Naturist UK - Free Beach Etiquette


Free Beach Etiquette Some Helpful Suggestions...
Last Update: 8/12/2005


Contents \| \| Naturist Beaches \| \| Beginners Please! \| About the FactFile \|

Getting There

If you travel by car, please park with consideration - preferably in a recognised car park. If there isn't one available, take particular care not to block entrances or farm gateways or otherwise cause an obstruction. In a contest between your nice shiny motorcar and a piece of heavy-duty farm machinery your car will come off worst!
Be aware that remote parking places are frequently a favourite of thieves - and take precautions. Locking your valuables in the boot is probably not enough - that'll be the first place they look! My tip is to drive a tatty old car and don't own anything that's portable and expensive - works for me! Arrive early - beat the crowds!
Keep to footpaths, don't trespass on private property leave gates open or trample farmer's crops. Take care not to disturb wildlife habitat or other environmentally sensitive areas. Observe the 'Countryside Code'.

On the Beach

At most unofficial, tolerated naturist beaches there will be an area frequented by nudists and other areas used by those who wish to remain clothed. Don't risk causing offence by stripping off in the 'textile' areas. If you are unsure which is which, as a rough guide the further you walk from the point of access, the more aceptible nudity is likely to be.
Respect the privacy of others, choose a spot a 'polite' distance from other naturists. Don't gawk or stare, it's rude. While naturists are a notoriously friendly bunch, many come to the beach for quiet time alone and don't want to be disturbed. It's OK to make friends, but rude to monopolize a person's time on first aquaintance.
In particular - attention men!- women may not welcome being 'chatted up' by a stranger - don't be a pest.
Be careful about taking photographs. While there will be no problem with snapping your family or friends, you should seek prior consent of anyone else who might also be 'in shot'. Not everyone wants to end up in a stranger's photo album. Attempting to take photos of other people's children is likely to provoke the deepest suspicion. Binoculars too, are likely to raise doubts regarding your motives.
Naturist beaches are havens of tranquillity, please be considerate about playing amplified music or radios. Use earphones for if possible, and if requested to 'turn it down', do so willingly.
Dogs may or may not be welcomed by your beach neighbours. The nicest pet, if allowed to run wild and bark endlessly, can be a real nuisance. On a hot sunny day the beach is not the best place for your dog in any case - and you wouldn't dream of locking them in the car would you? Best leave them at home if you can.
Overt sexual activity is no more acceptable on a naturist beach than it would be on a textile one. Nudity is sensual, but sex is for consenting adults in private - save it until you get back home!
Don't wander nude into textile areas, you may well cause offence. Most nude beaches rely for their existence on the toleration of clothed beach users - don't jeopardize that goodwill.
Theft on a naturist beach is fortunately rare, but keep an eye on your property and that of neighbouring sunbathers when they move away from it. Chances are, they'll being doing the same for you.
Most nude beaches are remote and do not offer the amenities found at many textile beaches, so be prepared. Bring your own towel, sun-screen, water or other drinks, food, etc. Don't expect others to share these items.
...and when you have eaten and drunk your fill, take all the empties away with you. Don't leave litter - better still, take away more than you brought with you.
Follow local fire regulations - many of which will prohibit the lighting of fires. Use camping stoves if appropriate - though in some high fire risk areas (such as parts of S.France) even these may be prohibited.
Speak up for our standards. If you see someone - whether a naturist or not - behaving badly, approach them and politely explain why their behaviour is unacceptable.

... and finally...

Enjoy!