The Secret Naturist Handbook

[jbeegoode]

I was musing over the changes and evolution of the Free Range Naturist thing. Years ago, the originator of The Secret Naturist Society wrote a handbook. It includes his vision and experiences. It is eventually a bit of historical documentation. Much of the wisdom is relevant today.

For the sake of conversation and entertainment here, I've decided to publish it in parts over time. There are hundreds of pages to it to slap it all down at once. My copy is not in sequence, but I'll do my best to line things up.

Lookee, or Corbie, if you're out there, I can only hope that you approve.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

TSNH:OVERVIEW:

"First, a few words of warning. Many of the pages in The Secret Naturist Handbook contain descriptions, stories and other writings about someone who enjoys being naked outdoors. If you find this offensive please do not continue. In addition, many of the pages here may have been written by someone who may have been naked at the time of writing. If you are unable to cope with this, please leave now. Even worse, you may come across the odd photograph of someone who is not wearing clothes, or even footwear! If this is too much for you to bare, this is your last chance to go elsewhere.

If you are made from sterner stuff and find nothing disturbing in the paragraph above, this could be your lucky day! The Secret Naturist Handbook is about naked adventure, naked challenges and naked exploration. It takes boring old naturism to new levels of excitement and daring. It takes you to the edge of what is possible when naked and then takes you a step beyond. If you are ready to face the challenge of a lifetime, this is the place for you. Welcome to the amazing, thrilling and just plain crazy world of the secret naturist.

For more than 20 years I've explored the rolling hills and valleys of south east Scotland, walking for miles across the heather moorland of the Southern Uplands, mountain biking along lonely forest trails and skinny dipping in the cold waters of the Firth of Forth. All while totally and utterly naked!

What makes the above so interesting is that none of the locations are in any way so called "naturist" locations. In fact, there are no official or even clothes tolerant naturist beaches or other areas in the entire region. Yet I have been able to spend entire days completely naked, hill walking, watching wildlife, birding, trigpointing, cycling and running, all totally naked. How is this possible?

Obviously you cannot simply go anywhere, take off your clothing and expect to get away with it. Anyone doing so is likely to fall foul of the Long Arm of The Law. No, to safely achieve nudity in locations where members of the public also have open and ready access, you need to use some good old common sense, together with some careful forethought and planning, and not just a touch of cunning. You will be amazed at just how many places there are where nudity is possible. And that's what The Secret Naturist Handbook, often abbreviated to TSNH, is all about, how to get away with being naked out in the countryside while at the same time not being seen by members of the public. Essentially, naturism in secret, secret naturism.

One of the main problems with nudity in locations where the public have access, is just that, the public. Outdoor nudity is not the normal state of affairs, at least here in Scotland and reactions to a lone individual striding confidently and purposefully across windswept moors without a stitch of clothing, can sometimes be quite negative, all be it on rare occasions.

From experience I have found that the best way of avoiding this is simply to avoid people in the first place. If you are not seen while naked, no one can complain. And indeed, avoiding people is on of the main guiding principles of secret naturism. Having said that not everyone reacts negatively. On many occasions people are either indifferent or amused at my nudity. But while most people do not object to my nudity, I find that the best option is simply to avoid them all together, it at all possible. It also adds to the fun of being a secret naturist.

This web site is based on many years practical experience as a secret naturist in south east Scotland, covering the regions formed by the Scottish Borders, The City of Edinburgh and The Lothians. I've pulled these pages together in an attempt to share my knowledge with those who also share my interest or might even take up an interest. I also hope these pages will convey how enjoyable, thrilling and exciting it can be to be naked away from official naturist locations."

[jbeegoode]

What's with you Scottish IT people and this trotting around naked on Moors and Munroes and....

Lookee has a premise that one should not be seen. It makes a game of it, The game is fun. It is a secret life. What are the actual risks, back then and now? He is concerned with social repercussions, and also shrugs them off. Everything is better when doing them naked.

