I look for routes on an OS 25,000 map and for me search for open countryside avoiding road and as much as possible from farms etc. I also look at google earth. You can overlay the OS 50.000 mpas on google earth - see Gavin Brocks site here

I like open country as I can see if anyone else is about. If I can't see what they are wearing its a fair bet they can't see what I'm not. I usually walk alone but I have been with groups, always better with strength in numbers. My last walk was with the naturist ramblers but their area is the SE whilst I'm in the Midlands. They may suit you down to the ground. See here The Peak District and into Wales is more my play area.

As to etiquette it depends a bit on yourself. Some like to cover up whilst others are more brave and open. The naturist ramblers will cover up unless suddenly surprised when they will explain who they are. I've never heard of them having any problems. 

I've experienced no problems, the last one was a runner who passed me whilst I was sitting down munching an apple. The most recent problem was getting caught naked as a squall struck. Clothes went on pretty sharply! On another occasion a swarm of bees decided to investigate my location whilst naked on top of a hill. I ran! Fortunately they buzzed off.

Davie  8)

Once you've decided where you want to try your first outing, walk it clothed at a day/time that aligns with your plans. See how many (if any) people are around. Check for nearby activity - visibility from houses, roads, etc. And remember to look behind you as well as in front ... It may prove that this is an impractical naked walk, in which case you can look for something better.

You probably won't be able or comfortable to walk the whole distance naked, but you'll get an idea of where and when you may want to cover up.

Once you've reconnoitered the route and feel comfortable with it you can go back and do it naked, and once you've done this a couple of times you'll start to feel more confident about getting out and about and getting naked when it feels right.

Just because you can see houses in the distance, don't see that as a moment to get dressed - even if you're theoretically visible from a mile away, it's unlikely anyone will be looking or, if they are, they'll see you. The same for roads - drivers are too busy watching ahead at 50mph to notice you in the fields.

We do a lot of walking, clothed, and as we do I'm always assessing a walk's nude potential, so when I get the chance to go for a naked hike I know where to start, and which walks to avoid.

i use a shoulder bag rather than a rucksack , normally the bag hangs by my left hip but if surprised it swings round infront easily.
i also use a beach wrap as a first article of clothing , its basically a flimsy wrap round skirt that ties at the hip , a lot easiers to slip on in a hurry than a pair of shorts.

ive also got a hat with a zipped pocket in the side... just large enough to take a car key.  useful if youre out without a secure bag.

Thanks for the great advice guys. Good sound advice.

It would be good to know how ladies find it and if there is any advice you can give my partner. The shoulder bag idea seems very good.

I guess for my partner covering up with a sarong is the best option until we build up more confidence and perhaps choose not to cover up. I think its a very personal thing whether you decide to cover up or not.

also bear in mind that encountering a naked couple in the wilds  tends to be viewed differently to encountering a solo naked male.

Hi there people,

Me and my partner are looking at planning a few naked walks for next year.

We live on the surrey hampshire boarder. Whilst we enjoy walking, we dont like the idea of being the subject of a lynch mob for exercising our right to ne naked in public.

Im guessing as a naked walker the key to success is finding a semi secluded route.

Ideally we would like to walk about 5/10 miles and stop for a picnic when the weather improves.

If anybody has some advice on planning the perfect naturist walk, id be very grateful.

Key areas:-

Etiquete, location and more importantly peoples personal accounts of walks that went well and the disasters too please.

