followers, and a WhatsApp group organising walks and carpools has 150 members.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Katrina explained: "I have been on a fitness journey over the past year. In 2024 I lost three stone, beat a binge eating disorder, did a fitness photoshoot - I transformed my life from a fitness perspective.
"I had been struggling with my weight, binge eating, and mental health for years, and I was asking myself why the transformation worked this time, and I realised the number one thing was I had a lot of support this time, particularly from the women in my life.
"I feel like I had a lot of girlhood around me last year - my close friends, I had a female coach, the girls I work with were really supportive. It's the idea of women looking after each other, particularly in this day and age when things are so scary for women.
"One of the things I love the most, that really clears my head the most, is climbing mountains. I thought why don't I do something incorporating that for other women who don't have that support, don't have that girlhood, and maybe aren't that into fitness.
"When you're working full-time it can be hard to make time for yourself. I was thinking if I can take that out of other womens' hands, take the excuses away, I put up a date, you show up, and we can all do it together."
Katrina said she has been blown away by the reaction to the group, far surpassing her own expectations, with people from right across Northern Ireland messaging and getting in touch.
"I think it's testament to the fact there isn't a lot out there for women to come together and meet up like this," she explained.
"A lot of the reaction has been from people who say they would love to hike, but never have people to go with, or would be too scared to go alone."
The Wee Girls Hiking Club will set off on their first hike on Sunday, January 19, at 1pm at the Cavehill, meeting at the bottom of the Cavehill Trail in Belfast Castle Car Park. Despite the group having a female focus, Katrina said anybody is welcome to come along.
She said her main mission is to make exercise something fun and not a chore, while creating a meaningful community.
She said: "I want to do something different. It's a hiking group, but I want to be playing music; I want to be motivating people along the way. We're going to try and have a bit of a wellness exercise at the summit of wherever we go, just to have something to ground us. It's not the vibe of me shouting at people up a hill it's more like - 'I'm glad you're here, let's support each other to get to the top.'
"I don't want fitness to be a chore for people. If people have been doing it for years, and you're a bit older, it can maybe feel like you won't fit in. I don't want it to be like that at all - we have people of all ages and capabilities here. I don't want people to be excluded because they haven't hiked before, I don't want fitness to be a big scary thing."
For anyone who is interested in getting involved with the group, Katrina added: "Your comfort zone is a lovely place, but nothing will ever grow there. If you're going to do something this year, make it for yourself.
"If any of the values resonate with you, if you're all about girlhood and looking out for each other, if you want to increase your fitness in a supportive environment, there is something for everyone here. It's somewhere free of judgement, and if I can impart any wisdom I've gained over the past year, I would be so happy."
To find out more, you can find the Wee Girls Hiking Club on Instagram by clicking here.
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English (United States) ·