Natural Living

Naked may not be the most normal way to hike, but it's certainly the most natural way.

Natural hiking, or naked hiking, is an immensely therapeutic and liberating activity.

With friends on the beach on Hayling Island. Hayling is not an "official" nudist beach, but thankfully naked sunbathing is possible on every beach in the UK.

We've always referred to our favourite pastime as "naked" hiking, and will no doubt continue to do so; if nothing else to be absolutely clear and to avoid any misunderstanding. But naked is natural, and our preference would be to use the term "natural hiking" instead. The same goes for natural swimming, natural sunbathing, and any other facet of natural living. There should be no reason to emphasise the naked aspect (especially from a nudist's point of view), as nudity is our natural state. 

In reality, outside nudist circles, it is necessary to specify that we are referring to naked living as opposed to living with clothes; to differentiate from the preconceived idea people already have in their heads when using a phrase such as "natural hiking" or "natural living".

It would be great to refer to these activities simply as "hiking" or "living", but because naked is natural, but not normal in our society at the present time (though this would be wonderful), the term needs clarification so that people understand exactly what we mean.

As naked living is not "normal", in the sense that most people don't do it, indeed, in some cases, wouldn't dream of doing it, it is a goal of ours to do what we can to make it a little bit more normal. We can do this within the circles we move in –friends, families, the places we go to– and through our internet presence, but we understand it is a drop in the ocean. Real change is only achieved if a critical mass of nudists –and others– stand up for the cause.

Our particular approach, and everyone's is different, is to gently push the limits bit by bit; our style is not aggressive activism, which can sometimes backfire. We hike naked, post aspects of our naked life online, swim naked, go naked on beaches (even though they may not be nudist beaches) and do not hide our natural lifestyle from others, in fact we're proud of it!

In this way, we hope people will see for themselves and begin to get an understanding of the joy and wholesomeness of natural living, and how it cannot be confused with a sexual activity. You never know, they might even join us!