I think that would be a good idea but then I would imagine woods/countryside footpaths would have to be officially accepted as clothing optional I would imagine,It might work though.

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I wonder if this is something BN could get with, since they don't do much to protect/expand beaches used by naturists, maybe they'll be more up for naturism in the countryside.

Hello dgaunt,

It is my impression that BN DO fight to protect naturist beaches. If you know of beaches under threat then report them to BN. (I'm not sure what response you would get if you are not a member of BN, but that is another question.)

Anyway, do you have evidence or reports of beaches being lost and if so which ones and in what way?

Back to your idea of signs -- (1) do you know of suitable walks? (2) what does the landowner think of naturist use of his/her paths? (3) what is the reaction/response of textile walkers in the area? (4) how many naturists regularly use the paths? (5) has any approach been made to the police?

John

BN is a small organisation but legal action by them has protected Holkham for our use and St Anne's Beach in Lancashire is now available. What naturism needs are more pairs of hands to volunteer to do this sort of work. It's our job to promote and protect our life-style not necessarily someone else's task.

Davie  8)

Since nudity is not illegal, any footpath is ideal for naturist walking - but as we all know it's not quite that easy  ::). Landowners don't have to be involved - a public footpath is just that, so it's not for the landowner to have a veto on what walkers wear (or don't wear). Likewise neither the police or anyone else have to be approached for permission to do something that's perfectly legal, but on practical grounds, and has been shown on various occasions, letting the police know what's going to happen can save problems and confusion later on.

We naked types spend a lot of time and effort catering to other people's preferences (or what we perceive as their preferences) and worrying about their sensibilities; at root, if we keep asking their permission to do what we're at liberty to do, we give them power over us to say no. As someone wise and famous once said, it's easier to say sorry afterwards than get permission before.

Since nudity is not illegal, any footpath is ideal for naturist walking - but as we all know it's not quite that easy  ::). Landowners don't have to be involved - a public footpath is just that, so it's not for the landowner to have a veto on what walkers wear (or don't wear). Likewise neither the police or anyone else have to be approached for permission to do something that's perfectly legal, but on practical grounds, and has been shown on various occasions, letting the police know what's going to happen can save problems and confusion later on.

We naked types spend a lot of time and effort catering to other people's preferences (or what we perceive as their preferences) and worrying about their sensibilities; at root, if we keep asking their permission to do what we're at liberty to do, we give them power over us to say no. As someone wise and famous once said, it's easier to say sorry afterwards than get permission before.

Well said, I was just about to write the same thing myself.

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We naked types spend a lot of time and effort catering to other people's preferences (or what we perceive as their preferences) and worrying about their sensibilities; at root, if we keep asking their permission to do what we're at liberty to do, we give them power over us to say no. As someone wise and famous once said, it's easier to say sorry afterwards than get permission before.

pjcomp,

I agree, it is very important to not "ask permission". I did not suggest that anyone should ask for permission and if I gave a different impression, then sorry for that. As you implied, if you ask permission to do something that is "not illegal", if that permission is denied you will have a doubly difficult job of reversing the decision. Just don't ask that particular question!

If textiles see something unusual (e.g. a naked person) while out for a walk they are likely to contact either the police or the land-owner (or land manager). If the response from the land-owner/manager is "I did not know that was happening - perhaps if you are worried you should notify the police" then you are heading for trouble. If the land-owner/manager says "they're just naturists - they're harmless" then this will probably avert problems. It is worth getting the land-owner/manager on side.

Similarly, with other walkers (textiles) that you may meet. If you dodge into the bushes just after you have been seen and if you do not talk to people you will end up making them feel uncomfortable and nervous and the word will get out along the lines of "go a bit carefully as there are dodgy naked people in that area", or "I would not go there alone". If you smile and chat to people (covering up if necessary) then you can build up a reputation that there are "harmless naturists in the area". This works to our advantage in many ways. For one, imagine that someone sees you and has a scare - if they walk on it is likely that the first person they meet they will say something like "I've just had a scare there is a naked person down there - look out". But, if you chat to everyone you meet there is a fair chance (not guarantee) that you may have previously spoken to this person so they might respond "don't worry, there are harmless/friendly naturists in the area".

