My life as a nudist – and the benefits of getting naked: Naturist reveals how going naked can bring ‘excitement’, a sense of ‘total wellbeing’ – and the practice is going mainstream

It’s 1979. I’m 14. I’m lanky and gangly, but not particularly tall.

My hair falls past my ears and probably only gets washed when I swim. I’m on holiday in France, my first time abroad with the family, finally escaping the usual two-week rain showers in the UK.

The beach is a short drive away. Flat and wide with fine sand, backed by grassy dunes, wild Atlantic waves crashing onto the beach beyond. Apart from the singing of seagulls and other birds it is peaceful, relaxing and idyllic.

We probably will.

I don’t really know. There’s only one thing that interests me. Not far away are other beachgoers, lounging on their towels, soaking up the sun or hugging their knees under umbrellas in the shade, most of them naked.

Andrew Welch (above), a spokesperson for British Naturism, talks about how being naked can give a sense of ‘total wellbeing’

I have to confess: I ran along the top of the dunes just to be sure. A group of six are enjoying a picnic (or pique-nique, who knows?). I think it’s a family, consisting of three generations, including gray-haired elders with leather skin and a girl about my age.

I had never considered that my grandmother had a naked body, let alone imagined that I would see it. Certainly not during lunch.

My overwhelming feeling was that I wanted to be there. I wouldn’t do it for my siblings, but I did swim in the sea a few times, taking my trunks off underwater and clenching them in my fist. What a feeling!

Later, in the early 1990s, I took a package tour to a Greek island and eagerly consumed the information provided by the representative at the welcome meeting, recommending bars, restaurants, markets, sights, trips and excursions – and beaches.

The best, she said, was a 10-minute pine-and-thyme-scented walk around the headland from the village. It had great views over the Aegean, was never busy and had a taverna right on the sand. It was also a beach, she added, used by nude sunbathers.

Andrew (above) writes: ‘Naturism is so much more than just taking your clothes off. If you asked 100 naturists what they got out of it, you would probably get 100 different answers, but common themes include the feeling of pure relaxation, escape from the daily grind, a sense of total wellbeing and the company of a happy, non-judgemental group of like-minded people’

Andrew (above) says there is ‘a peace and tranquility’ in naturist resorts that ‘isn’t always found elsewhere’

The experience fully lived up to the long-cherished expectations that had their origins on those Atlantic beaches. The most remarkable thing is that it took me a couple of hours to decide to undress. I don’t know why. I remember feeling a bit like an intruder until I did.

But once I did… it just felt right. Of course, I had no idea how it would affect the rest of my life, or my career, or that one day that simple act of taking off my swimming trunks on a Greek beach would be important enough to write about. MailOnline.

Naturism is so much more than just taking off your clothes.

If you asked 100 naturists what they thought you would probably get 100 different answers, but common themes include the feeling of pure relaxation, escaping the daily grind, a sense of total well-being and the company of a happy, easy-going, welcoming, non-judgmental group of like-minded people who have found something that really improves their lives.

Anyone who has ever skinnydid knows the thrill of water gliding over your skin. And sitting on the beach without that wet suit sticking to you is a whole different feeling.

And it’s good for you too: the human body is not designed to be completely covered in clothing and exposed to artificial heat, light and air conditioning 24/7.

Recent scientific research has shown that rather than feeling ashamed, embarrassed or vulnerable, improvements in self-esteem, confidence and body image result from spending time naked with other naked people.

Given decades of social conditioning, you may be surprised to learn that many people say a naturist resort or event is the place they feel safest.

Since those early toe-in-the-water experiences, I have taken many naturist holidays and recaptured those wonderful feelings. There may be a small number of naturist resorts compared to the ones that insist you keep your cozzie on, but – boy! – there is a huge range, and all over the world.

There is a peace and tranquility that you won’t find anywhere else, and there is something for everyone and every taste.

From wild camping with minimal facilities, back to nature, to all-inclusive, luxury beach hotels.

There are nudist cruises, large and small hotels, apartment and villa complexes, campsites with modern chalets for holiday rental – with restaurants, bars and shops that would be dwarfed in a small village – and sports, activity and entertainment programmes throughout the season, and much more.

The uninitiated might think that nudity is mandatory, with a changing room next to reception and instructions to undress before proceeding, but this is not the case.

A 2022 Ipsos survey found that 6.75 million Britons would identify as ‘naturist’ or ‘nudist’

People are free to do what they want, with the weather sometimes being the deciding factor. Most people go on naturist holidays because they want to be naked, but if you like to dress up for dinner, throw on a cardigan when the wind picks up, or cover up yesterday’s sunburn from today’s rays, you can.

Nudity is mandatory in swimming pools. It is important to place a towel between a chair and a bare bottom, for example.

You might also feel that being naked amongst many other naked holidaymakers will be strange, but it quickly becomes inconspicuous. There is also a beautiful insight among naturists that taking unsolicited photos of people is bad behaviour.

And I’m happy to say it’s going mainstream.

A 2022 Ipsos survey found that 6.75 million Britons would identify themselves as ‘naturist’ or ‘nudist’ (actually these are interchangeable terms), with 39 percent of those surveyed having swam naked, sunbathed naked or had a had visited a nudist beach or resort.

Naturism is often seen as something for the elderly, but the research also found (pun intended) that almost half of 16 to 24 year olds had taken part in the previous 12 months.

My next trip is to a huge, sprawling resort in France with a long list of different types of accommodation, food and drink options, a long sandy beach and the most relaxed atmosphere permeating the natural landscape, while holidaymakers of all ages enjoy the perfect way to de-stress.

Are you coming with me?

Andrew Welch is a spokesperson for British Naturism. For more information visit the British Naturism website – www.bn.org.uk.