Lifestyle Press

According to Keith Didcock, author of the Cool Camping Europe guidebook, and writing in the Guardian, the four-star campsite Cala Llevado  on the southern outskirts of Tossa de Mar has its own naturist cove. The well established site - currently boasting its 50th anniversary - has no less than four beaches, one of which is used by those who prefer not to wear a swimsuit.

Jean-Didier and Marie-Anne Mathis provide charming accommodation at their property, 200 metres from the centre of the village of Gordes, just to the east of Avignon in the south of France. They have a swimming pool in their large private garden which is perfect for skinny-dipping and naturist relaxation. The pool is available around the clock and according to the owners, ‘ nothing is more enjoyable than bathing at midnight in the moonlight to the sound of crickets before going to sleep …’ (Website in French only)

Finding quality nude-friendly accommodation in Italy can be challenging, but Susan and her Italian husband Lorenzo are keen to help holidaymakers locate their ideal au natural retreat in the countryside. Both are enthusiastic naturists and operate a vacation rental service - Foresight Italy -  in Tuscany, Umbria and Le Marche.

For larger groups they recommend Campo delle Margherite, a restored stone farmhouse in the Umbrian countryside with five self-contained apartments set in 74 acres of private grounds. Near the station and 50 minutes’ by rail from Rome, naturist parties are welcome to take over the whole property.

Sailing Cruises in Comfort (SCIC Sailing) has been established for twenty years and 2009 sees the introduction of three naturist sailing weeks around Turkey. The dates are: 20-27 June; 29 August - 5 September and 10-17 October. Contact the company for more details.

Saturday 4th July ‘09 is the date for the first ever clothes-optional swim, social and picnic at the historic open-air Pells Pool, in Lewes, East Sussex. From 7.30-10.30pm, tickets £3 in advance or £5 on the door (accompanied under 16s free).

Due to popular demand the British-owned Infiniti apartments and villa complex at Corralejo, Fuerteventura, will again be increasing it’s fully-naturist season to 13 weeks next year. From 21 April ‘10 right through until 21 July ‘10 inclusive, the whole development including the attractive communal pool, sun terraces and spa will be available to enjoy au naturel! Additionally, further clothes-optional weeks are likely to be available subject to demand.

Naturists will also be given a warm welcome at other times, when the complex operates on a textile basis, but offers a panoramic roof-top terrace permanently available for nude sunbathing and a sauna where swimsuits are not required. The luxury accommodation is particularly handy for the stunning clothes-optional Corralejo dunes beaches nearby*. For further details call Ruth in the UK on: 01548 561421. (*World’s Best Nude Beaches page 151)

Fancy your own naturist place in the sun? A new British company, Caravans au Naturel, offers a range of static mobile homes to purchase at a nudist campsite in the Lot-et-Garonne region of France. Set in 10 hectares of forest and pasture, in the middle  of the Lot / Quercy, west of Villeneuve-sur-Lot. The park is open from April - September, with the nearest airport at Bergerac, 80km away. There is a bar, restaurant, self-service grocer, a library,  and discotheque as well as a swimming pool, tennis, bowling alleys, volleyball, archery, table tennis, trampoline, children games, football table, video games and darts on the camping park.

Bare Tracks has been established to offer naturist walks in the countryside of the western Costa del Sol, in southern Spain. Normally in the vicinity of Estepona - location of the renowned Costa Natura holiday centre - the treks last for up to five hours, but more strenuous outings are available for experienced hikers.

A new eco-friendly and clothes-optional campsite will open in August 2009 in Montenegro in the southern Adriatic, just 30 minutes’ drive from Dubrovnik airport. Club Full Monte is owned by a British couple - Steve and Denise - and is set against a backdrop of the Orijen Masif mountains with views across the Sutorina valley. The 8-hectare site includes a natural spring, stream, terraced meadows and oak woodlands where visitors can be naked in nature. Plenty of low-cost airline routes from the UK with: easyJet, Flybe, Jet2, Thomsonfly and FlyGlobespan.

Robert and Alwine offer naturist bed and breakfast at their Cairns home in Queensland, Australia. The spa retreat offers a host of facilities for relaxing in the buff, not least the tropical gardens and sparkling 10-metre pool. Private bare beach tours are arranged, where Robert and Alwine’s local knowledge ensure a choice of exotic locations can be explored.

A new clothes-optional B&B - Kaikea - at Clifton Beach in tropical North Queensland provides two guest rooms and is set in pretty gardens with a skinny-dipping pool. According to the owners, “Our garden is suitably screened from our neighbours and clothing is not required inside the front door or in the garden”.

German entrepreneur Frieder Haferkorn has announced plans to turn the 32-room Rosengarten Hotel in the Black Forest into a fully naturist venue. He says it will be a place for those who want to spend their leisure time playing sports and games, and relaxing with like-minded people as nature intended. The hotel website - www.naturisten-hotel.de - (in German) is under development. [Google translation]

Mai Tai Resort offers luxury accommodation - rated by tripadvisor.com (2009) as the best place to stay in Port Douglas, North Queensland. The Balinese boutique-style property boasts a clothes-optional salt-water swimming pool and sun loungers.

Casa Somba is a naturist guesthouse in a quiet part of Carvoeiro, 55 km west of Faro International Airport, on the Algarve. The English-speaking Belgian owners offer bed & breakfast and have a large swimming pool in the secluded gardens. Free wi-fi internet access is available around the property. The accommodation is handy for a choice of local nude beaches.

Brand new - opened last month (6 February) - the 180-room, 4-star  Callao Sport Hotel is set in extensive grounds on the south-west coast of Tenerife, not far from Playa de las Americas. Sporting facilities include pitch and putt, tennis courts, padel courts, badmin­ton, squash, a nine-hole golf course, volley ball, indoor football, yoga and three swimming pools.  There’s also a huge health and beauty spa, gymnasium and a specific area for nud­ists. (The hotel website contains only contact details at the moment, but there are a couple of blogs)

We have just come across a handy website all about Myrtiotissa naturist beach (Mirtiotissa) on the west coast of the Greek island of Corfu. There are a couple of good photo galleries illustrating the location here and here. The beach is described on page 196 of The World’s Best Nude Beaches.

Casa de cinco Hermanos, a Dutch-owned naturist holiday club, is readily accessible from Alicante in southern Spain. Currently there are two ensuite guest rooms in the main house and two wooden casitas in the grounds for self-catering. A new swimming pool surrounded by a large sunbathing terrace is the centrepiece of the property with far-reaching views of the surrounding countryside.

Silver Spring Farm, an attractive country house close to the south-west coast of Cornwall, is available for holiday lets to naturists during 2009. The secluded grounds include a large heated swimming pool and hot tub. The property is conveniently situated for a number of unofficial nude beaches, while the Eden Project and other major tourist attractions are easily accessible. Contact Steve Clarke at Canarian Dreams for more details: Tel + Fax +44 (0)1326 341 190 (or 0800 988 3346 UK only).

Casa Cal Domino is a four-bedroomed naturist-friendly villa situated on a small wooded hill 3 km from the Costa Brava coastline, between Palamós and Platja DÁro. Completely renovated in 2007, the luxury property includes an infinity pool with with extensive views of the Mediterranean and the nearby medieval village of Calonge.

The owners of Matulutulu Tours and Travel operate a nudist-friendly guest house at Alberton near Johannesburg. They also offer guests trips to the local nude resorts. Get in touch via the website.