A Veiw To Naturism In Britain By A Distinguished Member;
It is a pity that the general public takes its information about naturism from seaside postcards. Naturists are ordinary people doing ordinary things in their leisure time. The image of bearded vegetarians playing volleyball all day could not be further from the truth.
There are over 100 naturist clubs in the U.K. About 30 of these do not have outdoor facilities but organise regular get-togethers at local swimming pools, leisure centres and permitted beaches.
Each club is unique in size and facilities and they vary from the very simple to the luxurious. My own club Valley, near Harrogate, is typical of the mid-sized club. 9 acres of grassy grounds, 3 miniten courts, a boules court and a badminton court, a clubhouse with a licensed bar, games room, lounge and sauna. Social events are held on Saturday nights. There is a separate block for changing, showers and a well-equipped kitchen. 75 caravans are owned by members with club caravans for the use of visitors.
A word of explanation. Miniten is the most popular game (not volleyball) and is peculiar to naturism. This is normal tennis played on half size courts with wooden bats. At the highest level it is played at lightening speed but it can also be enjoyed by first time beginners.
Anyone visiting a club for the first time has two surprises. The first is that there is no compulsion or suggestion to undress. The second is the friendliness of everyone present. You are made to feel welcome and one of the crowd.
But what about the children? Children take to naturism naturally. A typical example in the writer's own observation being a couple with a nine year old daughter on their first visit. After 15 minutes conversation the youngster was taken and introduced to some of the other children. Within 10 minutes she came running back to ask, would you look after my clothes? All clubs make provision for children. Parents appreciate being able to relax and let the children run free knowing that wherever they are on the site they are never hidden from adult eyes.
Not all naturists are club members. A large number of people are what may be termed 'Holiday Naturists'. Apart from the facilities offered by clubs there is a large number of dedicated naturist holiday resorts in Britain and Europe. Because of the weather most resorts are found in France and Spain. There is no need for specialised knowledge; there are tour operators who specialise in package holidays to naturist resorts. Many of the people you meet on holiday have not the time to join a club but always take their vacations at naturist resorts. The larger continental sites are completely self-contained with their own supermarkets, newsagents etc. One even has its own petrol station.
Florida is increasing in popularity with British naturists. There are no half measures with Americans and their resorts will bear comparison with any in the world. An unforgettable experience is to combine a Florida vacation with a Carribean cruise on a chartered cruise liner.
First Visit; by Brian & Cath (members for 11 years)
When we first visited Valley we were very uneasy, as we didn't know what to expect. Do you have to hand your clothes in at the gate? No
We made a pact that if either of us felt uneasy with anything we wouldn't go any further. However we felt so comfortable with everything and everyone was so friendly and more importantly Normal!!
We joined on our first visit.