Hope you find this helpful and interesting.
I have walked naked for many years and found it possible to spend most of my time walking naked in forest, moorland, countryside and mountainous areas. I have walked naked in the UK, France, Spain, Austria and New Zealand.
I like to travel light, I usually carry a wrap and wear sandals for walks of less than 3 to 4 hours duration when I know the weather is going to be suitable. If the weather is likely to change for the worst I carry a thermal T shirt and sometimes a lightweight plastic cape that folds up really small all in a lightweight cloth bag with strings that can be worn like a rucksack. If I am walking for longer I carry half a litre of water and sometimes a sandwich and banana. I have found that this is all I need even when walking naked in Spain in temperatures up to 30 degrees C. In the UK I often walk when the temperature is as low as 10 degrees C, although this is only pleasant when there is virtually no wind, a little winter sun can make it feel quite warm. Walking speed is important, if I feel cold I find I quickly warm up if I walk a little faster and I don’t stop as the body temperature can drop quite quickly when not moving. However I have established my needs over many years. Everyone is different and may need different degrees of physical protection, food and drink. If you are not used to walking you need establish your own needs and initially take more than you think you need and gradually reduce the load with experience.
I now wear sturdy sandals without socks for all of my walks as I find all other forms of footwear give me painful blisters but most people wear socks, walking shoes or boots. I do know of naturist walkers who walk barefoot and I have tried it myself and it is a wonderful experience but takes many years to condition the feet to cope with it. I always carry my mobile phone and usually have view ranger running on it to record where I have been. There have been a few occasions when I have been exploring in unknown territory that I have had to use the app on my phone to help me find my way home. I don’t use paper maps because I have developed a good sense of direction but I would advise the use of ordinance survey maps and compass generally in addition to any electronic devices, you never know when an electronic device may let you down.
When walking naked it is always important to look confident and friendly, I always look people in the face and say a cheery hello. I never try to hide or run away or act any differently to the way I would if I were clothed. When walking in open countryside moorland or other open areas it is easy to see anyone in the distance. If I can see that I am likely to encounter someone I do not know and I can’t deviate my walk a little to avoid walking very close to them, I usually leisurely put my wrap on while still walking when they are close enough to be able to see me put it on. (I always use a wrap in preference to shorts it can be put on in seconds whereas shorts can be very difficult over boots or shoes and looks very clumsy as well as talking too long). I believe that this signals that I have no intention of causing alarm or distress, I always say hello and often talk to people and let them know I am a naturist. As soon as I am past them I remove my wrap or remove it sooner if they say that they do not have a problem with me being naked, which is usually the case. If I do not have to pass in close proximity to anyone I do not usually put my wrap on.
When walking in areas where it is not possible to see if people are around there are several things I have learned. It is often possible to know if anyone has walked a trail before you because if no one has been there for several hours you will most likely encounter cobwebs across your path and you will feel them on your body as you pass through them. If you see or hear lizards or small animals scurrying about at the sides of the tracks you are walking, it is likely no one has passed that way for some time. If there are flocks of birds or even single birds around watch which way they fly off. If they fly away from you it is likely no one has been around for a while. If they fly more towards you it is likely that there is someone in front of you. Listen for tell-tale signs like a dog barking in the distance or people talking, the sound of pheasants or partridges taking off as they have been disturbed by someone. Dogs that are not on a lead usually walk in front of their owners and there has been many an occasion when I have seen a dog appearing from round a corner, which has given me enough time to put my wrap on or just hold it or my bag in front of me before the owner appears.
It would be nice not to cover up at all while walking naked as there is no law that states that it is illegal to be naked in a public place. However, unless you are able to be clear about your intentions it is possible that misunderstandings can arise about your motives and not everyone knows it is not an offence to be naked. Walking in a group of 3 or more people is a lot less likely to raise suspicion than a lone male walker. If I was unfortunate enough to have to talk to the police and am asked why I covered up, I would tell them I am a naturist and say I have no intention of upsetting anyone, that I cover up in order to avoid any misunderstanding about my intentions and out of consideration to people who may not understand the naturist lifestyle. These actions should go a long way to satisfy the police that I have no intention of causing alarm or distress and it should minimise any discomfort that anyone might experience. I can genuinely say that in more than 40 years of walking naked I have never seen any sign of alarm or distress displayed by any person I have encountered. I also believe that it is important to let the police know that no visible sign of alarm or distress was displayed by the person who has made a report to them. If someone approaches you or shouts at you this is not likely to be a sign of alarm or distress. If someone screams, runs away or looks visibly shaken or shows some other reaction then they may be able to convince a magistrate or judge that they were alarmed or distressed. If this is the case there is the risk that you could be prosecuted under section 5 of the public order act. I would personally never accept a caution if I was simply going about my business naked and would never agree to any suggestion by anyone that I had intended to cause alarm and distress.
If you are arrested and taken to a police station you will probably be put in a cell for several hours, your photograph, finger prints and DNA will be sampled, you will be taken to an interview room where you will be asked to make a statement about what has happened. You will be entitled to phone someone to let them know where you are. You will be asked if you want a duty solicitor, I would always say I do. Be very careful what you say at all times when talking to the police especially when you have been cautioned and during your recorded interview. You do not have to say anything but sometimes your silence can be used against you.  Never agree to any scenario that the police put to you without thinking very carefully about what has been said. You could be accused of admitting to something just by agreeing with something a policeman has said or by not rebuffing it clearly enough.
I walk regularly in Sherwood Forest and have established good relations with the warden who works for the RSPB. By writing to the RSPB about naturists using the area and sending them information about us the warden is naturist friendly. If she gets phone calls about naked people simply going about their normal business she is able to provide reassurance that it is likely to be naturists. I often talk to her in the forest just wearing my birthday suit. I have also been in correspondence with the police about naturism and recently talked to them about a naked walk that I organised. The response I received was very positive and the police control room was informed about the walk and asked to reassure anyone who phoned in about a group of naturist ramblers. I believe that the more that officials and the police know about us the better relations will be and the less trouble we will have with them. 
Enjoy your naked walking but balance the joy it will bring with the risks you may face. Many people do not realise that just by being arrested you cannot use the visa waiver programme to transit through or visit the states for example. You will have to apply through the embassy for a visa and jump through all the hoops that entails.

