Nudists/Naturists

[JL690]

I have a friend who introduced me to life modelling last year and the same friend invited me to join her at a nudist/naturist evening at a swimming pool a few weeks ago. I went with her and found myself enjoying it, so I went with her last weekend too. There was quite a good balance between female/male attendees, which helped make it feel comfortable. So I am wondering if there is a fair number of nudists/naturists on Mumsnet too?

No idea about Mumsnet but I've stayed in resorts in the canaries with a relaxed attitude to clothing - German oriented resorts tend to be more into this.

Thank you mitogoshi, that's interesting. I can see the attraction in hot resorts.

I highly doubt it. But there will be a few dirty old men (Brian from Hull) popping along shortly for some more details.

I was a member for a few years (before COVID) and really enjoyed it. Visited a number of other clubs, some with nice outdoor facilities and a few beaches on the south coast, beautiful and unspoilt.

No. I don't get why it would be enjoyable unless you were there to ogle. And it's not as if you're going to feel significantly cooler in the hot weather than if you were wearing a bikini, surely.

I'm not a naturist. Could someone explain what's enjoyable about it? I've always been very curious about it. I would feel incredibly uncomfortable to hang out with people completely naked. I realise this may be due to my own body hang ups, shyness, the fact I've been socialised to hide my body. Why do people like it - is it because it feels liberating, relaxing?

I have a family member who is a ‘naturist’. Unfortunately, he’s also a convicted sexual offender and it’s quite obvious that he chooses the resort he attends because the demographics of the clientele match the person he abused. I don’t think that’s everyone who goes to these sorts of places, but I would have a hard time believing he’s the only one. So it’s a very hard no from me.

I wouldn’t say I’m a naturist as I don’t go to nudist events, but I am generally relaxed about nudity and don’t think bodies are inherently sexual or shameful etc. I have a very positive perception of my body. I went to a festival that had a nudist area and yes, I did find it liberating and relaxing, seeing all different body types makes you realise that narrow beauty ideals aren’t the norm. There were old people, thin, fat, tall, young (youngest in their 20s, as obviously it was adults only) women with full body hair, wonky boobs, small willies, all sorts. I genuinely didn’t get any creepy vibes from anyone and that was the best thing about it - the fact everyone was so relaxed we all just sat chatting and singing (it was that kind of hippy vibe) and being nude was the least interesting thing happening.

Thank you for all your replies.

Thanks for the warning @TheSnakeCharmer , I'll be wary of Brian from Hull.

@Bereta were they official nudist beaches?

@AllProperTeaIsTheft I felt very comfortable, not ogled and certainly didn't ogle anyone myself. The other people there were very friendly and chatty - with eye contact.

@SallyWD I can only speak from my limited experience, it was a different feeling swimming without a costume, it felt freer than wearing a costume, and the same in the sauna and steam room - no clingy swimsuit soaked in sweat. The feeling of getting air all over was very refreshing.

@mindutopia that's sad and I understand your hard no because of that. The place I went with my friend was welcoming but they also control who attends so I hope that means any pests don't attend.

@TedMullins that sounds like a very interesting festival, though a bit beyond my comfort zone, I think. And I agree with your last sentence, when everyone is naked the nudity is the least interesting thing happening.

@JL690 yes, official naturist beaches, one is even a National Trust one.

Just like @SallyWD said, amazing freedom swimming with nothing on, best bit is that you dry off in seconds, by the time u return to the towel U only need it to sit on it.

On the beaches (UK) people give u plenty of space and there is no ogling. I once stumbled upon a naturist beach without a towel (was walking a section of the coast), but it was a nice day and decided to stay on for a bit in the sunshine.

Some of the clubs I visited organised games and there were also BBQs and social events but I never stayed for those so can't comment (I did play badminton).

Jeepers, have I got a story for thee.

Lovely day out at The Donkey Sanctuary, South Devon. Sun was shining so afterwards I took a walk down the valley to the beach below. Pebbly, but stunning soft cliffs at each end and plenty of flora. It was deserted and rolled my blanket out and spent the whole afternoon there. Apart from two ramblers I saw nobody else. Complete tranquillity.

