Finally our first trip away of 2024 arrived. This time it was a three night stay in the Isle of Wight, resting as well and taking in some of the well-known sights. Monday 25th was departure day, leaving at around 2pm to catch the Six O’clock ferry from Southampton to East Cowes.
We’d booked to stay for three nights at the Royal Hotel in Ventnor, which meant a journey across the island as darkness fell. This wasn’t such a problem except for the road closure signs which seemed to be everywhere.
We finally found the hotel at around 7.30pm and had dinner in the hotel restaurant which was very nice indeed.
We had a restful evening a couple of drinks in the bar and after breakfast, the next morning we headed out. We only had two full days to explore the island, so without wasting any time we head towards East Cowes and our first stop Osborne House. Osborne House is a former royal residence in East Cowes the former residence of Queen Victoria.
The house was built between 1845 and 1851 for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as a summer home and rural retreat. Albert designed the house himself, in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo. The couple paid for much of the furnishing of the new house from the sale of the Royal Pavilion at Brighton.
The Prince Consort participated directly in laying out the estate, gardens and woodlands, to prove his knowledge of forestry and landscaping.
We very much enjoyed our visit apart from the weather which was filthy. It is so much of a change to other old houses and palaces, with its design giving an open airy feel, rather than the normal dark and dingy.
Queen Victoria is sometimes remembered as prudish, buttoned-up and disapproving, but the displays reveals a woman well in touch with the more sensuous side of her nature.
Romantic and risqué gifts exchanged between Victoria and Prince Albert and these are on display at Osborne House. There is an abundance of naked flesh here at Osborne in both two and three dimensions.
After a coffee and a piece of cake, we made our way to Carisbrooke Castle. Carisbrooke has been a central place of power and defence on the Isle of Wight for over 1,000 years. During that time it has been a Saxon fortress and a castle of the Norman conquest, much remodelled during the Middle Ages and under Elizabeth I.
Most famously, Charles I was held prisoner here during the Civil War, shortly before his execution. Since then Carisbrooke Castle has remained a symbolic centre for the island, not least as the residence of its governor.
It was a very wet afternoon, but we enjoyed the castle, climbing up the battlements and the keep, visiting the chapel as well as seeing the famous donkeys.
Having to take seven days holiday during the winter months can be a bit of a pain, as the weather is not always kind and is always unreliable. Unfortunately we both have different work patterns meaning I always get more days holiday, as I have to work bank holidays and I don’t get every weekend off.
I don’t tend to do anything special as I’m on my own, so these days are normally spent gardening, cleaning or tidying or just sitting around watching television.
Last Monday was fairly pleasant, so while my wife worked from home, I decided to get out into the garden. I had two new pots to plant up and plenty of pruning and cutting back to do and I even managed to cut most of the lawns, though it was well saturated in places.
When we lived in Silver End, I had plenty of creative ideas and drive, but now we have moved to a house near Braintree that doesn’t as yet have a boundary fence, the drive has wained a little, so I just stick to cutting the lawn and planting in pots.
On Tuesday there was very little sunshine, so I spent most of the day indoors. I watched two episodes of Inspector Morse first, then got to work, tidying up in the house, sorting the laundry before heading upstairs to decorate the bathroom.
Living in an old house, it’s fairly cold and it does suffer from damp in certain parts of certain rooms. In the bathroom above the window for example, there always seems to be condensation and it had gone, slightly discoloured.
We had some anti mould paint in the cupboard and this seems to have done the trick, although we are now thinking about changing the colour scheme,too.
Wednesday, was a restful day, it began early watching “A Picture of Britain” narrated by David Dimbleby.
Afterwards I felt a need to go out, so I grabbed my camera donned some clothes and headed out looking for daffodils.
I hadn’t got far when I saw some near the village hall, I ventured on going around 5 miles in a round trip that encompassed Blackmores End, Beazley End and Bocking before returning home and shooting some daffodils. Back to work tomorrow, just for two days then we’re off to the Isle of Wight for three.
