United Kingdom naturist beaches

Abbot's Cliff is a remote beach at the foot of the chalk cliffs between Folkestone and Dover, on the eastern edge of the landslip country known as the Warren. Naturists have used it for more than fifty years. It is roughly 275 m long, a mix of sand, shingle and rocks with large boulders that act as windbreaks. The white cliffs behind it trap warmth when the wind is right, but there is no other shelter. With no road or facilities nearby, it is rarely crowded, and the whole beach, not a marked section, is used nude. Clothed visitors who camp and barbecue here in high summer have generally coexisted with naturists. Swimming is fine at most stages of the tide, but the water gets deep quickly near high tide and is dangerous in rough seas. The cliffs are actively unstable: a sudden chalk fall in 2006 sent sunbathers running, and falling-rock signs are posted, so do not sit directly underneath them. The views take in shipping in the Channel and sometimes the French coast. Seals, birds of prey and late-summer blackberries are common sights.

Aberlady Beach (Gullane Sands) lies on the south shore of the Firth of Forth in East Lothian, inside the Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve just east of Aberlady village. British Naturism lists it as an unofficial naturist beach. Naturists use the second half of the beach, toward the headland, after walking out through the reserve. The setting is open and exposed: wide sands, dunes and saltmarsh with big views across the Forth, rather than a hidden cove, but the walk-in keeps it fairly quiet and nude bathers can usually walk to the water's edge to swim. The bay is tidal and very flat, so the sea retreats a long way at low tide. There are toilets at the car park but nothing on the beach. As a nature reserve, the dunes and birdlife should be left undisturbed, and dogs and visitors are expected to keep to paths.

Ardeer Beach is a long sandy shore on the Ayrshire coast between Stevenston and the mouth of Irvine Harbour, facing the Firth of Clyde. British Naturism lists it in its beach directory. The beach runs for about two miles in front of a high sea wall. The naturist section starts at the Burns Memorial mural painted on the sea wall and continues south-east to the rocks at the entrance to Irvine Harbour, so you need to walk past the mural before undressing. The Irvine side gives no access to this stretch; everyone comes in from the Stevenston end. It is an open sand beach with a pebbly approach, no shelter beyond the wall, and no facilities. BN notes the tide is not expected to cut walkers off; if it ever did, you could climb onto the sea wall and walk along the top.

Atherfield Point is on the south-west coast of the Isle of Wight, at the southern end of Brighstone Bay below the village of Atherfield. British Naturism's beach directory lists the stretch between Shepherd's Chine and Atherfield Point as used by naturists. This is a remote, eroding shoreline under cliffs, cut by chines (steep ravines) that lead down to the beach; Shepherd's Chine is one of the largest on the island. There are no facilities. BN warns that some cliff paths may be in poor repair or need scrambling, and that tides and currents should be checked before going.

Balmedie Beach is part of the long, straight sweep of sand that runs north from Aberdeen along the Aberdeenshire coast, backed by a wide belt of dunes. British Naturism lists it in its beach directory, describing a large, expansive sandy beach stretching for miles with extensive dunes behind. The naturist area is not at the main country park beach but further south, on the stretch behind the Black Dog firing range, roughly 2 miles' walk from the Balmedie Country Park car park. The scale of the beach means it is easy to find space well away from other people. This is the North Sea, so the water stays cold even in summer, and the dunes are the only shelter from the wind. There are no facilities on the naturist stretch.

Basset's Cove is a nudist-friendly beach in United Kingdom. Nudity is optional.

Berepper beach is on the west side of the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, about 6 km south of Helston, at the southern end of Loe Bar near the hamlets of Berepper and Gunwalloe. A naturist holiday guide describes it as an unofficial naturist area at the far end of Loe Bar. British Naturism's beach directory lists the neighbouring Gunwalloe Cove, just to the south, as a sandy beach with a National Trust car park. The coast here is cared for by the National Trust. It is dangerous for swimming: the National Trust says not to swim anywhere from Gunwalloe Fishing Cove to Loe Bar because of dangerous currents, and the naturist guide calls Loe Bar notoriously dangerous. Treat this as a beach for sunbathing and walking, keep well clear of the surf, and check the tides. We found no reliable recent description of how busy the nude end is or exactly where the nude area starts.

Birling Gap is a break in the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs between Seaford and Eastbourne, inside the South Downs National Park, and the only place along this stretch where you can easily get down to the shore. The National Trust site at the top has a café and car park. A staircase leads down to a beach of large flint pebbles with occasional sand patches, backed by fast-eroding white cliffs. The clothed crowd mostly stays near the foot of the steps. Naturists traditionally use the stretch about 500 yards west, towards the Seven Sisters, where the cliffs hide the beach from the path above and few walkers come by. Even in high season this section is usually quiet, mostly couples and single men in their forties and fifties. Eastbourne Naturist Swim Club has held beach days here. Further west, a walk of 30-45 minutes over the pebbles reaches more secluded bays. A shelf of sharp rock lies offshore, so entering the water is easiest near high tide, when it is covered, or at low tide, when you can see it. The cliffs collapse regularly, so keep well back from them.

The naturist beach usually listed as Blackgang is on the south-facing coast at the southern tip of the Isle of Wight, below the landslip ground between Blackgang and Niton. One guide says its proper name is Rocken End. It is a long, wild beach with crumbling cliffs behind it. You cannot reach it from the Blackgang cliff top. It is an unofficial naturist beach, long used by both locals and visitors, and one regular describes almost five miles of beach. The shore is fine shingle, comfortable to walk and lie on, but it shelves quickly into deep, clear water. Currents can be strong, and the cliffs are unstable and prone to landslips. The former Southview naturist centre nearby was lost to landslips. Surf anglers also use the beach. There are no facilities, so bring everything you need. The steep, partly overgrown descent keeps numbers down, so there is plenty of space even in summer. Recent erosion has closed the old route along the shore from Whale Chine, which leaves the steep path from Niton as the usual way down.

Botany Bay is a sandy bay on the north-east tip of Kent, between Margate and Broadstairs at Kingsgate, framed by low white chalk cliffs and stacks. The main beach is a busy family spot with lifeguards in summer. Naturists use the quieter north-western end, towards Foreness Point, about half a mile from the main beach. There, the sand meets a strip of flat dunes and short grass at the foot of the cliffs. This section has no facilities and little shade, except right against the cliffs. On a fine weekday perhaps 20 to 30 people are there, more on hot weekends. The end nearer the main beach tends to attract couples, and the part closer to the Foreness sewage works attracts more gay men. Low tide exposes a wide sweep of sand and chalk reef, and dips left by the tide can catch out non-swimmers. The North Sea is chilly early in the season. Thanet District Council says the area is not an official naturist beach. Since 2023 it has considered putting up signs to warn visitors that naturists may be beyond the main beach.

Brighton's naturist beach was the first public nude beach in a major British resort. The council approved a 200-yard trial stretch in August 1979, and it opened on 1 April 1980 as the Cliff Bathing Beach. It is at the eastern end of the city's seafront at Black Rock, below Madeira Drive and just west of Brighton Marina, about a mile east of Brighton Palace Pier. Signs mark where the naturist section starts, and banks of shingle have been heaped up to screen it from the promenade. Like the rest of Brighton's seafront, it is steeply shelving shingle and small pebbles, with a little sand at the water's edge at low tide. There is no shade. Because it sits in the middle of a busy city, it is probably the easiest naturist beach in the UK to reach, but also one of the most public. Tourists walk past, and people sometimes watch from the promenade, so naturist guides suggest it may not suit a first-timer. The sea is generally clean, though water quality can drop after heavy rain when storm drains overflow.

Broad Sand is a nudist-friendly beach in United Kingdom. Nudity is optional.

