At one gite we stayed at we were warned to be careful if going around barefoot as the bees were active in the clover. I did go barefoot be I was careful about where I placed my feet

Davie  8)

How about a pair of open sandals as a compromise, bare on top and protected underneath! I don't see how anyone can claim you are not a naturist by wearing protection for your feet, has anyone seen how far a Blackthorn can penetrate even through rubber soles? Even my tractor tyres need internal protection! I think this is where ideology and common sense part company!

I wear open Merrell sandals which are waterproof, i.e. they can wet without falling apart. I don't like trainers. If I'm walking in serious country I wear boots and I still feel I'm being a naturist.

Inside I either wear old sandals (not slippers - are they for old people? ducking now!) or barefoot. If I'm dancing barefoot does seem so much better

Davie  8)

Re previous post of thorns - yes I have and all too often thad the 'pleasure' of thorns in my feet - with or without footwear! We have Horethorn Hedges and naturally I cut then every year and it doesn't matter how careful I am many will always end in my feet!!!! Same when I was young - my sister and mother's lost needles always ended in my feet!

I wear open Merrell sandals which are waterproof, i.e. they can wet without falling apart. I don't like trainers. If I'm walking in serious country I wear boots and I still feel I'm being a naturist.

Inside I either wear old sandals (not slippers - are they for old people? ducking now!) or barefoot. If I'm dancing barefoot does seem so much better

Davie  8)

Yep - you can't beat a pair of Merrell sandals - they're good for everything from the beach to hill walking! I'm on my 3rd pair!

I always wear these
Karrimor Amazon Mens Sandals
£17.99 from Sports direct https://www.sportsdirect.com/mens/mens-walking-sandals they are really comfortable easy to clean, you can tramp through anything then just rinse your feet in a puddle and carry on.

Many of the walks I go on, have sharp stones, gravel, twigs, thistles and other unpleasant items at least in places. At home on grass bare foot no problem, but elsewhere sensible footwear.

In addition I like to look up and across the countryside rather than down at my feet to see what I may step in (including dog mess, or horse poo) - granted that still does require checking the ground - but its one thing having it on your shoe, another on your bare feet.

I worried about all these things when I started walking barefoot (maybe not the twigs...), but as your feet get tougher with practice, your eyes become more practiced at spotting dangers and you learn to walk lightly, they become much less of a problem than you might think. I used to almost always carry backup huaraches (simple laced rubber sole) or Sockwas (rather like water shoes) but I usually now only carry if on unknown territory. Thorns are rarely a real problem. Painful if you step on one but you feel it before putting your full weight on. If you are regularly barefoot you develop thickened pads. I have had occassional nuisance of the tip of a thorn breaking off in foot if not careful taking the thorn out.
Dog mess? I’ve knowingly stepped in this once or twice in 8 or 9 years (depends on your area) and immediately wiped off on grass or washed in stream - much easier than cleaning shoes.
Thistles? One of the worst deterrents to my barefooting! I try to avoid manky agricultural areas with lots of thistles

At one gite we stayed at we were warned to be careful if going around barefoot as the bees were active in the clover. I did go barefoot be I was careful about where I placed my feet

Davie  8)

I did manage to stand on and get stung by bumblebees on two consecutive days as they were foraging in the clover. I like that I now walk with much more awareness both for the hidden dangers and for the wildlife that I might simply be unknowingly trampling if wearing boots.

Being barefoot whenever I can is at least as important to me as not wearing clothes. I may feel more vulnerable but through that I feel much more connected to nature and remain much more ‘in the moment’. It’s a kind of meditation.

I must admit, the thought of doing a proper walk nude having left everything behind and carrying nothing really appeals. I usually have a daysack with my clothes in.

I've only walked beaches nude and barefoot without even carrying a towel for a few hundred yards and I would just like to keep going like that, it feels amazing.

However I don't know that I could do it away from a beach without something on my feet as my ankles are a bit dodgy, but would like to try it.

Turning over ankles is largely a problem of shoes and less supportive boots. Going barefoot, the foot naturally flexes to the ground underneath and proprioception system works properly as all those nerves in your feet feed to the brain information. Feet and ankles also become stronger the more you walk barefoot. You also learn to walk more lightly and with more awareness, feeling each step.

I'm a fan of walking barefoot too but stick to clean areas like my house, garden, the beach and grassy countryside.

Did experiment with barefoot running for a time and liked it but couldn't get the cardio workout due to going a lot slower.

Barefoot on beaches - absolutely yes - including running. Done some quite long walks and runs. Around Lincolnshire there are a lot of long beaches and many with heavy mud areas - so barefoot (and bare all over - sometimes you fall over since your foot is stuck) is the best way.

Some beaches in wales for long naked walks and positive press information ..
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/nudist-beaches-wales-people-really-11638060

(I don't have the same for Lincolnshire - since that are not official nudist beaches).