UKC

There's an absolutely moronic report on this on the BBC news website right now. Moronic, because it doesn't say what's supposed to be wrong with nude bathing, or under what circs you might be done for it, or distinguish between getting your kit off in the middle of Blackpool sands and in the middle of an empty Scottish glen, or anything really.

So since it's nice and hot, can anyone put us in the pickshah on this one please? If I rip my clothes off and jump in the sea in the buff then legally speaking how do I, err, stand?

Personally I often skinny-dip, e.g. when I'm passing a beautiful river pool or indeed beach in the middle of nowhere. But I don't do it when there's anyone else around. And of course I wouldn't bathe in the nude on Broughty Ferry beach on a Sunday afternoon. But in the mountains, on your own, of course you don't get any garments wet that you don't need to. Isn't that common sense?

In reply to Tim Chappell:

Stephen Gough would agree most whole heartedly with you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Gough

In reply to Tim Chappell:

I guess it's all about location, same as outdoor sex. Use common sense.

In reply to Tim Chappell:

It's never made much sense to me that the Naked Bike Ride is ok whereas the naked rambler gets arrested.

In reply to Tim Chappell:

Where's the report?

This one? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-28493469

Is the law, or the interpretation of it, the same in Northern Ireland as here?


Like you, I'll happily skinny-dip where there's no risk of exposing innocent bystanders to horror beyond the pale.

In these situations the law seems irrelevant anyway, due to the absence of anyone to enforce it.

In reply to Tim Chappell:

Surely it's only an offence if someone makes a complaint, if there's no one around to see you then there's no one to complain. Simple really, no need to get your knickers in a twist.

In reply to OwenM:

There was a docu on last year in which the fit female presenter went skinny dipping, I think it was in the Lakes and I think it was on BBC, anybody remember it?

In reply to Al Evans:


iPlayer link?

You know ... for research purposes.

In reply to Al Evans:

Dr Alice Roberts!?!

Sorry to disappoint her many fans on here, but it was all done very discretely and tastefully.

In reply to OwenM:

Simple really, no need to get your knickers in a twist.

Or your knickers wet for that matter.
Have enjoyed 2 or 3 skinny dips last week in some not so remote surroundings but away from prying eyes and sensitive dispositions.
Apologies to those who have been working hard indoors during this warm weather but I've only managed to climb til early afternoon and then its a beeline for the nearest beckoning pool.

In reply to Captain Solo:
I got thrown out of Watford swimming baths some years ago for peeing in the pool.

It would have been Ok but I was standing on the top board at the time.

I'll get my coat..........

In reply to Tim Chappell:

Bill Tilman's "memorable bathes"

Apart from mountaineering and exploring they were the highlights of his life.

In reply to Aztec Bar:


Are you Num Num in disguise?

In reply to top cat:


I have friends who've Done It in the meadow in the middle of Addison's Walk, in the grounds of Magdalen College, Oxford. And to think that all I ever used to do there was punt, work out my next essay, and admire the fritillaries

In reply to Tim Chappell:
Had a skinny-dip in a loch only last week....lovely experience and no one around to offend.
Though it must be said that the water was so cold I think you would have needed strong binoculars to have been offended

In reply to Tim Chappell:

What about topless walking? What are the rules? Yesterday I spent about 9 hours walking with my top off on the Cairngorms plateau. Only saw one person and I clocked them coming towards me with loads of time to get my top on

In reply to Flinticus:


Nothing wrong with topless walking at all.

In reply to Orgsm:

Supermarkets in Spain will not allow you to shop topless. Whatever sex.

In reply to Al Evans:
Good!! There's nothing worse than some bloke, who thinks his sweaty body is comparable to some greek god, wandering around a supermarket - or indeed any other shop!!

In reply to skog:




The interpretation seems to be that skinnydipping:

1. At the closest beach to the largest city in Northern Ireland

2. In the middle of the hottest week here this year

3. When all the schools are off

...is a pretty dumb move.

In reply to Tim Chappell:

The british do seem to confuse nudityy with sex...

I've skinny dipped all over the place. One time, i was in oxford, there was no one around, so i thougt i would take a dip. However, the moment i entered the water, loads of people seemed to arrive from nowhere! Imhad to keep on swimming away from shore, until i ran out of river....

As to toplessness, hasn't it been banned at some climbing walls(calshot) for fear of damaging the children? Weird....

In reply to tlm:
You do know about Parson's Pleasure, I assume? The quasi-official but strictly speaking illegal nude bathing spot in the Cherwell at the bottom of the University Parks?

Everyone knows this joke but here it is again anyway: two dons go nude bathing at Parson's Pleasure and are sunbathing afterwards, still nude, when a party of ladies pass on the other bank. Dr Smith, horrified, hurriedly casts his towel over his loins; Dr Jones, nonchalantly, casts his towel over his face.

SMITH: Jones! What are you thinking of?
JONES: Well, Smith, I imagine people would know *me* again by the shape of *my face*.

Badaboom tish. Genuine Victorian joke; almost funny

In reply to Tim Chappell:

Why illegal? Yes, i have punted past many a time. There always seems to be someone stood proudly on the banks, hand on hips, thrusting forward towards the river and watching the ladies punt by.... It's funny cos on the land, there is a big painted sign on the fence, saying 'no ladies past this point' but there is nothing to warn you if you are on the river!

In reply to tlm:

The Oxford tradition, now virtually defunct, is that ladies in punts leave the river at the rollers just before the Parks and rejoin their party higher up the river after walking past Parson's Pleasure on the opposite side of the stream where trees screen their modesty from visual assault.