milfmog:

I use these pretty regularly and would not be keen to have others using them and drawing further attention to them.

If the publication were restricted to closed naturist sites, those other users would be there for the same reason that you are. That can only draw the kind of attention which would further the cause, surely!

Up to a point I agree, however my spots, although quiet, are not entirely textile free and more naturists walking there will almost certainly lead to more naturists being seen there. Sooner or later "Outraged of High Wycombe" will be writing to the local papers and "something will have to be done".

Areas that have recognition from the authorities should not suffer from busybody interference, but that can not be assured for "off the reservation" naturism.

On the flip side, I have been PM'ed by other naturists who were travelling into or through my home range and wanted suggestions. I have never had a problem with pointing them in the right general direction or, on one occasion, meeting up and showing a couple around one of my routes. I am happy to continue to do that.

Have fun,

Ian.

This thread has raised some interesting perspectives. In general people are OK with giving ideas but not specifics.

This is similar to the views of local naturists in coastal areas where there are un-official beaches used by naturists. They prefer to keep the info 'word of mouth'. For example I've talked to several people at Tything Barn and they have told me loads of information about Pembrokeshire beaches. This is after they know that I can be trusted. I was surprised at the time that none of them wanted to have an official beach.

In North Wales Morfa Dyffryn  has been raided twice this year by the police over use of the out of bounds dunes. (which I agree should be out of bounds BTW)
I have a couple of friends who have been visitors to MD for over 30 yrs. They both think this could threaten legitimate use on this official beach. They blame the internet for attracting the undesirables.

Nick

Just to play devils advocate for a minute , if we all stay hidden away we will never get wider acceptance?

(waits for abuse to be hurled!!)

Its a fair point, but the problem is who is willing to stick their head (let alone their naked body) above the parapet and say Hey I'm here so what!
😉

Its a strange old world. I don,t think that naturists are hidden away at all. I would guess that every adult in the country knows that we exist and everyone knows someone who knows of someone who has gone nude abroad while on holiday. Bumping into people while on a nude walk is not going to help much. Those who do not care will forget about it quite quickly. Those that are offended will do us no good at all. The pressure is being applied, even by the media. It will take time. How long did it take for topless women to be accepted on British beaches? What I find strange is that if a nude event is organised, especially for a charity then very few complain. It seems it is ok to go nude for good causes but doing it for yourself is weird. Tel

It seems it is ok to go nude for good causes but doing it for yourself is weird.

I suspect that the association of a good cause with the nudity leaves "Outraged of Hemel Hempstead" less able to complain because it will look like they are undermining the good cause.

I'd like to see more of the publicity that associating with a charity or public work can produce particularly if the event is in a public space as this does (slowly) allow more folks to become accustomed to the idea that nudity in public is not wrong, let alone illegal.

I am wondering whether I can find a suitable piece of public access land that needs a tidy up for World Naked Gardening day next year (It was 8 May this year, though it is usually the first Saturday in May - more details here). If a group can be got together for that it could be quite an effective piece of positive, public work.

Have fun,

Ian.

Just to play devils advocate for a minute , if we all stay hidden away we will never get wider acceptance?

(waits for abuse to be hurled!!)

I think that misses the point though.  I am not hiding from the public and I often speak to people where I walk so thereby gaining acceptance as I go along. What a lot of naturists here are doing is avoiding the problems that arrise when too many natusists gather in one place and attract too much attention too quickly resulting in complaints and visits from plod.

If you want acceptance of beaches then thats different but nude walking in the countryside is something the public are not used to and it needs to be treated differently.

In most cases I believe people here search for their own routes - somthing everyone can do themselves with not a lot of effort.

Just to play devils advocate for a minute , if we all stay hidden away we will never get wider acceptance?

(waits for abuse to be hurled!!)

