I went to The Gathering in Scotland a couple of days ago for a long week end. This is an event that happens every year in Scotland, we hire a hotel and we are naked for the whole week end with lots of activities. One of them is usually a naked walk. 13 of us had a lovely naked walk with on the mountain at the front of the hotel. It was lovely to be joined by about 150 half marathon runners doing the same route as us. Nice to see that the locals are so nice and friendly. Not one word of disapproval from anyone. But lots of smiles and encouragement from them and us. It will be interesting to see what the local press make of it.
one woman was so impressed she wanted her photo taking with us. I suspect she will be taking a look at the BN website.
So far the press have not picked up on this and the running web site has some photos of us and lots of naturist friendly comments. We have come a long way since Stephen Gough was arrested and locked up for walking naked in Scotland several years ago.
I didn't know this was happening. I heard the hotel in Rothesay that used to host it is in receivership.
How do I get on the mailing list for next year?
I've looked and can't see much. Very little even on twitter, bar a couple comments (neither positive nor negative):
https://twitter.com/search?q=devils%20foot%20marathon&src=typed_query&f=live
I guess when you are running up and down hills then a few bare bums aren't that important. I have not had a bad experience up hills.
I guess one good thing is just how few posts it generated. I'd bet many of those runners still had their mobile phone with them (for running apps and the like), and no obvious photos either.
This all helps to give more naturists confidence to step out from their homes or naturist retreats and explore it elsewhere. I'm not sure I'd have been confident enough to stay naked if solo, but in a sizeable group with others the potential embarssment is diluted, if not feeling emboldened even. It all helps, both us and others.
Got up the hills this morning at 5:30. Naked and with a head torch to light the way, me and my dog set off for our walk. About 6:15, i bumped into a textile hill runner and we had a blether for a few minutes before going our separate ways. No mention of being without clothes.
@jesseThere were lots of people taking photographs including the official race photographer, we actually posed for some photos for her. The running site had a lot of photos with positive comments. Facebook has removed most of them. I expected there to be a lot of publicity but it hasn't happened, which I find very encouraging. The public are clearly becoming more comfortable with naturists.
It is a good and positive event, that's for sure. I do think that the public are becoming more comfortable with naturists when events such as WNBR and programmes such as Naked Attractions and Steph's Lunch Box brings it into the living room. Also, I do think that there is a difference in culture between England and Scotland as well as the attitude of people who do "extreme" outdoor activities.
Scotland has a huge land mass, not that far off the size of England. Huge chunks of it are wilderness. The population is about 10% of England and, because we have the right to responsible access, no one can stop us from walking any open area irrespective of ownership. Recently, I walked naked on the Queen's Balmoral estate. She doesn't have the power to stop me.
Irrespective hill walkers / runners, naked or not, face the same arduous challenges. We have all experienced a lot worse than a bare bum. However, back at ground level, near a car park, where "normal" people walk, rightly or wrongly, it is understandable that there will be a different viewpoint.
@hillwalker Here are some photos from the running web site before facebook removed them
That is exactly the sort of thing that i experience when i bump into people on the hills.
Here is another
They are brilliant. It should give members some confidence that being naked outside should not cause stress by continually doing a 360 degree scan of the landscape.
If the runners are anything like me, when I'm well into a race all I'm focussed on is cake 😂🎂, never mind buns.
Great post and pics! I really need to get out on a naked walk.
