Forward with the Solway Sun Club.
Super Solway Sun Club is a shining example of how an ‘off grid’, landed club can operate without a problem and actually thrive and move forward due to the intelligent usage of efficient solar energy. Most caravan and chalet owners have installed solar technology and often forget they are actually ‘off grid’! It’s even possible to watch TV, if that’s your preference, but the norm at Solway is to socialise clothes free. There is no better place to be at one with nature and walking around the orbital nature trail naked is a stunning experience!
This beautiful club, close to Carlisle and only a few miles from the M6 motorway, with its marvellous topography, is situated approximately 90 minutes from Glasgow and Preston – Newcastle being just an hour’s drive away. Solway attracts members from all these areas and far beyond, providing a variety of local accents and traditions which always fascinated us when we were members there. The club provides a great stopping off point for Naturists travelling further afield, Solway also attracts many touring Naturist campers from the Continent. Membership of British Naturism is compulsory for members, but not for visitors. Check out their new website.
Looking ahead to the coming months, their young, go-ahead committee have huge plans to improve facilities by looking at a complete refurbishment of the facilities block. Also, tests will be underway soon on a new system to heat the fabulous outdoor pool and due to the improvements in the efficiency and affordability of solar energy, it is expected that the temperature of the pool can be raised by as much as 7 or 8 degrees on a sunny summer’s day.
Visitors are welcome during the season and Solway can accommodate such visitors in their 2 club caravans (bookable in advance) – day visits and overnight visits can be booked online (post Covid 19). Visits with tents or small camper vans are possible but, unfortunately, touring caravans are not permitted due to site licence restrictions. There is a sauna, a fully equipped kitchen and a clubhouse with a log burner installed for those perfect Naturist evenings, alternating between the sauna and the clubhouse. The club is also dog friendly and just 15 miles from Cumbria’s only monthly Great British Skinny Dip venue - the Wigton Pool.
The annual club birthday weekend this year will be their 65th and is planned to take place on the Bank holiday weekend in August, Covid-19 permitting. Elizabeth and I are still hopeful of enjoying a weekend up there in the late summer or next summer, collaborating with the committee to create a super GBSD event and enjoying the gorgeous evening walks along picturesque country lanes totally devoid of traffic.
The wildlife surrounding and embracing this stunningly scenic part of the most delightful county in England, is unbelievable. Red deer can often be seen in adjacent fields, red squirrels are prevalent and bird watching becomes a favoured pastime for many visitors, with buzzards and kestrels commonplace. I hope you can find the time to experience this fabulous ‘back to nature’ club with the English lakes and Hadrian’s wall right on the doorstep’.
Ron O’Hare (NW Organiser/Chair/PRO).