Why am I a naturist, why do I like living without clothes ? : It’s a question that’s pretty simple to answer, it’s the comfort, liberating feel and the total freedom which can be enjoyed during the summer and all the year round.
Given that we do live in England the weather is not always sunny and warm so it is not possible to be naked 24/7 365 days straight, especially in winter time. It is possible though to enjoy quality clothes free time during those months, just for shorter periods.
I’ve been naturist for over 30 years but it’s only been the last 13 that we (my darling wife and I) have been able to enjoy it regularly together and with others.
I have though enjoyed being naked for nearly 50 years and have slept naked for almost as long, I suppose being naked is second nature to me a practice that infact must be inbread in human, but suppressed by society, as something that is wrong and something should be forbidden. To be honest doesn’t everyone like being naked ?
The first time I enjoyed being clothes free outdoors was probably swimming in the Mediterranean while on holiday in the 1970s with my parents.
Discreetly slipping of my swimming trunks for a short while, enjoying the freedom of skinny dipping for a short while, before returning to the beach, trunks back in place. Didn’t we all do this at some point ?
The next time was probably at home in daytime or in the evening, when everyone else had gone out, during the late 1970’s / early 1980’s. I seriously began to think about clothes free living and the enjoyment of it, while reading about the care free times of the late 1960s and in particular the Woodstock Festival in 1969.
With its origins may be traced to social movements in the 19th and early 20th century some of the hippie ethos resonated with me from an early age.
Non violent and peace loving with an influence of spirituality and with its fundamental ethos including harmony with nature, it is something that I still believe in, even to this day.
From those days in the early 1980s I just couldn’t understand and still don’t just what was and still is peoples hang up with the human body in its natural form.
Over the past decade we’ve (my darling wife and I) have attended naturist conferences, been to naturist gatherings inside and outside, visited beaches and campsite, gone hiking, as well as visited and stayed at several naturist clubs.
We also own a cabin “Cabinchaletshed” at another naturist club in Essex. In recent years we’ve been on naturist holidays abroad and during the years surrounding and including the “Covid Pandemic Years” enjoyed quality naked time tending to our garden at home.
As I grow older I realise what things are important and what things aren’t and what should be discarded, physical things as well as mental baggage. Naturism helps me to do this and is something that is ‘non sexual’ and ‘pure’ when enjoyed in nature, it’s enjoyable too all the year round.
Hot tub dipping is enjoyable, just as cold water dipping is as well, hot air environments, such as saunas and steam rooms are cleansing and soothing, and ice cold air blasts outside during the cold month’s can refresh you just as much.
I can think clearly about life now, enjoy the natural things in the world, take from it so much more, than I can from things like alcohol and just enjoy life as it is supposed to be enjoyed naturally.
Naturism advocates a lifestyle and philosophy of living, in harmony with nature, emphasizing self-acceptance and respect for others through being free from clothing related societal norms and it is something that I agree with. Exploring naturism, nature and meditation provides peaceful wellbeing and good karma too .
Why Not ! : Why not try naturism for yourself, join a club, international or national organisation, go to a beach, go for a countryside ramble or just try it at home. Once you get over that first hurdle the hesitation dissappears and you won’t look back.
Fellow naturists will tell you the longer you practice naturism, the more frequent you do it, the happier you will be, the less you will worry and the more content life will become.
Shinrin-Yoku: A Deep Dive Into Forest Bathing by Tom Oder
A friend from France once said the best lunch in Paris is a baguette, cheese, a bottle of wine and a park bench. She didn’t know it, but she had hit on the concept of a preventative form of nature therapy called shinrin-yoku,
Translated literally, shinrin-yoku means “forest bathing.” Forest bathing doesn’t mean you take a bath in the forest, of course; rather, you simply go for a leisurely walk in the woods — or a city park if a forest isn’t handy — where you relax by using all your senses to experience nature.