Budleigh Salterton is a small, quiet town on the East Devon stretch of the Jurassic Coast, between Exmouth and Sidmouth. Its main beach is a long, steep bank of large rounded pebbles backed by red sandstone cliffs, and the far western end, away from the town, has long been used for nude bathing. East Devon District Council's own beach page says there is a naturist area at the far western end, marked by signs, and a council sign reading in effect 'nude bathing beyond this point' stands roughly 300 metres west of the beach café. Naturists often settle a little before the sign, but British Naturism advises waiting until you reach it. British Naturism calls it probably the most public naturist beach in Devon; walking further west gives more space. The pebbles are big and uncomfortable, so bring sturdy footwear and something thick to lie on; small patches of sand can show at low tide. The beach shelves steeply, so swimmers are quickly out of their depth, and the red cliffs make the water less clear than further west. The cliffs give some shelter from northerly winds. On weekends couples, families and solo visitors of all ages come; on weekdays and out of season the crowd is mostly older.

Calshot sits at the mouth of Southampton Water on the north shore of the Solent, at the eastern edge of the New Forest. The main beach by the spit, with its rows of beach huts, café and activity centre, is a busy clothed seaside spot. Naturists have traditionally used a quieter quarter- to half-mile of shore to the south-west, starting near the first dilapidated groyne beyond an ornate mock-Grecian boathouse and a clifftop house, and ending at the full-height fence of a nature reserve. The beach is mostly pebble and shingle with some sand at low tide, steep at the top and very gently shelving below, so at low water you may wade a long way to swim, and at high tide very little beach remains. Trees and scrub from the private estate behind give some shade. Views take in the Isle of Wight and constant Solent sailing and shipping. Regulars reported only a few naturists on a typical day, but the landowner opposes nude use, so this is a marginal and contested spot rather than an established naturist beach.

Camber Sands is a long, wide sandy beach on the East Sussex coast between Rye and the Kent border, with about two miles of sand at Camber itself and a protected dune system behind. The eastern part near the village, holiday park and cafés is a busy family seaside beach, and there is no naturist area there. Naturists have long used the quiet western end, mainly the dunes and grassy hollows near Rye Golf Club and toward the outlet of the River Rother, where secluded spots are screened from the beach and the golf course. At low tide the sand stretches about half a mile out; at high tide it narrows to around 50 yards. The sand is soft and fine, with occasional pebbly patches, and a shipwreck sometimes shows at low water. Gunfire from the Lydd ranges can sometimes be heard. Bathing near the Rother mouth is hazardous because of strong currents, soft mud and tides that can cut people off. Use is low-key: on a typical weekend only a few naturists are present, and midweek is quietest.

Cayton Bay is a cliff-backed bay about three miles south of Scarborough on the North Yorkshire coast. The main beach is a popular clothed beach reached from the cliff-top car park. Naturists use the north end of the bay, known locally as Johnny Flintons Harbour. To get there, turn left at the bottom of the steps and walk to the far north-western end, past a Second World War pillbox where a faded naturist sign can still just be seen. That end is out of the way and gets few clothed visitors. The bay faces east, and cliffs to the south-west put the beach in shade from mid-afternoon, so mornings and middays are best. The only facilities are at the car park above. We found no recent account of the crowd or how much the area is still used, and the British Naturism description was last updated in 2020.

Cefn Sidan is the long sand beach on Carmarthen Bay between Burry Port and Kidwelly, backed by the dunes of Pembrey Country Park. It is several miles long and very wide and flat. At high tide there is still about 10 m of sand between the sea and the dunes. In front of the country park it is a busy Blue Flag family beach with summer lifeguards. The naturist stretch is well to the west. About a mile west of beach access point CE57, just past CE59, a large crescent of rocks marks the start of the section generally accepted for nude use. From there you can walk nude for roughly another 1.5 miles to a flagpole marking the start of the RAF/MoD range section. When the tide is out, the firmer sand further from the dunes is easier to walk on. Dog walkers use the CE59 area at all times, and the beach near the park fills with families at weekends and in school holidays. The park and the council discourage nudity, and nobody should undress before the rocks. Past them, nudity has generally been tolerated, and naturists treat the long walk as part of the visit.

Recognised clothing-optional area on the Scottish coast near Kirkcudbright, offering quiet atmosphere and remote coastal beauty popular with naturists.

Cleat's Shore is a remote beach on the south coast of the Isle of Arran, just west of the hamlet of Lagg and the Lagg Inn, facing Kilbrannan Sound and the Kintyre peninsula. British Naturism says it has official status as a naturist area. It is widely described as Scotland's only official naturist beach, though that claim is debated. The shore is a long, undeveloped stretch of fine sand broken up by rock outcrops, shingle and boulders, with farmland behind and no buildings in view apart from a few near the end of the track. Visitors are few and you may well have it to yourself, even in summer. Seals often bask on the rocks just offshore. The views run across to Kintyre and round to Holy Island and Whiting Bay. There are no facilities and no shelter, and the Firth of Clyde is cold even in July and August. Being in the west of Scotland, the weather decides everything; on a calm sunny day it is one of the most peaceful naturist spots in Britain.

Cogden Beach is on the Dorset coast south of Swyre, between Burton Bradstock and West Bexington, where Chesil Beach continues westward. It is a high bank of fine shingle and the area behind it, with the West Bexington nature reserve, is popular with birdwatchers. The top of the shingle bank hides the shore from the South West Coast Path behind it, which gives the beach a secluded feel. That is why naturists use the stretch between the National Trust Cogden car park and West Bexington. Expect only a few anglers near the access points and a few nude bathers further along. There is no shade at all, and the shingle is hard work to walk on. A user-submitted birding listing warns of adders in the vegetation behind the beach. British Naturism's description dates from a 2007 guide and was last updated in 2020.

Corton beach, also called Gunton Sands, lies about two miles north of Lowestoft on the far north-east coast of Suffolk, about a mile north of Britain's most easterly point. Waveney District Council designated it as a naturist beach in 1979, one of the earliest in Britain, and it remains in regular naturist use despite losing that status in 2009. The naturist stretch is short, about 150 to 200 yards north (left) of the bottom of the steps from the footpath, between wooden groynes and below a high grassy bank and a concrete sea wall. Erosion and coastal defence works have stripped much of the sand, so it is now mostly stones and gravel with sandy patches at low tide, and at high tide only a narrow strip is left. The sea shelves steeply with a strong pull, and it is often windy, so a windbreak helps. A small caravan park overlooks the beach and clothed walkers pass through. Regulars are mainly older couples and single men.

Remote Suffolk beach with dramatic crumbling cliffs that provide natural privacy. A long-established naturist beach with a wild, unspoilt character.

Crakaig Beach is on the east coast of Sutherland at Loth, a few miles north of Brora, on the stretch of the A9 between Brora and Helmsdale. It is a remote sandy beach with dunes behind it, near a small river mouth. In 2006 the landowner set aside part of the beach for naturists. Several guides describe the naturist section as running from the river mouth to Lothbeg Point, and call it the only officially designated naturist beach on mainland Scotland. A walking-club guide warns that those claims may just repeat one another. A small campsite next to the beach takes caravans and tents. It is normally a clothed site but opens to naturists for one week around World Naturist Day in early June. It has basic toilets and showers. A 2006 visitor found midges no problem and the sea warm enough to swim. One guide recommends swimming near the river mouth, while a review calls the beach less good for swimming. Brora has shops for supplies. Information is sparse and much of it dates from 2006, so check the current arrangements, for example with the campsite, before you travel.

