It's a long way from posing as calendar girls to trekking across Cuba - but Barbara Clarkson and Jaki Vaughan took the transition in their stride.

The two mental health nurses found fame last year after baring nearly all - in the tradition of the Rylstone Women's Institute- for Burley-in-Wharfedale's very own risque calendar.

Burley's Beauty Spots - featuring a gaggle of local women - proved an instant hit. And it provided Barbara and Jacki with the funds they needed to take part in a Cuban trek in aid of the National Deaf Children's Society.

The pair swopped glamour for grind as they undertook the 80 mile journey through the Sierra del Escambray mountain range this month.

But after getting back - and raising about £5,000 - they say they have no regrets about going on the trip.

Barbara, 49, said: "It was absolutely fantastic - the most incredible experience."

The Burley women were in a group with 16 other women and two men, who raised a total of £35,000 for the charity.

And together the group experienced elation and exhaustion as they slogged through stunning terrain.

The trekkers spent a day in Havana in the North of the country before transferring to the mountains and spending five days walking to the South coast.

Barbara said: "It was hard slog but we bonded really well and helped each other along.

"Some of the routes were established trails but there were others that were just picked out the night before.

"It was absolutely wonderful - but a little bit scary at times."

The group were accompanied by two representatives of the charity and a Cuban guide.

Barbara said: "The organisation was out of this world. I have never come across something that big organised that well. It was so smooth."

Throughout their trek they were greeted warmly by the locals.

"They are fabulous people," Barbara said.

"We stopped all the time at these little pineapple and coffee farms.

"Many of them were off the beaten track, we're talking about dirt farms with an outside box for a toilet.

"But they always came out to greet us with coffee, and on one occasion they sliced up pineapple for us. They are lovely, lovely people."

Barbara, who joined a health club to help prepare for the expedition, described the trip as very challenging physically.

She said: "I was not ultra fit by any means. When we got there we all had our own fear that we would be the one who wasn't fit enough - but we were all on about the same level.

"We all had our struggles and we all had our days when we thought my god I can't go on. But we helped each other."

The charity has run a number of treks across Cuba - but Barbara says her group was the only one where everyone completed the whole journey.

And when they came to the end of their trek their achievement was marked with celebrations. As they crossed the final bridge they were greeted with balloons and a tray of cocktails.

They finished their journey in a beautiful hotel at Playa Ancon, surrounded by idyllic white beaches and the Caribbean.

But Barbara said: "None of us wanted to be there - we just wanted to be back in the mountains."