Did you hear the one about the two lads walking more than 500 miles?

You could be forgiven for thinking it's a reference to the hugely popular hit song I'm Gonna Be (500 miles) by The Proclaimers.

But it does, in fact, relate to an epic journey undertaken by two men from County Armagh, that included a hospital stay and extreme weather.

Lifelong friends John Gribbin, 60, and Eamon Donnelly, 59, began the first leg of their long walk in Essex, England six weeks ago and have now completed their colossal challenge in Blackwatertown, Northern Ireland.

The men walked for nearly 40 days across public footpaths and rights of way with nothing but backpacks and tents on their back.

Both had their own motivations for taking on the challenge, having been inspired by young relatives who had been ill.

The friends walked about 30km per day and battled everything from the blistering sun of England's recent heatwave to heavy rain in Scotland.

Donnelly said: "Being on the road for almost six weeks, is a lot.

"It was tough so, I guess, mostly I feel relief we've done it and it feels like a real achievement.

"Scotland was memorable because of the extreme wet weather, but once you are completely soaked and you can't get anymore soaked than you already are, you get used to it."

Originally from Keady in County Armagh but now living in Austria, Donnelly is no stranger to gruelling long-distance walks.

In 2017 he walked more than 2,500km from Austria to Armagh in memory of his mother who had passed away with dementia.

Gribbin, who is originally from Blackwatertown, but now lives in Essex, said the pair knew their latest challenge was going to be particularly physically challenging.

"The heat during the first two to three weeks, in particular, made it difficult," he said.

"Walking long distances with a backpack in temperatures of around 35 degrees was exhausting, but we very quickly adapted our approach and got back on track, so much so that we finished earlier than initially anticipated."

Along the way Gribben spent a day in hospital on a drip after becoming majorly dehydrated, due to unprecedented temperatures.

"I had to stay there for 24 hours, they pumped a lot of fluid into me, gave me a clean bill of health and off I went again," he said.

"It has certainly been challenging, but we kept each other going through the difficult times. We are just so pleased to finally get home to County Armagh."

The men from the Orchard County were welcomed back by a large group of family, friends and locals in the village of Blackwatertown.

Gribbin said it was a special moment.

"It's wonderful today to see so many people who came out, I really didn't expect it, and it's overwhelming to think all these people have made the effort to welcome us.

"The encouragement we have received from people at home and along the route has been truly incredible and made this an unforgettable experience."

Donnelly's brother Kieran was there to greet him at the finish line and said he was "very proud".

"He's doing something I couldn't dream of. Most people wouldn't walk 30km a day never mind nearly 40 days in a row, so it's no mean feat", Kieran Donnelly said.

Gribbin's sister Frances Barrett was also there and said it had been "an epic and mammoth task".

"To see them walk across that finish line, I was so pleased for them. It was really exhilarating, a very special moment for us all," she said.

So what now for the two men? Are there any more walking challenges in their future?

"I think I would do something like this again, I'll be thinking about it. It's potentially on the cards," said Donnelly.

"But it definitely won't be for a while."