Culver Beach is at the north-eastern end of Sandown Bay on the Isle of Wight, beyond the Yaverland seafront. It runs between Red Cliff and Whitecliff Ledge, under the chalk of Culver Cliff. The naturist area is the remote stretch beneath the white cliffs, about a 10-minute walk along the shore from the Yaverland car park. Naturists have used it for many years, and on a warm day it can draw a good crowd. The shore is mostly cobble-sized stones, but at low tide a sandy beach appears. The beach slopes gently, and the water is clear. The beach can be cut off at high tide, and rocks regularly fall from the red cliffs on the way, so keep away from the cliff foot and check the tide tables. There are no facilities on the nude stretch itself. The local paper, the Isle of Wight County Press, has covered a holidaymaker's complaint and replies from local naturists who say nude use here is legal and who would welcome signs saying the beach is used by naturists.

Downderry is a small village on the south-east Cornwall coast between Looe and Seaton, facing Whitsand Bay. The main beach below the village is a family- and dog-friendly beach of coarse sand and rock. The naturist area is to the east. Walking east from the village, you pass a series of undeveloped coves separated by rock outcrops. British Naturism's listing, taken from a 2007 guide, says the second and third bays are best for naturist sunbathing. Other guides describe a secluded half-mile beyond Bass Rock, or simply the eastern end of the beach. The coves are sheltered when it is windy and are not overlooked by any development. There are no facilities. The rock outcrops between the bays can cut you off on a rising tide, so walk out on a falling tide and keep an eye on the time. Carbeil Holiday Park, a naturist campsite with a pool, is about half a mile from the village, and many of its guests use the beach. Visit Cornwall, the county tourism board, describes it as an unofficial naturist beach that walkers find as they head east.

Druridge Bay is a long, wide sweep of sand on the Northumberland coast, running from Amble in the north to Cresswell in the south, with high dunes behind it. Naturists have used a stretch in the middle of the bay for more than 50 years, according to one guide. It lies between Druridge Bay Country Park to the north and the National Trust land at Druridge village. British Naturism says naturists tend to gather near the second stream, just south of a footbridge. Other accounts put the nude stretch between the Chevington Burn and the National Trust area. Because the beach is so large there is plenty of room, but dog walkers and clothed walkers use it too, so expect to see some people in clothes. There are no facilities on the beach. Shops and a café are in Cresswell, to the south. This is a wild, open place, best on a calm, sunny summer day.

Remote beach on the northern coast of Scotland near John o' Groats, with established naturist use and spectacular untouched scenery.

East End Beach, at the end of Tanners Lane near Lymington in the New Forest, is no longer a naturist beach according to British Naturism, which lists it as 'no longer suitable for naturism due to lack of parking, naturists and very busy with a variety of watersports enthusiasts'. The listing describes a small shingle beach that gives way to salt marsh and grass to the west, used mainly by walkers and birdwatchers. Tanners Lane runs down to the coast and has no dedicated car park. The beach lies inside the New Forest National Park. A Komoot user comment describes it as a very small stone and mud beach, busy at weekends, with deep mud when the tide comes in. We found no official New Forest National Park or council statement on naturism here. The listing does not document a formal decision, and the reasons it gives are practical: parking, the number of naturists and the level of watersports use.

Eastney Beach lies at the far eastern end of the Portsmouth and Southsea seafront, on the south-east tip of Portsea Island facing the entrance to Langstone Harbour. Some locals call it Fraser Beach, after the former military range behind it. The naturist stretch begins a short way east of the footpath that drops from the Fort Cumberland Road car park: turn left on reaching the shore and the nude area starts within roughly 100 metres, running east towards a concrete sea wall. Naturists ask that nobody strips within about 50 metres of the path. The beach is steep shingle with patches of coarse sand, so a thick mat or a chair makes a big difference, and there is no natural shade. Behind it sits a long-disused Ministry of Defence site; the land above mean high water belongs to QinetiQ, which has never designated it for naturism but has tolerated decades of nude use. Planning permission for housing on the former MOD land was granted in May 2024, with a new seafront path and boulder sea defences, which may make the beach less secluded over time. It is one of the busiest naturist beaches on the English south coast on hot days, attracting mostly men plus some couples, and a local beach liaison group looks after it.

Fairlight Glen beach, marked on Ordnance Survey maps as Covehurst Bay, lies at the bottom of a wooded valley in Hastings Country Park, about 4 km east of Hastings in East Sussex. In 1978 the local council recognised it as an official naturist beach, which British Naturism describes as the first in the UK; it lost official status in 1999 but has stayed in steady naturist use. The south-facing bay sits below soft sandstone cliffs, gorse and woodland in a protected SSSI and Special Area of Conservation. The top of the beach is now rock, shingle and pebbles that largely disappear at high tide, but low water uncovers a wide, flat expanse of sand, and you can walk a long way east toward Pett Level or west toward Hastings. Rock pools hold beadlet anemones. Swimming is sheltered with no strong currents, but there are submerged rocks, so surf shoes help. Naturists are in the majority on most days, especially further east from the access path. A path behind the beach leads to undercliff sunbathing spots that the BN listing notes are popular with gay men. There is little shade and no facilities.

Findhorn sits on the Moray Firth coast of north-east Scotland, where Findhorn Bay meets the open sea. The beach used by naturists is East Beach, on the seaward side of the dunes east of Findhorn village, at the start of a continuous stretch of sand and dunes running about seven miles east to Burghead. British Naturism's listing says to walk east from the East Beach car park for about five minutes, or further until you feel comfortable; local skinny dippers use this area. The dunes behind this part of the beach belong to the Findhorn Dunes Trust, a conservation charity. Wartime concrete anti-tank blocks line parts of the shore and can be hidden at high tide, so check the tide before swimming. The views stretch across the firth to the hills of Caithness and the Black Isle, and seals and dolphins are often seen offshore. British Naturism has run its Great British Skinny Dip here, billed as the most northerly in the UK: 31 people swam in September 2024 despite some local objections. Outside such events, nude use is light and informal, and the beach is shared with walkers and dog owners.

Finnygook Beach is a nudist-friendly beach in United Kingdom. Nudity is optional.

Fisherman's Cove, more often called Fishing Cove, is a small north-facing cove on the north Cornwall coast between Navax Point (east of Godrevy Point) and the Reskajeage cliffs, across St Ives Bay from St Ives. It is the whole beach that naturists use rather than a section of a larger one: walkers' and naturist guides have described it as a nude beach for decades, and a July 2026 report mentions a sign at the top of the path marking it as such. The cove has clean pale sand and clear water, with more sand exposed at low tide. Because it faces north under high cliffs, it loses the sun from late morning, which makes it cool in spring and autumn. Grey seals are frequently seen in the water. A steep, narrow, stepped path with fixed ropes on the steepest sections leads down from the coast path; it is slippery after rain and has been repaired by volunteers after a landslip. Usually only a handful of couples or families are on the sand, a mix of nude and clothed visitors. Strong currents develop in windy weather, and the tide washes in litter at times.

The naturist area known as Flexbury is a series of small sandy coves on the north Cornwall coast just over a mile north of Bude, below the cliffs between Crooklets and Northcott Mouth and named after the Bude suburb of Flexbury. Naturists use the coves roughly a quarter of a mile south of Northcott Mouth, towards Bude. The sand is smooth and firm at low tide, and rocky ridges running out from the cliffs separate the coves and give shelter from the wind. This is an Atlantic surf coast with strong waves and possible cross-currents on the ebb, so swimming needs care and local knowledge. There are no facilities in the coves. The beach is usually quiet: one visitor estimated that even on a busy day there might be ten or twelve people, a mix of naturists, dog walkers and people walking along the waterline at low tide. Because the coves are linked by the low-tide beach, the tide decides how you get there: at high water the route from the Bude side can be cut off.

