I've seen a few photos recently showing signs on beaches which say "Naturism permitted beyond this point" or words to that effect.  I don't think there's any official basis for this 'permission', since nudity per se is not illegal on any beach in the UK.  It's surely better to say that naturists "may be seen", or that it's traditionally used by naturists.  Going naked on a beach in the UK may never be the norm, but it would be good if it was generally understood that you don't have to travel many miles to an out-of-the-way place to get your kit off.

Thanks John. I thought we had a topic about beach signs and what people think of them, but it may be that I am remembering a topic in the A Naturist Family Forum for before May 2020. 

Some people hate all signs, considering it a cheek for us to be shoved into little areas or even that people need some sort of warning that naturists exist. "Prepare yourself for the naturist shock!" though I think on the whole it is a good thing. Encouraging others to have confidence that their naturism is allowed and discouraging complainers from seeing it isn't. 

As you say strictly speaking all UK beaches are by law naturist friendly, but flagging up some as being popular with naturism does help to encourage naturism there and also deals with the fact that many people don't understand that we are actually allowed by law to be naturists. 

If you live in a country where naturism isn't accepted by law on all beaches like France, then the signposted become even more useful. To show that naturism is legal permitted there. 

But back to the UK and countries where all beaches are suitable the wording of the signs is a valid concern. We shouldn't mislead beach users into thinking that only certain beaches with signs allow naturism. 

And as John says wording like "permitted" suggests that ordinarily it isn't permitted. Maybe a sign saying "This beach is popular with naturists" may be more apt. 

What do others think about signs in general and their wording?

The word “permitted” is possibly not a great choice for a sign, but it does carry weight legally, as in, those busy bodies who may wish to make a formal complaint are rendered incapable. It appears to us, that whilst as naturists we may not agree with the wording, because to us it implies, we are being entitled to something we already have a right to, it does to a degree stop those who would wish to remove our right to naturism. Potential complainers seeing the sign realise there is nothing they can do to stop us, and so therefore have the choice to continue, or turn around and go back. We would suggest the sign is more than likely for the benefit of the dress public than our own, but to a degree, does help enhance the peace, as naturists do not haver to go through the rigmarole of having to explain to some irate puritan the rules of the law, and simply relax and enjoy their time on the beach.

Due to the fact that not everyone visiting a 'naturist' beach in the UK is there to use the beach in a purely naturist capacity, I don't like the word 'naturist' to be used on beach signs. It only takes for one member of public to witness non-naturist goings-on, and all that does is add to the publics general misconception that that's what naturism is about. 

I think that John's fear with such wording is maybe that it encourages those who read it to assume that naturism is not legal at those locations without such "Permission" - it would be good if there was a clever way of signing that gives notice to the users of the beach without creating general assumptions. 

I know where Mark is coming from with the worry that a sign using naturism could give bad connections to naturism if there are any people on the beach who misuse the beach and its dunes. Maybe these signs need some sort of small print. Maybe something like:

Naturism is a non-sexual life choice. Anyone using the beach and the surrounding area for sexual reasons whether they are naked or not are not considered naturists. Such behaviour can result in arrested resulting in a minimum fine of ... and a prison sentence of up to... (what ever sort of punishment the local government is able to give).