Yoshifumi Miyazaki, deputy director of the Center for Environment, Health and Field Services at Chiba University in Japan, is among a growing number of scientists who have begun studying the science behind the physiological and psychological effects of nature on human well-being. Their studies have focused on the effects of forests but also have included the effects of urban parks and gardens and even indoor plants.
Miyazaki explains the techniques of forest bathing, how it reduces stress and stress-related conditions and boosts the immune system, as well as the science behind these results. Miyazaki has an interesting theory about why shinrin-yoku is so effective.
He points out that for more than 99.99 percent of the time since our ancestors set out on a path that led to the present human condition, humans have lived in a natural environment. In fact, he contends that we’ve only lived in urban settings for a few hundred years, a timeline he suggests begins in the middle of the Industrial Revolution.
“In 1800, only 3 percent of the world’s population lived in urban areas,” according to the book. By 2016, he writes, this figure had reached 54 percent. This is only going to get worse; latest predictions estimate that by 2050, 66 percent of people on the planet will live in urban areas.
The image that emerges from his studies is that “we live in our modern society with bodies that are still adapted to the natural environment.” This is true, he writes because “genes cannot change over just a few hundred years.” The science behind the research studies he presents in the book make a compelling case that the concept of forest bathing is an effective method for reducing stress in today’s crowded, computer-driven communities in which humans are becoming increasingly stressed in their quest to cope with the demands of daily life — a task for which they are genetically unprepared.
The problem with living in cities in bodies adapted to nature is that this lifestyle keeps “the sympathetic nervous system in a constant state of over-stimulation,” according to Miyazaki. Fortunately, the solution doesn’t require a full-blown forest, which might not be easily accessible for many.
To test the theory of whether a literal walk in the park is indeed relaxing, university students who undetook a 20-minute walk in Shinjuku Gyoen, a famous park in Tokyo. The results showed the experience in the park physically relaxed the students through an increase in parasympathetic nerve activity, which Miyazaki says is known to increase relaxation and a lower pulse rate.
Other pockets of nature in cities and urban communities include community and city gardens where you can have your own vegetable plot and botanical gardens. You can enjoy “the wonderfully relaxing effects of nature to improve … well-being,” as Miyazaki puts it, any place where there are plants and access to a path.
Better yet, he says, we can bring nature closer to where we spend most of our time at home and at work. Simple houseplants or flower arrangements can have a similar effect. To prove this, he conducted tests using nature therapies involving ornamental plants, bonsai, flower arrangements, floral scents and wood scents.
In all cases the results were similar, even when people simply looked at flowers, their bodies relaxed and stress levels decreased. In the meantime, he believes that in the modern world, forest therapy and other nature therapies are the most practical ways to reduce stress levels, increase relaxation and reduce the strain on healthcare services all over the world.
“At the end of the day,” he writes, “our bodies are adapted to nature.” You’ve heard the expression, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” In this book that provides in-depth profiles of 10 familiar species and references to many more, you’ll learn strategies to see trees like you’ve never seen them before.
Instead of seeing them as inanimate objects, you’ll learn to see the details of leaves, cones, fruit, buds, leaf scars, bark and twig structure in ways that make observing trees as exciting as birdwatching — and knowing that it took trees 397 million years to evolve to their present state makes it all the more compelling.
You might come to the same romantic that the most effective way to save the threatened and decimated natural world is to cause people to fall in love with it again, with its beauty and its reality.
Footnote : Forest bathing can bring a peaceful calmness to a walk and clarity to your day. Taking of your clothes is of course optional, so you can calmly enjoy the nature around you. Forest bathing has been shown to have positive effects on both your physical and mental wellbeing. It lowers cortisol production and blood pressure, decreasing stress, improving your mood and even helping you sleep. Doing it naked shows that people are more connected to nature and more likely to live a happier life.