Fraisthorpe Sands is part of the long sweep of Bridlington Bay on the East Yorkshire coast, about two miles south of Bridlington's main beach and in sight of Flamborough Head to the north. The traditional naturist stretch starts roughly 500 metres south of the Auburn Farm car park and runs south to Earl's Dyke, a small stream crossing the beach; the old wartime pillbox is a common landmark. It is a broad, clean sand beach backed by low eroding clay cliffs that give some shelter from the wind, with shallow pools around the bases of concrete anti-invasion blocks. The North Sea here is slow to warm and the beach can be very windy, so regulars bring windbreaks. Nude bathing has gone on here for more than 40 years and the beach once had official naturist status, withdrawn in the early 1990s. Naturist numbers are lower than in the past: on a warm day you may find anything from a few people to a few dozen, alongside a steady stream of dog walkers. Bridlington's attractions and the Cow Shed cafe at the car park are close by.

Gilkicker Point is the low shingle headland at the eastern end of Stokes Bay in Gosport, Hampshire, looking across the Solent towards Ryde on the Isle of Wight and the Spithead forts. The Victorian Fort Gilkicker stands on the point. British Naturism includes Gilkicker Point in its directory of UK naturist beaches, but its entry gives no detail about where nude use happens, and we found no other current account of it, so treat it as a little-used spot and check locally before undressing. The nearby Browndown shore at the western end of Stokes Bay was used by naturists for years, but the Ministry of Defence has asked naturists to leave its land there since 2013.

Great Perhaver is a small, secluded sandy cove on Cornwall's south coast just north of the fishing village of Gorran Haven, between Mevagissey and Dodman Point. It is separate from Little Perhaver, the village beach, and from Vault Beach on the other side of Gorran Haven, which is the area's better-known naturist beach. The cove faces south-east, catching the morning sun, and the cliffs throw some shade over it in the afternoon. A stretch of sand at the foot of the cliff gives way to rocks to the north that are rough going even at low tide. Because the only land access is a difficult path down from the coast path, the cove sees few visitors and is used informally by naturists. There are no facilities. The headland at Great Perhaver Point is occupied by a private house, and the road along the clifftop is private, so stick to the coast path.

Greenbank Cove Beach is a nudist-friendly beach in United Kingdom. Nudity is optional.

Gribbin Head is the National Trust headland between St Austell Bay and the mouth of the Fowey estuary in south Cornwall, crowned by the red-and-white striped Trinity House daymark built in 1832. Small coves lie below the headland, with Polridmouth's two sandy coves and lake on its eastern side, all reached from the South West Coast Path. British Naturism includes Gribbin Head in its directory of UK naturist beaches, but the entry gives no detail about which cove is used or how busy it is, and we found no other current account of nude use. Treat it as an occasional, informal spot: choose an empty, out-of-the-way cove and dress if others arrive.

Haverigg Beach is a nudist-friendly beach in United Kingdom. Nudity is optional.

Hengistbury Head Beach, on the headland near Christchurch in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, is no longer listed as a naturist beach. The Walking Club's naturist beach directory marks it 'No longer used by naturists', with a July 2021 note that naturists seem to have abandoned it, perhaps because the nearby car parks and busy harbour ferry services make the area too popular. The former nude area was the sand and shingle below the low cliff, about half a mile east of the visitor centre. A British Naturism update seen in search results says work on the Long Groyne began in April 2024, fencing off parts of the head, and that almost nobody now sits by the cliffs. The reason for the change has not been published by the council or any official body. The council's beach page, which we opened, does not mention naturism or nude bathing and lists rules on dogs, barbecues and camping instead. Visitors who want a naturist beach will need to look elsewhere on the south coast.

Norfolk's vast sandy beach with dunes offering naturist-friendly sections away from main crowds. Part of a nature reserve with stunning coastal scenery.

Holkham Bay on the north Norfolk coast, just west of Wells-next-the-Sea, is a huge, flat sweep of fine pale sand backed by pine woods and dunes within the Holkham National Nature Reserve on the Holkham Estate. Naturists use the western end of the beach. The current arrangement allows nudity on the beach only, below the high-tide line, and not in the dunes; British Naturism advises staying at least 100 m from the dune edge. The beach slopes so gently that the sea goes out a very long way at low tide, so BN suggests visiting when low tide falls in the early afternoon. It is open to the cold north wind, so a windbreak is almost essential. Winter storm surges in 2013 and 2014 washed away the front row of dunes, and the recovering marram is fragile, which is one reason the dunes are off limits. Wardens and police patrol from time to time. Regulars include couples and families, and the beach is clean and uncrowded once you walk west.

Nudist beach on the English Riviera.

The beach between Winterton-on-Sea and Horsey Gap on the east Norfolk coast, a few miles north of Great Yarmouth, is a long-established naturist walk listed by British Naturism. Behind it lie the Winterton Dunes, a national nature reserve, and the beach itself is wide sand with shifting sand bars, backed first by dunes and then, further north, by a 1960s concrete sea wall with rock groynes and boulders of Norwegian rock armour. Naturism is generally accepted once you are about a quarter of a mile north of the Winterton car park on most days, and the main naturist stretch begins where the concrete wall and rock groynes start, running north to just short of Horsey (the wall carries painted numbers, roughly 47 to 55, that regulars use as markers). The North Sea wind is the defining feature, so people bring windbreaks or tuck into the rock armour. The coast is home to a large grey seal colony that has grown sharply and draws many seal watchers, and in the breeding season part of the foreshore may be fenced off for little terns. At low tide the exposed sand is good for shells; at high tide the channels between sand bars can produce strong rip currents.

Kinshaldy Beach is the seaward edge of Tentsmuir Forest in north-east Fife, between the Eden estuary and the mouth of the Tay, near Leuchars. Around three miles of golden sand are backed by low dunes and pine forest, and at low tide the beach can be the best part of a mile wide. Naturists use an unofficial section a long walk from the Forestry and Land Scotland car park: guides describe turning right (south) past a numbered plastic marker drum, with the nude area a little beyond, roughly 25 minutes on foot, though the drum moves and is sometimes knocked over by horses. Some regulars say the stretch to the north has better dunes and is more popular with gay men, while the south is more mixed. The dunes are low and covered in sharp grass and thistles, so bring a rug, and the area behind is a protected nature reserve with signs asking people to keep out. It is exposed and often windy, horse riders use the sand, and aircraft from Leuchars pass overhead. Weekends and summer bring more textile visitors near the car park; midweek you may see few others.

Lavernock is a quiet stretch of shore on the Vale of Glamorgan coast between Penarth and Sully, below Lavernock Point and looking out over the Bristol Channel to the islands of Flat Holm and Steep Holm. Some locals know it as the nudist beach, though it sees little naturist use and is usually very quiet. The foreshore is mostly flat rock ledges with only small patches of sand, and the tide goes out a long way, so the beach is far larger at low water; the water is murkier than at beaches further west, though people do paddle and swim. Geology students come to study the rock layers, and occasional walkers and dog owners pass by, generally keeping their distance. The area carries history: a blue plaque by the lychgate of St Lawrence's church marks where Marconi received the first radio signals sent across open sea from Flat Holm in 1897, and a busier clifftop path leads past Second World War gun emplacements. There are no facilities at the beach. For a better naturist beach in the area, British Naturism suggests Monknash or Kenfig further west.

Le Jaonnet Bay (sometimes spelt La Jaonaise) is a small, remote cove on the south coast of Guernsey in the parish of St Martin, below the high cliffs between Icart Point and Petit Bot. It is the island's best-known place for nude sunbathing, though Guernsey has no official nudist beaches. The bay is hard to reach, which is precisely why naturists like it: the final descent is by steps and a steep ladder. The shore is very stony, and except around low tide there is little sand, so it suits sunbathing on the rocks and swimming more than lying on a beach. There are no facilities. Visitors are few, and the island's tourism authority has described it as not suitable for families because of the access and lack of services. Local naturists say a States of Guernsey sign at the bay notes that naturists may be seen there. In 2017 Visit Guernsey removed wording that described the bay as not officially a nudist beach, after letters in the local press, and now presents it simply as a quiet spot.

