First Time Visit to Wreck as a young (24) Naturist Visitor from the UK. Nudist paradise!
Hi all,
Just wanted to make a post here talking about my amazing experience at Wreck Beach yesterday evening. I'm 24 from the UK and so that's my sole experience before coming here. I'm currently on vacation here and knew I had to come out to see what all the hype was about. Boy was I impressed and am now aching to get back out there!
Originally from the UK and having visited a few popular beach spots across the south of England and a few in Wales, I have become very used to the British way of enjoying Naturism; In a separate zone, away from everyone else and always at the expense of weird looks and peeping meerkats in the dunes. The majority of good experiences I have had have been at the least official spots in the UK (mostly Devon and Cornwall before school break). Where there is no signage or rules regarding nudity, I've found that most/if not all people are not bothered by it at all and simply keeping your distance and being respectful has led me to meet other naturists and some of the loveliest, easy-going people I know. it's only when I've been at the more popular beaches with separate naturist areas that I've ever experienced any issues, staring, gawking or straight up heckling (notably one time when I was told that they thought it was disgusting and they wish they'd rip the sign out of the ground).
It was, much to my enjoyment; turning up at wreck beach yesterday early evening, to find textiles and naturists enjoying the beach symbiotically from the bottom of the steps all the way to the front. The evening was beautiful and I managed to have a lovely swim. It was freezing cold and I had a lovely moment talking with a lady also braving the cold water. After a brief chat we swam our separate ways, I managed to get all the way up the other end before getting out the water and strolling right back along the front to my spot. The water was freezing cold but having had a long break from visiting a beach in the UK it was very welcome. I returned to my spot amongst one of the logs (which so welcomely provides a bit of privacy and protection). Read my book, bathed in the lovely pacific sun and lay in complete awe and comfort of the experience. Being 24 and fairly new to naturism, I was certainly nervous visiting a beach I'd never been to before but the vibes were so good I found it easy to get my clothes off and enjoy every second! Did I get some looks, of course. Was anyone staring, not at all. Was I bothered by anyone?.... Well.
It must be said that I was followed by one or two men when I went around to Acadia around 7pm. It can't be helped and it is a shame. Both times I initiated conversation with them to break the ice and perhaps help them shed the idea of what they think beaches like this should be. Both times they were nervous, looked at me and kinda half ignored me, half weren't sure what to say. I left both interactions with pride. I feel like confronting these people head on is the only way forward, if we ignore them completely they keep living in their head and never understand the experience to the level as I was having that day. It should be one of joy, relaxation and friendliness. We all need to be there for the same reason and that starts when we chose to confront those that perhaps aren't there for the right reasons.
After I made my way back towards the main beach the sun had further set and I sat up on one of the logs watching the last trickle of red, find it's way over the horizon. I'm not sure if it was intentional but people were whooping and howling like wolves. Very cool. I sat around until about 9:30 when the last of the light disappeared before making my way back to the West End.
On the way back I was reflecting on the experience and the idea of separation of textiles and naturists in the UK compared to the mixing here (specifically my experience at Wreck that day). Brits are already notoriously prude and perhaps we could benefit from mixed beaches back home. In the UK, nudity and the naturist culture is almost more stigmatised as the signage literally draws a line where it is acceptable and where it is not (Studland, in all your sandy glory, I'm looking at you). When the beach inevitably fills up a lot of people are packed in, refusing to go past the sign of the naturist section as if they're not allowed. This undoubtedly causes tension as people obviously want their own space but also don't want to seem rude by encroaching on our hallowed ground (haha). At wreck however the mixing felt... right? With all the signage, you know; heading down, that the beach will have naturists on it. If you're not comfortable with that, turn around. Once you're down at wreck you know you're in a safe place, there's no confrontation or tension between specific or dedicated areas.
This mixing and therefore more people also provides a safe atmosphere for young people and more specifically young women who are surrounded by witnesses if they're subject to any creepy or pervy behaviour. It's why I saw more younger people at Wreck than I have at almost any UK beach where Naturism is acceptable and it's probably what's making it feel like a dying movement in the UK. Young people need to feel safe in these kinds of environments in order to discover the benefits and love that the community it brings has to offer.
Enough reflection! Needless to say I absolutely loved every minute. It's given me a lot of food for thought and has definitely changed the way I perceive British naturist culture. I think my time at wreck has also made me confident interacting with others and comfortable to try a club or a more social setting in the UK! I want to say thank you to the locals and anyone that I spoke with during my first time at Wreck! It was lovely to meet/chat with you and I hope to see you again soon if I can sneak in another trip amongst this rain. If anyone has anything to add I'd love to see a discussion in the comments. As a young naturist, I think I owe it to more experienced naturists to ask questions and understand how things have changed from their perspective over the years.
Looking forward to hearing from you all!
- Will