Does anyone know when he published this? I've yet to find reference, except Tanman stating that he downloaded it back in 2007. I think that it was online at least a couple of years before that. I mentioned before, that he had a forum site, kind of like a storyboard of daring tales, or "gripping yarns" as he used to say, way back when I had WebTV at the turn of the century.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

TSNH: GUIDELINES:

"The subject of the legality of being naked outdoors has often been raised but obtaining a definitive answer is difficult. Without any factual legal guidance I think we really have to set ourselves sensible guidelines on what we should and should not do to try and avoid actually finding ourselves in a situation where the Police become involved. Obviously, these will differ from place to place and depend on the time of day or night and must also be regarded as only guidelines, to be altered to suit the specific time and place.

Think what you are doing

For experienced secret naturists and beginners alike, it is important to stop occasionally and just think about what you are doing. You must always consider that following the path of the secret naturist is not without risk, both from the legal point of view and for your own safety. Experienced secret naturists should also check that they are not straying beyond the boundaries of what secret naturism entails.

Make sure you are at a location at a suitable time for nudity
I would say that it's not really the type of location that is important here, rather than the time we are actually intending to go naked there. A good example would be a public non-naturist beach that is popular during the day. If we were to go naked at such a time, it is likely that we would be in trouble within a short while. On the other hand, being naked there at night, after everyone has gone home, I see no reason not to be naked there. Another example would be your own garden. During the day you are visible and people neighbours may complain. At night, the risk of being seen if far less.

Avoid being seen while naked outdoors
Here in sunny Scotland outdoor nudity, in itself, is not illegal. There are no laws I am aware of preventing you from being naked outdoors when alone, no matter what the location or time of day. It is only when someone sees you that it becomes a problem and a legal matter. Obviously this will depend greatly on what being naked outdoor means to the individual who has seen you and unfortunately we have no way of knowing this. Good practice would be to treat all who see us naked as potentially hostile and act accordingly after you have weighed up the situation taking into account their reaction, the location and your ability to leave the area.

Consider the nature of your chosen location
Even if we are active at a given location at times when the risk of being seen is small, we should still consider how people will react to our nudity at that location. For example, being seen walking naked along a disused urban railway line, regardless of the time of day or night, could be associated with "flashing". Something we do not wish to be associated with. The same goes for public parks, nature trails, woodland walks and so on. On the other side of the coin, being seen naked beside an isolated loch far into the hills is unlikely to regarded with any suspicion as you will likely be seen as a skinny dipper.

Don't get overly familiar with any given location
When you have found a good location suitable for secret naturism, one where you are able to regularly get naked, it can be easy to find yourself taking unnecessary risks. As you get to know the area its easy to find yourself pushing the limits of where you can safely be naked, perhaps venturing into parts of the area where there is too great a risk of encountering people. It is also important to be aware that just because you have never seen anyone at a given location does not mean you will not in the future."

[jbeegoode]

There is fear, of the unknown. What will be the reaction of others? He doesn't know, but can't find out. He therefore assumes the worst. The game is more exciting with the greater risk within this thinking.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

TSNH: PRINCIPLES:

"As the founder of secret naturism, I feel I'm qualified to say what I think it means to be a secret naturist. To myself personally, secret naturism is about exploring the countryside while naked, while at the same time avoiding being seen by members of the public. However, over the years I found that other factors were also relevant and these together became what I refer to as the Principles of Secret Naturism.

The principles of secret naturism are:

To seek out and explore all manner of new, interesting, challenging and unusual locations while totally naked.

To take, at all times, reasonable and positive steps to avoid being seen while naked by members of the public.

To avoid causing any member of the public to be alarmed, offended or embarrassed by your nudity.

To achieve total nudity and to carry the minimum of clothing and other items of equipment.

To respect the countryside and leave as little evidence of our presence as possible.

While the above items are very much based on personal opinions, they do serve well in defining what secret naturism entails and I would strongly advise anyone who follows, or intends to follow, the path of the secret naturist, to also adopt and abide by them."

[jbeegoode]

Was Lookee a Trekee? Love that "seek out new" first principle. It's a challenge, an adventure. The last one sounds kinda like the "Prime Directive." It is indeed uncharted territory back in the day.