Leysdown East is the naturist beach at the eastern end of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, about 2 km south-east of Leysdown-on-Sea on the way to Shell Ness, facing the outer Thames Estuary. It is one of the few UK beaches described by British Naturism as official: the naturist area, about 250 m long, is marked by signs and starts roughly 100 m past a row of old wooden chalets east of Leysdown's main town beach. The beach is fairly wide coarse sand and crushed shell, with muddy patches in places, and is not greatly affected by the tide. Most people settle in the grassy dunes behind it, which extend about 50 m inland and have hollows that give shelter from the estuary wind. The water shelves gently and is not rough, so it suits less confident swimmers, although being estuary water it is never clear. The area beyond, toward Shell Ness, is part of the Swale nature reserve and is good for birdwatching. Access has become harder: the beach car park was dug up in 2021 and part of the coast road is private, so a walk is now needed.

Lower Largo is a former fishing village on Largo Bay on the south coast of Fife, best known as the birthplace of Alexander Selkirk, the castaway behind Robinson Crusoe. East of the village a long sandy beach curves around the bay. British Naturism lists a naturist section in the middle of this beach, by the remains of the old salmon nets, reached by walking east from a car park at the end of a track out of the village. The water stays shallow for a long way out, which makes paddling easy, but check tide times and currents before swimming. There are no facilities on the beach. BN describes the access as private and says that as long as visitors park considerately and leave no litter, nobody minds.

Marros Sands is a remote, roughly two-mile sweep of sand on the Carmarthenshire side of Carmarthen Bay, running from Telpyn Point in the west to Ragwen Point in the east, between Amroth and Pendine. There is no road to the shore and no village behind it, only farmland, the Wales Coast Path and the small hamlet of Marros on the hill above. British Naturism lists it as a naturist beach and reports that naturists use the whole stretch eastward from Telpyn Point. The favourite spot is a smooth, dark grey rock ledge on the Marros side of the point, sitting below a large detached rock; it faces south-west, is sheltered and catches the sun, so it is usable even on average days. The beach itself is mostly firm sand backed by a bank of large pebbles and a low boulder-clay cliff that sheds small rock falls, so sit away from the cliff foot. It is a big, quiet beach: you share it with the occasional dog walker or coast-path hiker, and naturist use is reported to cause few problems. There are no facilities of any kind.

Monknash beach lies on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast in the Vale of Glamorgan, below high, striped limestone and shale cliffs between Monknash and Wick, west of Llantwit Major. Naturists use the flat rock platforms at the north-western end of the beach, nearest Wick, beyond a headland from the main access point. From the valley the route crosses a pebble beach, rounds the headland and reaches a sandy stretch before the flat rocks, so the beach is a mixture of pebbles, sand and wave-cut rock. Because it is a long way from any road and depends on the tide, the beach is little used, and British Naturism says it has never had problems there. The rocks at the headland can be crossed safely only within about three hours either side of low water; outside that window you risk being cut off. There are no facilities. British Naturism describes Monknash as much nicer than Lavernock, nearer Cardiff.

Moor Sand is a small, hidden cove on the South Hams coast of Devon, on the stretch between Gara Rock and Prawle Point east of the Salcombe estuary, about 1.4 km from West Prawle. Walkers who stay on the South West Coast Path pass above it without seeing it. The beach is made of small, creamy pebbles with rock outcrops that create sheltered sun traps, faces south-west and gets sun for most of the day, and the sea is clean and clear, with colourful seaweed exposed at low tide. It is listed by British Naturism among its UK naturist beaches (as a placeholder entry without details) and has been described as clothing-optional. There are no facilities of any kind. The only way down is at the south-eastern end, where a rope helps on the steep final section; this is not suitable for young children or anyone unsteady on their feet. Because it is so sheltered it can be surprisingly busy on summer days, and boats sometimes anchor off the cove.

Official naturist beach in Snowdonia National Park.

Morfa Dyffryn is a National Nature Reserve on the Cardigan Bay coast of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, between Barmouth and Harlech in Gwynedd. Behind the beach lies one of the most important active sand-dune systems in Wales and the UK, managed by Natural Resources Wales. The beach itself is a sweep of fine golden sand about six miles long facing Barmouth Bay, with clear water. Part of the reserve is a designated naturist beach, signed on site by Natural Resources Wales; according to British Naturism the naturist section runs for about 1 km in the northern quarter of the beach, with large blue signs at its limits. Reaching it means a walk of about a mile north over soft sand from the main access point. British Naturism rates it among the best naturist beaches in the UK and says up to 500 naturists may turn up on a sunny summer Sunday, including singles, couples and families, with room for everyone. There are no facilities on the beach. Naturist sunbathing in the dunes is not allowed, and the reserve asks that dogs be kept on leads from March to July, when ringed plovers nest on the beach.

Nanquidno Cove beach is a nudist-friendly beach in United Kingdom. Nudity is optional.

The naturist section of Hill Head beach is the stretch known as Meon Shore, on the Hampshire side of the Solent near Stubbington, between Hill Head and the mouth of Southampton Water. It lies north-west of the Hill Head beach huts and Titchfield Haven nature reserve, below low cliffs topped by a footpath and scrub. British Naturism lists Meon Shore as a naturist beach, and naturists have used it unofficially for many years, mostly a handful at a time: usually single men and a few couples, rarely more than a dozen. The beach is mainly shingle with patches of sand. At high tide it shelves enough for a swim; at low tide it becomes flat sand and you may need to wade 200 yards before the water reaches your knees. There is no shade and nothing on the beach. What makes it distinctive is the view: the Isle of Wight across the water and constant shipping in and out of Southampton, from dinghies to cruise liners. Walkers, horse riders and kitesurfers use the shore too, and gaps in the cliff-top bushes mean some spots are overlooked, so choose a place carefully. Quieter spots lie further north-west, toward some derelict pillboxes.

Newborough Beach is a nudist-friendly beach in United Kingdom. Nudity is optional.

Malltraeth Bay is the northern part of the great Newborough beach on Anglesey's south-west corner, beginning at the narrow neck of sand that joins Llanddwyn Island to the mainland and running north-west towards the Cefni estuary at Malltraeth. It is backed by the pines of Newborough Forest, where red squirrels live, and by the protected dunes of Newborough Warren, with wide views to the mountains of Snowdonia and the Llŷn Peninsula. British Naturism describes it as a fine sandy beach that, while never an official naturist beach, has been popular with naturists for decades. Because it is a long walk from the car park, it is much emptier than the main beach; regulars suggest going 15 to 20 minutes past Llanddwyn Island for real space. The beach is flat and exposed, so wind can be a problem, but the water is shallow and the sand clean. Llanddwyn Island itself, with its lighthouse and ruined church, is a popular stop on the way. There are no facilities beyond the car park.

Normans Bay is a tiny coastal hamlet in East Sussex between Pevensey Bay and Cooden, about 6 miles north-east of Eastbourne and 4 miles west of Bexhill, backed by the flat Pevensey Levels marshes. Its shingle beach has been used by naturists for more than 30 years, although it has never been designated. The naturist section is about 300 yards long and covers most of the shore between the East Stream outfall and the Wallers Haven outfall. A footpath runs behind it and clothed walkers pass through; the two groups have long coexisted without trouble. The beach is shingle that drops quite steeply at high tide, with sand exposed at low tide and old wooden groynes almost buried in the stones. There is little shelter from the frequent onshore and cross-shore winds, and no toilets or refreshments anywhere nearby. On clear days you can see along the coast to Beachy Head. It is very quiet even in good weather, used by a mix of singles, couples and small groups, with single men in the majority. Its big advantage is a railway station a few minutes' walk away.