Roll on a year later and I take two families from a religious group for a day at the Donkey Sanctuary. Afterwards I walk them down to the beach armed with a picnic and plenty of chairs and blankets. Only to find......lots of (as @TedMullins said)..... "There were old people, thin, fat, tall, young women with full body hair, wonky boobs, small willies, all sorts."

Problem was that beforehand I had 'bigged up' this beach to get them interested enough to visit, saying things like "this is one of my favourite beaches" and "the views are stunning - trust me."

@Bereta I think I found it on Google, well down on the south coast?

A sauna without swimwear, be it wrapped in or just sat on a towel, I find to be more comfortable. As is done in the Netherlands.

Only concern in the UK with such an approach is that it would attract men not there just for the comfort of a sauna.

I don’t get it myself, I don’t see what’s more freeing being in a bikini v in the buff, the whole amazing freedom stuff, but more it’s the wanting to hang out publicly with other naked people, I find that very odd. And slightly amusing.

I have an elderly neighbour who is a nudist, occasionally see him gardening in the buff. Which is rather amusing as he is very eccentric ,and that I find bizzarely less odd , as it’s his own place, than the desire to hang out publicly with other naked people, strangers at that, I can’t even work out what that’s about. 😂

for me, it’s one thing to like being naked, it’s a whole other thing when you want to do it with strangers in a public place.

Not in the UK and can't even imagine a regular sauna with swimwear. Yuck - sounds highly unhygienic. Also, I've had to do this a couple of times staying in American hotels, and it's invariably meant the demise of an expensive swimsuit since the latex in the fabric never recovered. Can't even imagine folks making a regular habit out of clothed sauna. Unless they're wearing some type of string bikini that would render the whole "clothed" aspect rather superfluous.

@GrumpyPanda I didn't know saunas had that effect in swimsuits 😬In that case it definitely makes sense to remove them before using a sauna.

There is a naturist beach not far from me that I have been to a few times, split into 3 unofficial sections for naturists, swingers/exhibitionsits and gay/bi men. Lovely place when its hot but a bit of a walk carrying the picnic 😅

I stayed at a hotel in Budapest that has its own natural hot spring spa. The hot spring bits are separated by sex, and most people go naked. I opted for an optional “modesty apron”, which is as ridiculous as it sounds and as useless as a chocolate teapot, so abandoned it after about three seconds. It was very freeing to swim in the hot spring pool without clothing.

Agree with the poster above who said saunas with clothing are grim, either wrap up in a towel or sit on the towel, so much more comfortable. Mind you I once shared a sauna with Frank Bruno, who wore tiny red speedos, a chunky gold chain and a very bling watch. I did wear my swimming costume for that one!

there were also BBQs
I wouldn't want to have to risk-assess that.
Dear god just no. People are odd enough with their clothes on. Being buttock-to-buttock with some naked stranger is the stuff of nightmares. Also, a million other reasons.

I have been to a nudist beach several times (in the south), walked a friend along there last summer as he had never walked down that end of he beach, he thought it was hilarious and found it hard not to ogle at people, this particular beach is pretty popular with the local male gay community so it’s usually more males than females, though people travel quite far just to use the beach. I have been almost naked on it but not fully, some people just go topless, others don’t go naked at all and may just be with a partner who’s naked. Seeing naked people doesn’t bother me and I can see why some people like doing it (the all over tan for a start and swimming in the sea without having a cold wet swimming costume).

most people look better with their clothes on.

I love the feeling of sun on my bare skin (important not to burn, though,) and swimming with no cossie. And if I like it, why shouldn't others? It's not about looking at others, it's about being comfortable in your own skin. Not that I'd call myself a naturist, but nudity doesn't bother me.

I use steam rooms and saunas weekly in my swimsuit. No sign of decay yet.

The worst thing for swim suits are resorts and water parks. The sandstone edges and slides trash them.

I am not going on the beach to watch other people or "show up", I go there to enjoy the beach, which consists of water, sand and sunshine(!), period. Creeping on other peoples clothing (or not clothing in this case) is at least rude in my book. There are FAR worse things in the world than seeing a human body.

No. Personally I think people should wear as much clothing as possible.