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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Naturist beach

53 replies

pingt · 04/07/2022 18:50

So my DH has always been more free and easy about nudity than me, and recently suggested we visit a naturist beach.

I'm not sure about everyone needing to see my bits, but he's quite keen!

What do you think, has anyone else been to a naturist beach? How was it?

YABU - do it, YOLO!
YANBU - eww, who needs to see all those dangly cocks!

OP posts:
FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 04/07/2022 18:53

Hard no for me, no one needs to see all my wobbly bits.

Purplecatshopaholic · 04/07/2022 18:53

We always used to go when on holiday abroad, don’t do it in the UK, it’s too cold, lol. No big deal and nice way to relax, get a decent tan, etc. just try it - you might like it!

5128gap · 04/07/2022 18:59

I've been on one by mistake while abroad! Kept my swimwear on as did lots of other people. The naturists were mainly much older people, naked except for shoes and hats. Maybe try one like that so there's no pressure if you don't fancy it?

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 04/07/2022 19:03

We accidentally wandered into one in France. We were amused by the person fishing. Yes, we did make the obvious jokes about waving his tackle about Grin

Personally, there’s no way I’d get all my clothes off. How much sun cream would you need?

Bofthebang · 04/07/2022 19:09

I’ve done it several times abroad, never in the UK.

it is immensely liberating! Honestly, after 30 seconds you just forget any inhibitions - trust me, there will every shape and size of body possible so no need to feel self conscious.

A PP mentioned keeping your swimsuit on but to be honest that’s normally frowned upon as no one likes voyeurs. No one is doing it to look at other people’s bits, but you have to try it to feel how awesome it is!

Pugfostermum · 04/07/2022 19:13

you can keep your clothes on if you prefer so your husband can enjoy being nude and you can see how you feel.

ignore the posters who say it’s frowned upon. A woman on the beach in a costume is not viewed the same as a fully clothed man wandering up and down staring, or peering out of the sand dunes. Those are the people ‘frowned upon’.

5128gap · 04/07/2022 19:18

Bofthebang · 04/07/2022 19:09

I’ve done it several times abroad, never in the UK.

it is immensely liberating! Honestly, after 30 seconds you just forget any inhibitions - trust me, there will every shape and size of body possible so no need to feel self conscious.

A PP mentioned keeping your swimsuit on but to be honest that’s normally frowned upon as no one likes voyeurs. No one is doing it to look at other people’s bits, but you have to try it to feel how awesome it is!

I can assure you I'm not a voyeur! Thats actually very rude of you.
I was not the only one in a swimsuit and no one cared less either way.

girlfriend44 · 04/07/2022 19:21

It's horrible. People generally look better with their clothes on op.

RockinHorseShit · 04/07/2022 19:31

Once you've been on a nudist beach, trust me, all your insecurities will fly away & you'll realise how daft that is, our local one is usually filled with gay older men, mostly overweight, a few body builders & a few women in all shapes & sizes, nobody cares.

GoodVibesHere · 04/07/2022 20:17

I've never understood the point, or what people get from it.

GladAllOver · 04/07/2022 20:23

Swimming in the sea is wonderful without a restricting costume. Just the water against your skin is so natural.

Bofthebang · 04/07/2022 20:26

5128gap · 04/07/2022 19:18

I can assure you I'm not a voyeur! Thats actually very rude of you.
I was not the only one in a swimsuit and no one cared less either way.

Gosh, I didn’t mean to be rude! Apologies - certainly when I’ve been on nudist beaches abroad, there has been a “hmmmm” approach to anyone there who wore clothes but I can happily accept the rules vary according to where it is done.

I was only going by my own experiences - which is what the OP asked for but clearly your experience is different to mine and there was no intention to offend.

balalake · 04/07/2022 20:29

If it is abroad in countries where they are more adult about such things, then try it.

Never in the UK I suggest.

Zazdar · 04/07/2022 20:36

The only naturist beach I have been to is Port Kennedy near Perth and based on that experience, I would never go near one again.

I like swimming naked, in the UK and abroad, but I only do it in out of the way places. I really don’t want the company of naturists, or anyone else. My husband excepted.

