..to want to swim naked

[notsocrates]

I am waaaaaay the wrong side of 40 and have never swum in a lake, river or pool unencumbered by clothes. Have I left it too late or should I throw caution to the wind, rip up my "To Do" list, head out to the nearest remote body of water and embrace wild swimming?

There are other things I want to do before I die that are a little more suited to my, ahem, great age and beauty (not). Should I start with those instead, I wonder, rather than risk frightening the horses?

no

I don't know what the law is regarding public nudity. I expect it's full of grey areas. On a busy public beach frequented by everyday folk a naked person would doubtless earn a few frowns and tuts and run the risk of arrest. But now in quiet seclusion or very early/late I think you would have a hard time proving personal offence to seeing a nude person.

vienna
I was brought up in a family where clothes were considered necessary only for warmth or to avoid frightening those of a nervous disposition. :)
My DP wasn't, but has now wholeheartedly joined in.
I've been to both beaches you mentioned but found them too busy. There are much nicer places on the south coast where you can slip into the water without any fuss.

Good show Sally. I'll get to one of these places one day. I live in Leeds so Lumb Falls near Hebden Bridge is a more likely option for next summer.

It is definitely not illegal in England. People need to assert their rights to be naked particularly with all these religions lobbying to get us all covered up left right and centre.

It would only be illegal if it might cause a breach of the peace. Also many a beach has nude areas.
My grandparents swam naked in the 1920s in the North Sea. We did as children too with my father and my children have often swum naked. It's just normal and natural and it's those who don't want to do it who need therapy.

People need to assert their rights to be naked

Yes - as long as it doesn't turn into some form of 'demo'. Much better to quietly get on with it and let people gradually realise that there is nothing dirty or shameful about the human body.

It is happening - you will find women being topless on most UK beaches now, something that was rare when I was a child. The other silly scrap of cloth will follow in due course.

Insisting that people cover up selected bits of their bodies is like insisting men shouldn't have sex together, or women shouldn't become priests. Once it becomes normal, everyone will wonder why on earth it was ever considered wrong.

I hope there is that trend. I fear it's the other way round. I am often the last covered woman when I got out here actually.
I also remember that view I had when in Iran for work of the beach at Kish Island with men in black speedos and women head to toe totally covered in black.
I see much more covering up than I used to as a child but that is probably just because of where I live.

Long may nude swimming continue ! I'm bound to say that as a singleton because it's the only unclothed leisure activity available to me.

When you think about it there are so many parents who let their children go naked on the beach and no one bats an eyelid. So where does the
line get drawn ? At what age does it become taboo ? Silly really.

I don't know where you live, but we have a nude swim here in Columbus,OH any of you would be most welcome to visit. It is a very liberating experience, and the people are very friendly. There is nothing sexual at all about it. www.havesunwilltravel.net/