If you can get the land-owner/manager on our side and if you can get other (textile) walkers on our side then there is no need to talk to the police. Nevertheless, there may be advantages. Firstly, if someone does complain to the police they will already be aware that genuine naturists are in the area and it is quite likely that it is just a panic about something that is OK. Also, they can check with the land-owner and confirm that there is harmony between naturists and other users of the area. Secondly, it puts the police in a non-confrontational situation where they have to think about the law (rather than a confrontational situation where there may be an immediate crime to deal with). And, it is to the benefit of all of us for the police to have a greater understanding of naturism and its legality.

John

The group that organises "Randonnue" in France called Apnel have put on really interesting walks in the gorges of the Ceze and Ardeche rivers near the Sabliere holiday site. On one or two occasions they have put up a notice at the usual start place they use, with a warning there is an organised walk by Naturists that day. In fact though they have met "textiles" coming the other way, none seemed in the least upset, according to the commentaries I saw. Some were family groups and not even the youngsters appeared at all upset either. There are huge numbers of canoeists using the Ardeche and they often get into predicaments with current and rocks. Naturist walkers just cause polite amusement to the canoeists there in my experience.

I have kyak experience and once tried to help two kyaks caught across a huge boulder near Les Templiers naturist venue there, being at that time naked. They were too concerned to be upset by my attire, but I couldnt reach them safely to help except by shouting advice in French. They didnt follow it, so I left them until someone in a kyak came to help at close quarters ! Maybe they distrusted me, but I think they were just shit scared and unable to follow advice.

i dont see any advantage to signposting naturist walks , it just implies that anywhere else is off limits.

when i get time i wander in local woods and countryside i wouldnt dream of contacting the landowners , i dont use one place often enough to there be any real chance of actually meeting  an  owner with the time to waste trying to catch an occasional naked walker.

i do sometimes wonder whether sticking some sort of beware of the naturist sign on the gatepost is a good idea... it would tell anyone using the same entrance that im there , but the woods i use are so extensive that youd actually be unlucky to meet other people even if there were another dozen there.

Likewise

i dont see any advantage to signposting naturist walks , it just implies that anywhere else is off limits.

I agree; as a teenager I used to read a magazine dedicated to flying model aircraft, and there were always lots of 'where may we fly?'/'where may we not fly?' queries in the letters column. One correspondent said that he'd rather see a notice prohibiting model flying than one which condescendingly allowed it, as that would at least imply it was permitted everywhere else.

I cannot see the point in signposting naturist walks, the idea seems to just feel unecessary. There are enough signs in the countryside already, we do not need more.
If I choose to walk naked I will not be going in search of such a signed path.

I am totally in favour of official signed nudist walks similar to those in Germany - we have official nude beaches where people know they will not be chased by the police and arrested just for being naked (yes I know its not against the common law but PC plod can still cause issues), plus Joe public would know that you are doing nothing wrong so won't call the police. Also the members of the public that would be shocked and horrified by seeing a naked person walking can chose not to use the path, as they can chose not to go to a nudist beach, swim or club. Many nudists are quite conservative and don't want to put themselves in situations where there may be issues, official places gives confidence to them and hence the walks will probably be more used. Also being official they could be monitored so it would be know just how many people use them and if there is a demand allow more to be created and them hopefully declare that all walks are CO. In addition if the walks go near places that people would be more concerned, the official CO area could be removed just for that section etc. To allow us all nudists and textiles to get along together respecting each others views and freedoms.

I do walk naked, but in places where I don't expect to come across anyone or at times when its unlikely others would be using the area. On occasions I have come across people and in general no negative reaction, but one or two have called me a 'pervert', or 'what do you think your doing a have a child' etc.

On balance I'm not in favour. It wonder if it may create a collecting point for the meerkats and an excuse for officialdom to get heavy if naturists deviated off the "official route".

I do like the initiative taken by at least two people who have informed officialdom that naturists intend to do a walk on a certain time in a general location in order that if they get enquiries they can inform the caller its naturists exercising a legal right.The more areas we do this the more naturist free range walking will be accepted.

Lets not be corralled into certain parts of the country by signage. We already use the far end of beaches.

Davie  8)

Well said Davie!