Barefoot – Being naturists we evolved for it: walking in nature stimulates our senses in a lot of ways and doing so without footwear, just makes it a lot more intensive. What does our body good, feels good.
The sense of touch in our feet is highly sensitive, but that is not just for enjoyment when walking in nature. It helps us keep balance, which is very important for walking and climbing up slopes. We also notice immediately when there is something wrong, such as a little thorn stuck in the sole that we should take better care and remove it before going on.
Barefoot and Naked – If walking barefoot stimulates the body imagine what walking barefoot and naked does for the soul. Your feet get you in contact with the soil and the earth and being naked too, gives you direct contact with the air, the warmth from the sun, the cold if its winter and water if there’s rain in the air.
A better question is why people aren’t all “naturists” to the point that there wouldn’t even be a label for it, given that we’re all born happy to be what we are, while being fine with what other people look like too.
Instead, we’re persistently and perversely conditioned by our parents and by our culture to have to cover and hide ourselves from each other almost every waking moment (often to the point of not even allowing ourselves the comfort and freedom of sleeping uncovered).
Natural Bodies – In no time, this causes people to feel ashamed and embarrassed to be simply what they are, and it causes them to be intolerant of what other people simply look like.
To enforce the taboo, the culture associates simple nudity with sexuality. Don’t get me started on that subject… Either way, the human race has become very very screwed up, about what we are.
Even so, one by one, people hang out for a while after bathing before they get dressed. They start sleeping naked. They find themselves in a remote enough place to skinny dip.
Maybe even lay out in the sun for a while that way. They might even stumble on other people enjoying themselves uncovered at a remote beach, hot spring, or wilderness area. They’ve heard that people do that. But why?
Sun, Wind and Water – More a case of why not? Some give it a try and discover how wonderful it is to not only feel the sun, wind, and water unbroken across their bare skin, but to be able to experience it without any shame or embarrassment with people who are fine with it and are fine with you. All for the low low price of accepting them, simply as they are.
All those wasted years. All that bad conditioning, gone in an instant ! It’s a tribute to how bad the conditioning is, that it’s so easily broken. “Wrapping up”: One doesn’t so much become a naturist, as they stop not being one as they become more fully human. Meanwhile, ask yourself why you’re still so screwed up about it.
During our November holiday in Charco Del Palo it’s was wonderful to be able to go out and walk along the rocky coastline totally naked. In total we walked around 10 miles in and around Charco taking in the baron volcanic scenery. We also visited one of three swimming holes which at times were also frequented by clothed people who had hiked along the coast.
Watching the sunrise was one of the nicest aspects of our holiday being able to get out of bed and just walk out to watch the sunrise without having to put any clothes on. We saw the sunrise twice and both times it was a sight to behold.
We did put our clothes a few times to go out in our hire car we visited the Timanfaya National Park Visitor centre as well as going into Costa Teguise a couple of times. The best visit we had was to the Jardin De Cactus.
The Jardín de Cactus is a cactus garden on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. It is situated in the village of Guatiza, in a former quarry.
There volcanic sand lapilli (volcanic pyroclast, locally called “picón” or “rofe”) was extracted to spread on cultivated areas to retain moisture. The cactus garden was created in 1991, the last project of César Manrique.
The botanist Estanislao González Ferrer was responsible for the selection and planting of the specimens. The garden now has 4,500 examples of 450 species of cactus and. succulents from North and South America, Madagascar, and other desert and arid areas.
The garden is in the shape of a large amphitheatre, with the plants arranged in terraces. A restored windmill, once used in the production of gofio, stands at the highest point.
Most of the time though we deicided to stay naked in Charco and sunbathed for days on end mainly on our terrace before going out to eat in the evening.
Today, Friday 22nd December is the day we celebrate the ‘Winter Solstice’ in the northern hemisphere and it marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It occurs when the Earth’s axial tilt is farthest from the sun, causing the sun to appear at its lowest point in the sky. Many people across the world including naturists celebrate the ‘Winter Solstice’ .