Ostel Bay sits at the southern tip of the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, facing south across the mouth of Loch Fyne towards Arran, and is reached only on foot past an isolated farm. British Naturism lists it as a beautiful and normally very quiet beach that can be hard to find. The contributor who wrote the listing describes undressing once past the farmhouse when the beach is quiet, keeping a wrap handy in case other walkers seem uneasy. On hot, sunny days the beach can be busier, with families and dog walkers, but the listing says no one has complained about nude bathers, and that the local police are aware naturists occasionally use it and have no objection; that is the contributor's account rather than an official statement. The listing also claims the sea is warm enough to swim in during summer. There are no facilities; bring everything you need.

Spectacular remote nudist beach in Cornwall at low tide.

Pedn Vounder is a tidal beach below the cliffs of Treryn Dinas on the south coast of West Cornwall, between Porthcurno and the hamlet of Treen, a few miles from Land's End. At high tide it shrinks to a small cove of fine white-gold sand; as the tide drops it opens into a long sandbar running hundreds of metres in both directions, with shallow turquoise lagoons and, at very low water, a link toward Porthcurno. It has a long-standing reputation as one of Cornwall's best-known naturist beaches, but it is not officially designated and there is no separate nude section: British Naturism estimates the crowd at roughly half naturist and half clothed. The more secluded inlets in the cliffs give extra privacy but are cut off at high tide. The beach shelves at high water, and the National Trust warns of rip currents. Its fame grew after it appeared in the television series Poldark, and in recent summers people queued to get down the final section of the path. In August 2025 the National Trust, which manages the land, closed the cliff path because erosion had left a near-vertical drop of about six metres at the bottom, and it directed visitors to Porthcurno instead.

Perran Beach is the long open sweep of sand in Perran Bay on Cornwall's north coast, running almost two miles from Perranporth in the south to Ligger Point in the north, backed by the high dunes of Penhale Sands. Naturists use the far northern end, below Penhale, well away from the lifeguarded family area by the town. The beach is clean sand with clear water and frequent Atlantic surf, and the northern end is mainly used by experienced surfers; rip currents and heavy waves make swimming risky, and lifeguards cover only the southern end. Much of the land behind the dunes is Ministry of Defence training ground at Penhale. In 2006 the MoD banned nude sunbathing on its part of the sands; by around 2015 naturist guides reported that nudity was tolerated again on the beach itself but not in the dunes, which may only be crossed on permitted paths. British Naturism says clothed and nude beachgoers coexist happily at the northern end. Expect seaweed and some litter at that end, and very few people out of season.

Petitor (Petit Tor) is a small cove below high red cliffs on the northern edge of Torquay, near St Marychurch and Torquay Golf Club, about two miles from the town centre. It has been a traditionally tolerated nude beach for decades. The shore is mainly pebbles with patches of sand and large rocks, and the clear water of Babbacombe Bay makes for good swimming in calm weather. Petitor has a loyal local following, and older reports describe an informal layout with single men to one side and couples, women and families to the other; some visitors find the regulars protective of the beach and its etiquette. The cliffs are unstable: both the beach and the path down have had rock falls, so keep away from the cliff foot and check the tide, which covers much of the beach at high water. There are no facilities on the beach; everything is available in St Marychurch and Torquay.

Polgaver is the beach at the far end of Carlyon Bay, near St Austell on Cornwall's south coast, one of three once-separate beaches (with Crinnis and Shorthorn) that now run together. It has a place in naturist history: a regional news film dated 1971 records it being opened as Cornwall's first official nudist beach, by the comedian Freddie Starr with the blessing of the Cornwall Tourist Board, and it was long one of the most popular nude beaches in the area. Since then the redevelopment of Carlyon Bay into a beachside village has changed it, and the film archive notes that naturists have all but disappeared; a local walking guide now calls it a little too public for nude use. British Naturism's listing says some naturists still use the foreshore pending redevelopment. The sand here formed from old mining waste and is coarse and gritty with chunky quartz grains, and the sea piles it into steep, hidden drops at the water's edge, so take care paddling. Do not expect a naturist crowd.

Porthkidney Sands is a north-facing sandy beach on the western side of the Hayle estuary, between Lelant and Carbis Bay, a few miles south-east of St Ives, with views across St Ives Bay to Godrevy lighthouse. It is roughly 600 metres long at high tide, when only a narrow strip of soft sand separates the low dunes from the sea, but the flat beach becomes huge at low water and the tide returns fast. The St Ives branch railway runs along the back. Naturists do not use the open beach: they keep to secluded hollows in the dunes, and naturist guides advise wearing a costume on the sand and for swimming. Regulars say nudists tend to be nearer the Carbis Bay end and families nearer the golf club. There is a history of local objections, and some visitors report male cruising. Currents are strong, especially at the eastern end near the river channel, so swim with great care. There are no facilities on the beach.

Porthluney Cove is a sheltered sandy beach on Cornwall's south coast between Mevagissey and Portloe, directly below Caerhays Castle, whose parkland runs down to the road behind the beach. British Naturism includes it in its directory of naturist beaches but gives little detail, describing it simply as a sheltered sandy beach with a large car park, shared with visitors to the castle, and toilets. The cove is a popular family beach in summer, so any nude use is informal and best kept to the quieter edges away from the car park, out of season or early and late in the day. There is no recognised naturist section, so be discreet and expect clothed visitors.

Porthmeor Cove is a small, remote cove on the rugged north coast of the Penwith peninsula, below the hamlet of Porthmeor between Zennor and Pendeen, near the headland of Gurnard's Head. It should not be confused with the busy Porthmeor town beach in St Ives. British Naturism lists it in its directory of naturist beaches, but the entry gives only its position near Porthmeor and no description, so we have little detail about naturist use here. Coves on this stretch are rocky and boulder-strewn, reached by steep paths off the South West Coast Path, with no facilities. Visit at low tide, keep clear of the cliffs, and expect very few people.

Porthzennor Cove is a rocky cove just below the village of Zennor on the north coast of the Penwith peninsula, between St Ives and St Just, sheltered on its west side by the headland of Zennor Head. British Naturism lists it in its directory of naturist beaches, describing it only as a rocky beach on the South West Coast Path. The shore is boulders and rock ledges rather than sand, so it suits sunbathing on the rocks and dips in calm seas rather than a beach day. It is close to a well-walked section of the coast path, so expect passing walkers. There are no facilities at the cove, but Zennor village is a short walk away.

Portnadler Bay is a nudist-friendly beach in United Kingdom. Nudity is optional.

Rhiwledyn Nature Reserve is a nudist-friendly beach in Llandudno, North Wales, United Kingdom. Nudity is optional.

Rhossili Bay is a nudist-friendly beach in United Kingdom. Nudity is optional.

Ringstead Bay is a remote shingle bay on Dorset's Jurassic Coast about five miles east of Weymouth, below steep cliffs and the National Trust headland of White Nothe, with views back across Weymouth Bay towards Portland. The naturist end is the eastern end of the bay, below Burning Cliff, well away from the small settlement, cafe and boats at the western end. The beach is mainly pebbles, with some sand exposed at low tide, and the water shelves steeply; beach shoes help. The south-facing shore can get very hot and is not overlooked thanks to the cliffs and hillside behind. Naturists are typically a mix of couples and single men, with clothed walkers occasionally coming along the shore. Storms and tides reshape the shingle, and the cliffs at the eastern end are unstable, with landslips, so sit nearer the sea where the beach is wide. Seaweed can attract flies in summer.

Rosemullion Head, Prisk Cove is a nudist-friendly beach in United Kingdom. Nudity is optional.