I think that misses the point though.  I am not hiding from the public and I often speak to people where I walk so thereby gaining acceptance as I go along. What a lot of naturists here are doing is avoiding the problems that arrise when too many natusists gather in one place and attract too much attention too quickly resulting in complaints and visits from plod.

If you want acceptance of beaches then thats different but nude walking in the countryside is something the public are not used to and it needs to be treated differently.

In most cases I believe people here search for their own routes - somthing everyone can do themselves with not a lot of effort.

I do agree to a large extent with what you are saying, for myself i would prefer to walk as a group purely from the social aspect, walking with other like minded people has more appeal than doing it alone, but then thats a purely personal choice & we are all different.

I do agree to a large extent with what you are saying, for myself i would prefer to walk as a group purely from the social aspect, walking with other like minded people has more appeal than doing it alone, but then that's a purely personal choice & we are all different. 

Have to agree, prefer to be in the company or other naturists.

I dont mind company - but sureley saying you prefer to be in company of other naturists kind of also goes against the acceptance issue.  I would like to be in company full stop.  I dont care if people are dressed or not.  Finding a naturist who wants to join a nude walk is easy.  Finding a textile that is accepting enough to keep me company on a walk is far more rewarding.

I agree with the comments here.  I wouldn't want to disclose my favourite routes for all to see only to find the local paper for that area picking it up.  As you know they do trawl the web for juicy gossip.  The papers in this part of the world love to run headlines along the lines of 'naked hikers seen walking along the Exe Canal - protect your children from this menace'.  You wouldn't believe what they print (when they're short of copy) about Budleigh Salterton beach!

When planning new routes I use an OS map and Google Earth.  You can locate a decent path on the map that skirts villages and towns and use Google Earth to identify farm buildings and other hazards to naked walking.

I also test a route by walking it clothed if I have any doubts.

All in all I find you can walk pretty much where ever you want to once you're half a mile away from civilisation especially during the week.

When planning new routes I use an OS map and Google Earth.

For those who haven't see/tried it google google earth can display ordnance survey maps. Go into google and enter  Gavin Brocks unofficial ordnance map overlays or words to that effect. They are actually licenced with OS. There are several scales, country road style maps, 50,000 Landranger and a street maps which are good for town use. If you use the slide above layers you can fade the maps in and out. (Tip this sometimes fails to work. Disable and re-able the map overlay)

These overlays are wonderful for route planning and even more so if you work out a path, save it then go to it's properties for a diagram of the elevation.

Davie  😎

Davie

The tip you suggested about the Ordnance Survey overlays on Google Earth is brilliant. 

In the past I've spread my maps out and then looked at Google Earth on the PC.  You always loose track of where you are as you move from paper to screen!

The fact that the 2 can be overlaid is extremely useful, specially when planning walking routes.

The other advantage I see immediately is that you can print off the relevant bit of the OS map and carry that with when you walk, rather than a huge map that is always folded just a the point when you happen to be standing!

Thanks for the tip.

Martin

Hi,
This is a debate that I have had with many people. The problem seems to be how we come into contact with the public. If we open the door to the sweet shop we will get everyone in and it will be ruined for the rest. SOC has a code of behaviour and has public contact without seeking to confront establishment bodies. By working with people as Andrew Moore has shown you win their hearts and convince them. You also teach them to be concerned about their environment and others in that area.

Although there is a point in more draconian ways of fighting the establishment we currently have the public on our side. They may not participate but they don't mind and the softly softly approach is gradually making it a more mainstream topic, disussable and discoverable without so much guilt and secrecy.

Perhaps we should be asking why Steve Gough is spending so much time behind bars (and at our expense) and why the police seem to be using antisocial legislation to bind naturists / nudists into not "offending" again when they did nothing wrong in the first place, using the public goodwill to reinforce our stance.

My own experience of police activity relating to naked rambling is that they were more concerned that a walker had been harassed then whether he was naked. That is a balance I would like to maintain.

Keep up the pressure though for nudity to be free from legality!

best wishes,
Shay