The ‘Winter Solstice’ usually takes place around December 21st or 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere,but in the Southern Hemisphere, it occurs around June 21st or 22nd. As nature slows down in winter, the solstice becomes a time for personal reflection, rest and looking forward to the gradual increase in daylight each day.
The shortest day is a good time to recognise that the next festival will be Imbolc, the first sign of new life. Therefore the solstice can be seen as a time for letting go of anything we no longer need. Light a fire (inside or out) and pass round a basket of sticks, to represent something you wish to let go of from the old year. Saying this out loud gives it strength as each person throws their stick in the fire.
Many modern-day celebrations, like Yule, have roots in ancient winter solstice festivities. The Yule log (often a chocolate cake nowadays) was a log from the solstice fire kept from one year to the next and used to light the first fire of the following winter to ensure good fortune.
Traditionally evergreens are brought into the house at the Solstice, especially Yew and Holly. Always remember to cut with respect for the plant and the land and to leave berries for the birds.
Another tradition, which is traditional at Christmas but stems from far older ways of celebrating winter solstice, is that of making wheels of evergreens or wreaths, within which you anchor your hopes and dreams for the new cycle.
It may take the form of a wreath to hang on the door, or it may be laid horizontally with places for candles. Add sparkly beads to catch the light symbolising the return of light and hold a wish.
Festivals in different religions have celebrations of light – Diwali, Christmas, St Lucia feast. Lighting candles for the ‘Return of the Sun’ is an old tradition at this time, as is making resolutions to begin the new cycle. All sit around a single candle in a large bowl of sand, with all lights off. Each lights a candle and pushes it in the sand, and names their new intention.
Cold water dunking has been a game changer for some people celebrating the solstice . Having this cleansing and uplifting ritual has not only helped people with increasing focus, decreasing anxiety and stress, but also by improving their feeling of connection to the universe.
given a new high vibe community, reducing inflammation in the body, giving excellent practice in mindfulness … it’s also helps decreasing weight. So many mind and body benefits. Having said that … doing it naked is a new brave step …
You might not want to jump into cold water every morning … and that’s okay … each to their own … but ask yourself what do you feel curious, inspired, interested in doing on a daily basis that will lift you, fill you up, warm your heart, make you laugh, soothe your soul, and give you a reason to get up and live your best life now. You can start anytime. It’s not too late.
So, maybe you will feel inspired to get naked for the winter solstice this week, or maybe not … but whatever happens … this is a great time to let some bad memories and thoughts go … start the new festive season with a clean slate and fresh focus.
In Charco Del Palo you can be naked 24 hours a day if you want to, the only exception being the supermarket and the four restaurants that are in the village.
As we’d arrive late on the Saturday night we didn’t have any provisions so early on Sunday morning we headed out naked to the supermarket, with our minimal clothes tucked into our shopping bag.
Once we’d done our shopping, we removed our clothes and walked back along the streets and back to our apartment on Calle Orion.
As we didn’t have a car we spent the first two days relaxing, sunbathing, reading, listening to music and cooling off in the pool (salt water and freezing) before going out to the restaurants for drinks and a meal in the evening.
Lillie’s bar was our venue on the first evening the only bar in the village which serves tasty basic food and has a good supply of wines, beers and spirits.
The first two evening were so relaxing and it was so nice not have to worry about work, the weather, getting up early and wearing clothes.
I took two books with me on the holiday both autobiographies Bruce Dickinsons “Which button do I press” and Joan Baez’s “and a voice to sing with” which I bought after our last foreign naturist holiday to Esquinzo in Fuertaventura in 2019.
Bruce Dickinsons was an excellent read, recalling his younger days at various schools, fencing, early bands including Samson and of course his career as Iron Maidens lead singer.
It also goes into depth about his flying exploits and his solo career. It’s definitely worth a read and I was listening to Maiden albums at the same time.