Sparklingbrook · 04/07/2022 20:41

GoodVibesHere · 04/07/2022 20:17

I've never understood the point, or what people get from it.

Me neither.
If there's a specific place where people who do want to do it can go though it can be easily avoided I suppose.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 04/07/2022 20:53

Sparklingbrook · 04/07/2022 20:41

Me neither.
If there's a specific place where people who do want to do it can go though it can be easily avoided I suppose.

A feeling of freedom personally.

I often prefer being naked and walking around naked at home and in the garden. It's liberating. It's not a sex thing which some people really struggle to get their heads around.

Also being naked in cool water is an amazing feeling!

mammamiafrozenpizza · 04/07/2022 20:54

Never been and have no interest in changing that! Hardly anyone looks good in the nude, so I'd rather not subject myself to that view. I don't see the appeal in going nude, either. Just, what's the point? It's not for me.

I've just left the thread about sleeping in a bra. If I don't feel comfortable with the physical sensation of walking around the house braless, I'd never feel comfortable doing it outdoors where someone might be watching.

redlou123 · 04/07/2022 20:56

We've been to a couple abroad and love the freedom of it. There is nothing quite like the warm sun on your skin and naked swimming in the sea! As others have said, within a couple of minutes you forget about being self-conscious and it just feels normal. If you decide to do it, check whether the beach is clothing optional (ie you can go full-nude, topless or keep your swimwear on) or a nudist-only beach (ie no clothes allowed). We've been to both and to be honest we preferred the nudist-only one as everyone was in the same position, we were a bit more self-conscious on the clothing-optional one. I wasn't sure it was for me at first (I'm not the skinniest person!) but am so happy I gave it a go and wouldn't hesitate to do it again if there is one in the area we're on holiday.

Lovemusic33 · 04/07/2022 21:01

I have been to a nudist beach a few times (in the uk), you don’t have to be totally naked, there are no rules. I just went topless. I prefer going to the nicest beach as it’s less busy than the other beaches. I’m not bothered about others being naked so it’s worth it for the extra space and the fact there are rarely any noisy kids there. Go, but you don’t have to be naked if you don’t feel comfortable doing so.

Ohmygoditsgonewrong · 04/07/2022 21:04

There are lots of great naturist swimming clubs in this country that are very mature about nudity in a none sexualised way

Try one of those, I take my kids as do other people and its a great way to encourage being open with them and it's helped build there body confidence as it has with me

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 04/07/2022 21:09

Thought I'd give it a go but i don't live near the sea so I tried it in Sainsburys.

My only word of advice is to not loiter near the freezer cabinets.

Can't say much more than that as the police turned up and now I'm in a cell with wearing a white, papery suit-thing that rustles whenever I move.

I'm going to try Aldi tomorrow - I think being German they'll have a more continental attitude to the human body.

stayingpositiveifpossible · 04/07/2022 21:22

I lived in germany and we had a nudist swimming lake in a huge park.

I loved it, used to go with my friends.

Mind you, I was in a lot better shape then in my twenties. Wouldn't do it now which is a bit of a shame really.

Cultural attitudes vary. You know groups of friends used to go to the sauna which was part of the public swimming baths and it was a great day out.

Not everything linked to nudity is sexual and sometimes if everyone is in their birthday suits it is a great equaliser and people lose the pretence that brand names and clothing offer.

motogirl · 04/07/2022 21:25

We did in the canaries, no big deal, but too nippy in the U.K.!

DeathWinsAGolfish · 04/07/2022 21:28

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles 🤣

Purpleberet · 04/07/2022 21:45

As I’ve got older (now mid 30s) I’m less bothered about my body so I’d be open to giving it a go. I happily sunbathe topless but pre lockdown was so self conscious of my bum, I used to hate how I looked in bikini bottoms. Since lockdown I wear bikini thongs, i just stopped caring what other people think, life’s too short! If someone else is disgusted by my body I just think how sad and that’s their problem. Like others suggest you could keep something on and see how you feel. I think for most of the people who are there, they are not going to be looking and judging you. Try it and if it’s not for you at least you kept an open mind and gave it a go!