Sandwich Bay is a long, gently sloping sand beach on the east Kent coast, about 2 miles from the medieval town of Sandwich, fronting the private Sandwich Bay estate and its famous links golf courses. British Naturism lists it as a naturist beach: naturists use the stretch north of the Prince's golf clubhouse, as far as a row of posts that marks the start of a bird sanctuary toward Pegwell Bay. Numbers are small and the beach is big, so there is plenty of room to spread out. At high tide the shallow water is good for swimming, and on afternoons when the tide comes in over sun-warmed sand it can be pleasantly mild; at low tide the sea retreats a very long way and you have to walk far out before it is more than ankle deep. Seals are sometimes seen offshore. Some dunes and vegetation give shelter on windy days, but there is no shade and nothing to buy, and a fenced nature reserve separates the beach from the golf course behind. A few local dog walkers use the far end and are generally used to naturists.

Saunton Sands is a west-facing sandy beach about three miles long on the north Devon coast, seven miles west of Barnstaple, running south from Saunton to Crow Point at the mouth of the combined Taw and Torridge estuary. Behind it lie the Braunton Burrows dunes, part of the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which also contain a golf course, a nature reserve and Ministry of Defence training ground. Naturists use the quieter southern half of the beach, well away from the hotel end; British Naturism places the naturist-frequented stretch north of Crow Point, and the exact spot drifts with the number of clothed visitors, so early arrivals effectively set it. The beach is flat, wide and firm, with plenty of room to spread out, and the surf can be excellent, so swimmers should take care. There is no shade and no facilities on the open beach. A few times a year the beach is closed for military exercises, sometimes including RAF transport aircraft landing on the sand.

Scabbacombe Sands is a small, secluded cove on the South West Coast Path between Kingswear and Brixham in south Devon, on National Trust land near the Coleton Fishacre garden. The National Trust itself describes the beach as very quiet and popular with naturists. It is a small sand-and-gravel cove, with pebbles at the top of the beach and sand nearer the water, plus rock pools to explore at low tide. There are no buildings, no road and no facilities, and the effort needed to get there, a walk of roughly a mile across fields with about 150 m of descent, keeps numbers low even in summer. Naturists and clothed walkers share the beach; there is no separate marked section, so most nude visitors simply settle in on the main cove. Swimming is good on calm days, and the coast path continues in both directions for anyone who wants to walk further.

The naturist beach known as Shoreham is actually in Portslade, on the seaward side of Shoreham Harbour just west of Hove. A tall concrete sea wall separates a narrow strip of steep shingle from the port's lorry park and warehouses, and naturists use the stretch below this wall. Because the site is enclosed and not on any through route, passers-by are few, which makes it a quieter alternative to Brighton's official nude beach a few miles east. Couples and families tend to gather near the gap in the wall, while single men and same-sex groups go to the far ends; some nude sunbathing also spills onto the mostly clothed beach east of a large boulder groyne. Sand appears only at low tide, and swimming is good in calm weather, though jet skis sometimes come close in. There is no shelter from east or west winds and no shade. Expect an industrial backdrop with lorry noise rather than a scenic setting.

Suffolk beach near Sizewell nuclear power station offering peaceful swimming and established naturist sections along its shingle shoreline.

Sker Beach, also called Kenfig Burrows or Cynffig, is a roughly 2.5-mile stretch of mostly golden sand between Porthcawl and the Port Talbot steelworks in Bridgend county, south Wales, named after the rocky Sker Point at its southern end. A pebble bank and a wide belt of dunes, part of the Kenfig National Nature Reserve, back the beach. Families and clothed visitors use the southern end. The traditional naturist area is further north: walk to the beach by the shortest route from the reserve car park, turn right (north) and continue on the firmer damp sand to a point 200 to 400 metres short of the small river near the north end; if you reach the river, you have gone too far. The beach is usually quiet, from deserted to around a dozen naturists, with horse riders, anglers and joggers passing. Naturists who stray outside the traditional area have been challenged. Currents near the river make swimming risky.

Slapton Sands is the long shingle bar that runs along Start Bay in South Devon, between Torcross and Strete Gate, roughly six miles south of Dartmouth. Naturists use the northern end, near Strete Gate, rather than the stretch by Slapton Ley and Torcross. From the Strete Gate car park the nude-friendly section begins after a walk of two to three minutes north-east (left as you face the sea) and continues for about a kilometre towards the cliffs at the end of the bay. The traditional nude spot was further north at Pilchard Cove, but a landslip made it hard to reach and most naturists now settle on the nearer section of Slapton Sands. The beach is made of fine golden shingle, small rounded pebbles that are comfortable to lie on but tiring to walk on for long, backed by low cliffs with views along Start Bay. The sea is clear on sunny days but cold year round, and the beach shelves steeply with strong currents, so it is not ideal for weak swimmers. Visitors of all ages use it and because the bay is so long it rarely feels crowded. There is no shade and no café near the naturist end.

South Gare is the reclaimed spit and breakwater on the south side of the mouth of the River Tees, just north-west of Redcar. It was built up from blast-furnace slag, which gives the dunes an unusual lime-rich soil, and together with Coatham Sands it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. British Naturism lists the beach here as one used by naturists since the FKK movement of the 1930s, but its listing does not mark a specific nude zone; in practice that means the quieter parts of the wide sand away from the road end and the breakwater. The beach is broad and sandy, with tidal mudflats, low dunes, rocks and fresh and saltwater pools; it is popular with windsurfers, kite-surfers and anglers, who fish off the end of the breakwater, and ship-watchers. On the inner side, Bran Sands is good for birds and has the remains of a wooden wreck, and seals are sometimes seen offshore. The setting is industrial, with Teesside works in view. There are no facilities aimed at beach users, and the area is busy with other users, so naturists here are a minority.

St Annes North Beach, on the Fylde coast a few miles south of Blackpool, is a vast flat sandy beach backed by low dunes, and a stretch of it north of the North Beach car park has become Lancashire's established naturist spot. British Naturism places the area roughly 600 m north of the car park along the sand, and its regional group holds regular summer beach days there, meeting by the line of wooden posts and numbered bins just past bin 5 on the Blackpool side. The area is not signed or fenced; naturists share the beach with walkers and dog owners. At low tide the sea retreats a very long way across the Ribble estuary flats, so a swim can take some walking. The beach faces the Irish Sea and the wind can be strong, so a windbreak is worthwhile; there is no shade and visitors warn that the sun can be fierce. The sand continues unbroken north toward Blackpool. Barbecues are not part of the accepted arrangement.

St Osyth's naturist beach lies west of Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, on the south-facing shore at the mouth of the Colne estuary, beyond the caravan parks and amusements of St Osyth Beach. From the seawall at the end of Beach Road a long, remote strip of shingle, patches of sand and estuary mud runs west toward Colne Point, backed by grassy banks, marshes and dykes. The naturist section begins after about a mile of walking and ends where a fence marks the start of a nature reserve and private land. Regular users describe an informal zoning: the first part is mostly used by couples and families, the middle mainly by men, and the far end and the dunes behind it are best avoided because of reported sexual behaviour. The sand is dry and powdery in places but litter washes up, and erosion has been steadily narrowing the beach. Bathing in the nearby estuary at Brightlingsea is considered dangerous, so take care in the water.

Officially designated naturist beach on Dorset's Jurassic Coast, managed by the National Trust. Four miles of golden sand with clear waters and a long-established naturist tradition.

Studland Bay on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset has the best-known naturist beach in Britain. The National Trust owns the beaches and the heathland nature reserve behind them and sets aside about 900 m of Knoll Beach, roughly the middle stretch of the three-mile sweep of sand between Studland village and Shell Bay, as a clothing-optional area. Green-topped posts and signs mark both ends, and naturists are expected to dress outside them. The beach faces east across Studland Bay toward Old Harry Rocks and Bournemouth, with soft golden sand, dunes and heather behind, and calm, clear water that shelves gently thanks to an offshore sandbar, which makes it good for swimming. There is no shade. On hot summer days it draws very large numbers, with one 2021 visitor estimating 1,500 to 2,000 naturists, mostly older but with some younger visitors. Naturism here dates back to the 1920s. In 2013 the naturist area was extended about 50 m inland, and the Studland Beach Users Action Group, set up in 2005, brings together the Trust, police, naturist groups and the parish to manage behaviour.

