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In Scandinavia swimming naked is part of the ancient ritual of the sauna. Sauna is a key part of family life in Nordic countries, and saunas are often taken naked. I once stayed with a Finnish family at their rural cabin by a lake, where they had a traditional wooden sauna fired up to a sweltering heat by a log fire. The whole family piled in, and when we got too hot we all ran naked down the little wooden jetty outside and jumped into the freezing water of the lake – the final part of this old purifying process.
I often get asked if skinny-dipping is legal. The answer is that, in the UK, you are totally within your rights to swim naked, but it’s worth avoiding upsetting bystanders by opting to swim in quiet places. Daniel Start wrote a on what to know before you shed your clothes. My advice? Find an empty bit of beach or lake (or try my favourite , and if other people are present, walk far enough away that it isn’t hugely obvious you’re naked. In Europe you’ll find swimming nude positively encouraged on certain beaches, especially in the Mediterranean – ask around to find out which part of the coast is reserved for nudism and then just join the locals. Or if you feel a bit shy, get into the water with a costume on, then take it off and tie it to your wrist – I’ve done this lots of times with friends and no-one can even really tell you’re naked – it’s secret skinny dipping!
There’s something extremely purifying when you swim totally naked in natural waters, like in a lake, river or ocean.
Portrait of naked woman swimming in the lake — Photo
Portrait of naked woman swimming in the lake