Charco del Palo is located near the villages of Mala and Guatiza, both about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) away.
The village is built on pale sandy soil, but the coast is rocky, with no beaches. However, three sheltered coves have been developed for safe bathing. There are many stone circular enclosures (just as in Fuertaventura) on top of the cliffs which are excellent for sunbathing.
After two days we took a taxi to Costa Teguise to pick up our hire car. It was a Skoda and it served us well during the holiday although we only ventured out two or three times.
It was strange going from right hand drive automatics to a manual left hand drive and driving on the right instead of the left, but apart from trying to change gear with my left hand everything ran smoothly.
What’s is the perfect naturist dream ? A time where no work has to be done, a place that’s warm, dry and sunny and a place where clothes aren’t required morning, noon and night.
With this in mind we set about the task of finding somewhere to spend a holiday free from the inclement British weather and spend sometime together wonderfully clothes free.
Due to constraints at work and personal commitments the only time that suited both of us to go away for a fortnight, was late October, early November.
Looking around at places within our budget many places in the northern hemisphere, were either too expensive or too cold, leaving only the Canary Islands as the only possible location.
We looked around at the islands and naturist locations and having been to Fuertaventura we fancied somewhere different. We looked at some very nice villas and destinations but unfortunately most were not quite what we wanted, situated within textile areas.
In the end the place that stood out the most and fitted our brief was Charco Del Palo on the island of Lanzarote.
We noted that prices had increased dramatically especially the cost of the flights, so we shopped around and found the cheapest flights being with easyJet leaving from Gatwick on the Saturday 28th.
We got to the airport early and checked our baggage in, had a meal and did some shopping, before boarding our flight at around 5pm.
We saw the sun dissappear en route and arrived at César Manrique airport at around 9. After getting our luggage we headed out to pick up our pre booked hire car.
Unfortunately for us, the hire car agent didn’t appear and we were forced to take a taxi the 17 miles to our resort. We arrived met the agent and were shown to our apartment for our entire stay by 11.
We then stripped off and unpacked the clothes we had to bring and turned in for the night. Sunday dawned bright and the day was warm and sunny around 24°C without the need for any clothes we headed outside to watch the sunrise.
Naturism is a lifestyle which promotes a deep felt respect for oneself, other people, animals and nature. It is a way of life that embraces the human body in its natural state, and encourages a positive body image outlook and mutual self-acceptance.
It is a belief and ideal that the human body is nothing to be ashamed of, and that the practice of being naked in every day life can be an incredibly liberating and freeing experience, not just for our bodies but our minds too.
The practice of naturism can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where it was common for people to bathe and exercise in the nude. Nudity in social contexts has also been practised in various forms by many cultures and in all time periods.
Today, naturism has become a popular movement, with numerous clubs, resorts, and beaches dedicated to the practice.
Naturism is rooted in a respect for the natural environment and a belief that the human body is the most natural form of human expression.
Naturists often enjoy sports and pastimes such as swimming, hiking, Yoga, various physical exercise and other outdoor activities in the nude. In this way we believe that being nude in nature we are able to connect with the environment on a deeper level.
Naturism also promotes positive body image and self-acceptance. It encourages people to explore their body in a non sexual way and to appreciate all peoples physicality without judgement.
All naturists believe that every body is beautiful, no matter what size, shape, or color. By embracing their own bodies, naturists can learn to accept and love their bodies just as they are.
Naturism is not just about being nude in nature. It is about living an ethical lifestyle, respecting the environment and the world that we live in.
Naturists believe that being nude in nature should never be done in a way that would make others uncomfortable. They also believe that the practice should be done in a way that does not harm the environment.
In conclusion, naturism is a lifestyle that celebrates and embraces the human body. While it may not be for everyone, it has proven to be a positive and empowering experience for many who practice it.
By promoting body positivity and self-acceptance, naturism has the potential to not only improve individuals’ lives but also foster a more inclusive and accepting society.
It's Only Natural 