Arthur's Beach, also known as Sunny Cove, sits below the South West Coast Path on the south side of Falmouth, roughly midway between Swanpool and Maenporth beaches. British Naturism lists it in its beach directory, and the cove is known locally as clothes-optional; a small 'Clothes Optional' sign hangs on a tree at the beach entrance. It is not one beach but three small coves divided by rock ledges and backed by cliffs. The shore is coarse sand and pebbles with many rocky outcrops, and seaweed can pile up; getting into the water means picking your way over stones. The far cove is likely to be cut off at higher tides. Because it is unmarked and awkward to reach, it is rarely busy: a contributor counted about a dozen people on a midweek July day. There is no lifeguard, phone signal is patchy and there are no facilities.

Taddiford Gap is a half-mile stretch of beach on the Hampshire coast between Milford on Sea and Barton on Sea, below eroding sandy cliffs on the edge of the New Forest. Naturists use the section to the west (right, facing the sea) of the point where the path reaches the beach, and walk along until they find a private spot; the cliff-top coast path overlooks part of the beach, so heading further west gives more seclusion. The upper beach is shingle, becoming a mix of fine shingle and sand towards the water, and it shelves gently with mostly sand underfoot and the odd rock. Low tide exposes much more sand and is the best time to go. It is rarely busy. The cliffs are not especially attractive, but the sea view to the Isle of Wight and the Needles is a highlight. There are no facilities on the beach. The cliffs are unstable and signs at the top say there is no beach access; naturists still use the gap with care, and the local British Naturism region runs occasional beach days here.

Telpyn Beach is a nudist-friendly beach in United Kingdom. Nudity is optional.

The Strangles is a remote, north-west-facing cove on the north Cornish coast about a mile south of Crackington Haven, below high cliffs. The main beach is mostly pebbles and shingle with large rocks; as the tide falls a good expanse of sand appears, and scouring around the rocks leaves deep pools that warm up in the sun. Naturists generally gather at the northern end of the main beach, and on busy weekends move further north to Little Strand, a separate cove a few hundred metres along reached around or over a projecting rocky point. Little Strand is the traditional clothing-optional spot and is the most secluded, but it can be cut off by the rising tide. The cliff is high enough that the beach is not much overlooked from the coast path. There are no facilities and no phone signal. The sea is not safe for swimming because of strong currents, so treat it as a sunbathing and rock-pool beach.

Theddlethorpe Beach is a nudist-friendly beach in Theddlelhorpe, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom. Nudity is optional.

Vault Beach, also called Bow Beach, is a cliff-backed cove on Cornwall's south coast, about 1 km south of the village of Gorran Haven, tucked between Maenease Point and Dodman Point. British Naturism lists it as well established for naturism though not official. Clothed visitors stay near the eastern end, where the access paths come down; the nude area is the western half, furthest from the path. Regulars treat a white paint mark on the rocks roughly halfway along as the informal start of the nude section, but the line moves with the crowd. The beach is a mix of coarse sand, pebbles and larger rocks, widest at the eastern end and narrowing westward; around 1 km is usually usable, and at low tide you can scramble further west over rocks. Rock outcrops give privacy and wind shelter. The beach shelves steeply, so deep water comes quickly, and seaweed can gather at the shoreline. There are no facilities on the beach.

Veor Cove is a small, remote cove on the north coast of the Penwith peninsula in West Cornwall, between Zennor and Gurnard's Head. High cliffs surround it and there is no road access, so it sees few visitors; a local Zennor guide describes it as usually very quiet and popular with adventurous swimmers and naturists. The cove lies below the South West Coast Path on the circular walk from Zennor to Gurnard's Head. Naturism here is informal: there is no designated area and, as one naturist guide put it, naturism is not officially recognised anywhere in West Cornwall, which is why secluded coves like this one appeal. We found no detailed current description of the way down to the shore or of conditions on the beach, so treat it as a wild, unserviced cove and judge the descent and the sea for yourself.

Wadham Rocks is a small, remote sandy cove on the South Hams coast of Devon, reached from a country lane (nearest postcode PL8 1HG). British Naturism lists it as a beach where naturism is known. The main part of the cove is used by clothed visitors; the nude area is reached by clambering over the rocks to the next stretch of sand. Low vertical cliffs back the beach, giving seclusion, and the water is described as safe for swimming in calm conditions. It is hard to find, which keeps it quiet. The biggest constraint is the tide: the beach is only reachable for roughly three to four hours either side of high tide according to BN's entry, so plan carefully to avoid being cut off. There are no facilities, lifeguards or shops.

Walney Island is the long, low island off Barrow-in-Furness at the south-west tip of Cumbria. Naturists use the remote dunes and shore at its northern end, between the north-west point north of Earnsie Point and the tip of the island, well away from the houses and caravan site around Earnsie Bay. The whole north end is a nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest, noted for birds and seals, so camping and fires are not allowed. The beach is soft pale sand on a fairly steep slope, with the sea never far from the dunes at high tide; at low tide the water retreats a long way, which makes swimming awkward. Dunes up to about 18 m high act as sun traps and can get surprisingly hot, but on the open shore it is often windy. The area is very quiet: regulars report meeting only a handful of people on a summer day, with naturists often outnumbering clothed walkers, plus occasional dog walkers and joggers. There are no facilities at the naturist end.

Weston Mouth is a quiet shingle beach on the East Devon stretch of the Jurassic Coast, between Sidmouth and Branscombe, where a wooded valley drops to the sea. The land belongs to the National Trust, which at one time had a sign directing naturists to the right. British Naturism lists it as an unofficial naturist beach with a regular following. Where the valley path meets the beach there is a small clothed section. Most naturists turn right (west, toward Sidmouth); the nude area begins beyond an old stone wall. Turning left (east) leads to a quieter stretch where nude bathers appear after a short walk and continue for a mile or more. The beach is shingle and small pebbles with rock pools, backed by high cliffs, and is rarely crowded. Walking on the pebbles is tiring. There are no facilities of any kind. Recent cliff falls mean you should keep away from the base of the steeper cliffs.

Whiteford Sands is the most northerly beach on the Gower Peninsula, curving for more than two miles along the edge of the Loughor estuary below Llanmadoc. The land, Whiteford Burrows, belongs to the National Trust and is a nature reserve of dunes and pine plantation, so there is no road to the beach and it stays quiet even when nearby Rhossili is busy. Naturists traditionally use the remote northern part: the usual area starts about halfway between the stile where the main path meets the beach and the disused cast-iron lighthouse at Whiteford Point. British Naturism advises against using the small dunes right by the beach, which are part of the reserve. The sand is soft and yellow, with hollows in the dunes behind giving shelter and privacy. Near the river mouth currents are strong, and the lighthouse end is cut off by the tide, so swimming needs real care. There are no facilities on the beach. Expect a long walk in, a lot of space, birdlife on the estuary and few other people.

Wild Pear Beach is a small, secluded cove just east of Combe Martin on the North Devon coast, below the slopes of Little Hangman at the western edge of Exmoor. It is one of the best-known naturist beaches in the South West: British Naturism describes it as technically unofficial but says the local council recognises and accepts it as a naturist haven. The whole cove is used by nude bathers; its isolation and the hard path down keep casual visitors away. The beach is a mix of rock, sand and shingle under high cliffs, with freshwater streams running down the cliff face. Steps at the bottom of the path have been washed away by storms more than once and replaced by the National Trust. There are no facilities, so bring water and food, and allow plenty of time and energy for the climb back up.