A cheeky dip; 5 best UK spots to swim … au naturel
Where to put on your birthday suit and make a splash this summer
To whip off your knickers and jump into a body of cold water is to know true freedom. The nude swimmer is untroubled by those horrid nets you get in swimming shorts or the pinching sting of the elasticated swimming cosi. The nude swimmer is at one with nature.
As we are British though, we don’t recommend being At One all the time, anywhere. There are certain rules, certain places to exercise your God-given English liberty to strip off and plunge in. In fact, there are more than 40 beaches across the UK where one can do just that.
At first you might find it a little embarrassing, a little shy-making but the fact remains that you are never fully undressed if you are wearing a good fragrance.
Should you find yourself in vigorous agreement, we hereby present our guide to the best (nude) swimming spots in the UK… and exactly the right scent to spritz on while you are about it.
Loch Lomand, Scotland
The bonnie banks of Loch Lomond never looked so bonnie as when you are stark naked and doing front crawl. Undress, spritz on The Tragedy of Lord George for some brandy-scented Dutch courage and throw yourself into the loch’s bracing waters with wild abandon. It might be a jolt, Scotland isn’t the Riviera you know, but the 360-degree views of the beautiful highlands are well worth the goosebumps.
Photography by: https://mollison.co/
Rich, noble, deceptive. Like our patriarch, this woody perfume has secrets.
Studland Beach, Dorset
This 3-mile stretch of sandy Dorset shore has been attracting kit-removers since the 1920s. Embrace a sense of adventure and wear a nip of Lothair as you plunge into the sea. It has notes of juniper and ambergris, once treasure traded around the world. So, keep an eye out for one of the many shipwrecks on this part of the coast – you may strike it lucky, as it were. Beware though, on a sunny day there’s no shade, or even a cove to hide in… so do wear sunscreen.
Bright sun. White flowers. Crashing waves and sensual spice. A candle scented with island living.
Linhope Spout, Northumberland
Linhope Spout is a place for people who like a bit of daring-do and dash. So many people dive headlong into this pool from heights of up to 18 metres, you’d think it was the only way to get in. Remove your clothes but wrap yourself instead in the mossy notes of Quercus. It’s best to visit on a weekday when it’s less popular with clothed members of the public. Though, it must be said, many people ignore this advice entirely.
Llanddwyn Island, Anglesey
The sea of Anglesey makes some of the best salt in the UK and that delightful aroma is well matched with a touch of vetiver from our The Inimitable Mr Penhaligon. Head to the tidal island off the southern coast of Anglesey for an energising swim that offers picture-perfect views of Snowdonia National Park. It really is worth taking the plunge.
PORTRAITS MANSION DISCOVERY COLLECTION
Eight 10ml Portraits fragrances await your discovery in the Mansion Discovery Collection.
THE INIMITABLE WILLIAM PENHALIGON
The Prince of Perfumes enters in a majestic haze of vetiver, as one would expect.
Fairlight Glen Beach, East Sussex
The spicy pine notes of Blenheim Bouquet – which takes its name from the stately home owned by the man for which it was created, the Duke of Marlborough– find the perfect partner in the forests which surround Fairlight Glen Beach. Plus, those trees will give you some cover to undress before running into the briny deep.
A cocktail of lemon, black pepper and pine, fresh and fragrant as British wit.
A refreshing cocktail for hands and body, sparkling with lemon, pepper and pine.
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