Free Range Naturism - One Man's Experience

An experienced naked walker writes about his many years of walking naked in Central England

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, 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 used to wear it 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, this is only pleasant though 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 needs 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. 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 of 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.