There is coming up a "Code of Conduct" and the "Golden Rules", then it gets much more specific. It is a long list of the "skills", or "The Craft" as we used to say on TSNS site. I figure that this is an incremental process (I hear Larry Tanman Again) and this is a good place to stop. Please, chime in.

It takes me back to my old ways of thinking, and plenty of memories. This is using cyberspace to explore reality. It leaves me with memories of Macintosh computers, "You're out of your Vulcan mind Spock!" There's the 1980's, smuggling in the dead of night, getting inebriated with friends and girlfriends and past-wives and wandering the suburban neighborhood with only shoes to run in. Those fears of getting put into patrol cars and labeled a pervert to stimulate all the senses, as we made our way in stealth. Finding a hidden spot on my flat roof tract-house behind a couple of trees and a parapet to get that all over tan, with my first ex-wife and her sister. Redington Pass and The Verde Hot Springs.... Getting into friend's swimming pools and then dropping tough hidden by the pool edge. Watering the front yard using shrubbery and angles to hide nakedness. Being surprised by a car and running as if for my life into shelter. Going out with my friend at bar closing time and getting pinned by all of the traffic in an alleyway. Trying Carnuding on a trip from the White Mountains, before there was a term carnuding. Discovering a party with a dozen people spontaneously getting naked and jumping into the pool. There has been some fun and excitement. I don't look for that so much anymore, I now perceive what I do as a way of life, so much more aware, calculated and realistically.
Jbee

[BlueTrain]

Quite an ambitious project you've done. I think I'll have to read it two or three times. As they say in some places, good show! In other places, right on!

[midnightrider]

While the above items are very much based on personal opinions, they do serve well in defining what secret naturism entails and I would strongly advise anyone who follows, or intends to follow, the path of the secret naturist, to also adopt and abide by them."

I still have this handbook, and it makes perfect sense.

Cheers.
Paul

[Greenbare Woods]

Personally I much prefer Free Range Naturism to Secret Naturism.   For those of you who prefer to hide, go right ahead.

[Davie]

I tend to agree and here in the UK it's becoming more acceptable. On a walk last week we had encounters with several people and it was all smiles. A group of motorcyclists came from behind and we expected a few rilbald comments, but no, nothing but smiles as we each enjoyed our own lifestyle and mode if recreation.

I suspect the walkers went home and told their friends that they'd seen a load of nudies but that's good if more people start to hear that free range nudity is more common than they think.

Davie

[ric]

theres a fair few of us that started off as secret naturists and have evolved into freerange naturists.  i find the mindset is different , the secret naturist is anxious always worried about being seen, the freerange is confident and relaxed.  the current guidance on the laws in uk have certainly helped a lot in this process of evolution.

[JOhnGw]

Personally I much prefer Free Range Naturism to Secret Naturism.   For those of you who prefer to hide, go right ahead.

I'll vote for that.

[JOhnGw]

.. .. .. .. .. .. the current guidance on the laws in uk have certainly helped a lot in this process of evolution.

{mode=politicalpessimist}I just hope that the potential impending vassalage to the USA resulting from a no-deal Brexit does not include reverting to transatlantic attitudes to nakedness.
{/mode}

[BlueTrain]

I recall a comparison between American, French and German nudists, only I don't remember all of it or any of it exactly. The German, though, was the boldest and dared anyone to challenge him, while one of the others (probably the American) was always looking over his shoulder. I don't remember the other one, though. You sort of take into account national attitudes and general behavior and it all makes sense.

On other now defunct forums and message boards, "freehiking" was the term sometimes used but even it is a euphemism and was not part of the name of any forum that I knew of. But nude (the polite word) is good enough for me. I never made a secret of it, though, from anyone, which is not to say it was something I felt I needed to tell everyone about. I've told a few stories here about my naked (the vulgar word) hiking but unfortunately, I haven't been making any new memories lately. In the days when I and later, also my wife, were much more active socially, I never had the urge to share any of those experiences with anyone at work, which for the most part was the other half of my life, in a manner of speaking.