As a short note - be aware of the time of day - routes are often more quite during week days and in school time - naturally away from built up areas or connecting routes. Often woods have many walking routes and the more remote ones are often not used during the week. Routes suitable for cyclists won't give you any chance to cover up - but often that just means you accept that you may be seen - so just relax. As others have said use google and maps. Also don't worry, very few people will have negative reaction especially to a couple.

These are great responses and are all reassuring. Many thanks guys

Pretty much I do what people have mentioned above.  Plan some routes using OS mapping / google maps .  Try to choose walks off the beaten track, rather than popular walking route.

Try and walk mid week when there will be less people about, rather than during the weekend. 

I also try to take tan / light coloured shorts.  That way if I see someone in the distance while naked, and I'm able to discretely put the shorts on before an "encounter", perhaps they will assume that I was not naked, but was wearing tan / light coloured shorts and their eyes deceived them! In any case if you can't tell from a distance what they are wearing, then it's unlikely that they will be able to tell from a distance what you are not wearing!

However it does make sense to be discrete and cautious. Do not do what this chap did and approach a woman while naked!  http://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/15123506.Naked_rambler_in_the_Ochils_given_soft_sentence/

Scotland does view nudity different to England - if memory serves Mr Gough AKA the naked rambler was arrested by the police many times whilst he did his naked and very public walk through England but never got sentenced - until he got to Scotland. There have been other references to naked people being arrested for quite innocent things in Scotland with some (a painter) not being sentenced.    Unfortunately this is always an issue with 'public' nudity you never know how people will react and worse how the police will react.

I could show you a few walks.  I live in the GU52 postcode area and do over 200 miles of naturist walks each year.  I record most of the walk on an app.

I have a friend in Cornwall who runs the same coastal path 3 or 4 times a week nude except for running shoes. The only people she meets and those who known her for ages. If she does come across new textiles(usually tourists) she just keeps running and doesn't look back.

As Cornwall is small she has only found the best path to run by trial and error. Even the local police know she runs nude along her secluded path but as she isn't hurting anyone and no-one has complained about it they do nothing.

I could show you a few walks.  I live in the GU52 postcode area and do over 200 miles of naturist walks each year.  I record most of the walk on an app.

Would appreciate it if you could send me those details BernieMann as I live in SW London but know the area you mention quite well but not well enough to know where to go for naked walks.